Smoke coming out of turbo area.

Discussion in 'Modifications & DIY how-to' started by AutoxSTi, Dec 13, 2010.

  1. AutoxSTi

    AutoxSTi Member

    Not only smoke but it has a burning smell to it. If it's the turbo, then I'll have to bite the bullet and replace it. Hoping it's not the ringlands on the piston. I did a compression test a few months back and all looked fine. Sponsor me for a rotated setup for sale on here!!! Now now now!!!!
     
  2. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    check the banjo bolt on the feed line, will have to get underneath the car to see the return line. If no leaks there then time to break out the card and cash.
     
  3. 07Ltd#767

    07Ltd#767 The Neighborhood Drunk

    what color is the exhaust gas? Have a smell to it?
     
  4. AutoxSTi

    AutoxSTi Member

    It looks like white steam, not thick. I can't tell, just noticed it this morning while driving to work. When I got to work, it smelled burnt...really bad. Smelled like burnt oil smell. I'll look at it when I have time today...Hopefully before the sun goes down.
     
  5. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    from the exhaust or around the turbo? If the exhaust, time for new turbo or worse
     
  6. 07Ltd#767

    07Ltd#767 The Neighborhood Drunk

    white in exhaust = coolant, though it'll smell more like burning anti-freeze than burning oil

    hopefully the motor's not shot. Do a leak down test (not compression), it'll confirm
     
  7. AutoxSTi

    AutoxSTi Member


    It's around the turbo area. Hopefully not worse.
     
  8. AutoxSTi

    AutoxSTi Member


    I've smelled burnt coolant before I think. Sweet smell of some sort, right?
     
  9. Alex

    Alex Community Founder Staff Member

    Its hard to describe, but it is certainly a distinct smell. Its sorta like if you burnt a glass of lemonade or gatorade even...I dont know :rofl:
     
  10. RSConvert

    RSConvert ɹǝuɹnʇpɐǝɥ uʞnɟɐɥnɯ ɐ sʇı Supporting Member

    :rofl:
    how do you do that?


     
  11. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    then I would check all your hose connections, if you see any chalky discolration on the hoses then you may have a leak.
     
  12. AutoxSTi

    AutoxSTi Member

    Would that be radiator fluid leaking if it's chalky?
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2010
  13. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    yeah it will evap and leave a white, yellow or light green chalky color on the hose usually around the clamp or in a bend of the hose. quite common this time of year, I've seen countless hood rats with hoods up around here the past week.
     
  14. Alex

    Alex Community Founder Staff Member

    Place some cardboard beneath the car tonight to see if you have a constant leak. I had a leak previously and it was the lower hose clamp. It was something like a pin hole leak that only surfaced when the system was pressurized.
     
  15. AutoxSTi

    AutoxSTi Member

    Ok, so I checked it this morning. No leaks or white chaulky substance around the oil and radiator lines going to the turbo.
    The only thing I could find were some heavy oil buildup and dirt around the turbo inlet pipe meets and were the red factory elbow is. It's also leaking from the factory oil cooler where they oil filter is. Not sure if that would cause it to smoke or smell like it's burning but it's fresh small drips of oil from there.
     
  16. mrWRXdude89

    mrWRXdude89 Member

    im hoping you figure it out because im having the same issue. mine started after a turbo inlet install and it was a few hours after. i noticed some oil sitting on the inlet of the turbo and some in the factory turbo inlet that i took off. i dont see the smoke very often but its happened 2 or 3 times in the past few weeks. ive heard so many different theories. its def white smoke and its not a lot but its pretty steady. im going to take off the heat shield this weekend and check it out.
     
  17. UpSideDownDesi

    UpSideDownDesi Active Member

    Check if there's a kink in return line..it will cause oil to leak out of turbo seals (smoke from turbo) and white smoke from exhaust.
     
  18. Alex

    Alex Community Founder Staff Member

    The seal from the oil pump or what have you could be leaking as well. IIRC, my step-mom just had that replaced on her 92x. Have you been under the car? You could have a torn CV or something similar that's slung grease onto a hot area, ie the downpipe, and its burning off.
     
  19. AutoxSTi

    AutoxSTi Member

    I do have a little bit of grease on the passenger side outer cv axle but I haven't lifted that side yet. I'll have to try it tonight. It only smokes and burns when I drive it hard. Thanks guys. Will keep you updated on this.
     
  20. 07Ltd#767

    07Ltd#767 The Neighborhood Drunk

    iirc, there's no seal, you just use fuji-bond between the pump and block. That said, it could have corroded out, though I'm not sure how. Are you sure it's the oil cooler and not the oil filter? I had a sensor mounted there that leaked before, and if that's leaking on the exhaust manifold, that's going to smoke / stink...though not white in color.
     
  21. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    he's referring to the seal off the crank shaft there swifty.
     
  22. AutoxSTi

    AutoxSTi Member

    I had WRXKing inspect a while back and he mentioned I had a dent in the oilcooler where the oil filter goes on. Was close to $400 to replace...I said to the service lady, "I'll live with it for now".
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2010
  23. AutoxSTi

    AutoxSTi Member

    I'll have to look at that also.
     
  24. 2thAche

    2thAche Member

    The rubber hose that drains the condensation from the AC is next to the DP. Mine made contact w/ the DP and made a horrible burning smell and wisps of smoke.
     
  25. Alex

    Alex Community Founder Staff Member

    Yeah you have to tuck that rubber hose far far and away from the downpipe :)
     
  26. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    don't cut that tube, it will easily fall back into the fire wall and have the potential of water getting to the ECU. Yet another good reason to wrap the down pipe.
     
  27. Alex

    Alex Community Founder Staff Member

    Agreed. Wrap the DP and tuck the tube out and away.
     
  28. 07Ltd#767

    07Ltd#767 The Neighborhood Drunk

    won't help. My DP was wrapped and the same thing still happened to me. I didn't realize it until it was already burned off, so mine only sticks out about an inch from the firewall. fwiw, i've never had an issue (or known anyone to have an issue) with condensation coming back through that hole
     
  29. AutoxSTi

    AutoxSTi Member

    It's stock downpipe. Don't think it touches but I will consider looking into it.
     
  30. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    Cohen's was to short, had slipped back into the fire wall but all is good now. Noticed that the potential was there being that if using AC with no hose the condensation would run down by the ECU. Just an observation...
     
  31. AutoxSTi

    AutoxSTi Member


    I do need to clean it out with that subaru foam treatment. It smells musty when I run the AC.
     
  32. AutoxSTi

    AutoxSTi Member

    Alright, the real deal...Andy hooked me up. Def knows his stuff. Valve cover on the turbo side was leaking. Probably will get him to change the gasket and while he's there, do a leakdown test before installing any type of turbo kit.
     
  33. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    cabin filter for the first part, and while doing the leak down put the bore scope to it just for curiosity sake.
     
  34. AutoxSTi

    AutoxSTi Member

    Where do I rent one of those...they seem pretty pricey for just a couple times of use if you buy them. Anyone have one you want to lend? I'm guessing Andy at Killshot might have one once he does a leakdown test...IDK.
     
  35. b reel

    b reel Active Member

    Andy has one, I'm sure he will look when he does the leakdown.
     

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