740 Holy crap on a pringle. (Smoky turbo)

Folks, need suggestions/direction.

On the way to work this AM, I noticed a LOT of gray smoke out the tailpipe whilst under boost.

shyt.

So, get to work, look at the back of the car and there's oil back there. Trunk lip, tail lights, etc.

So, I need a new turbo or center section.

The unit there is 12 years old but only has about 20k miles on it, but it sat for like 10 years before I got to use it.

So, I can replace the center section, but wanted direction as to how and what I should get.

I have a .48 A/R hotside with a UIWG which I would like to keep. The cold side I'm open to.

This is where I'd like suggestions. I'm running mild mods http://www.turbobricks.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3097729&postcount=1 & would like to keep it pretty close to the same. It's a mostly stock Volvo turbo T3 unit with just a mildly upgraded coldside and water cooled.

Like so: (click for full size) <a href="http://s366.photobucket.com/albums/oo110/Ursan_780/780%20Project/?action=view&current=IMG_0820.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo110/Ursan_780/780%20Project/th_IMG_0820.jpg" border="0" alt="TB03 Turbo" ></a> <a href="http://s366.photobucket.com/albums/oo110/Ursan_780/780%20Project/?action=view&current=IMG_0821.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo110/Ursan_780/780%20Project/th_IMG_0821.jpg" border="0" alt="TB03 Turbo" ></a> <a href="http://s366.photobucket.com/albums/oo110/Ursan_780/780%20Project/?action=view&current=IMG_0826.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo110/Ursan_780/780%20Project/th_IMG_0826.jpg" border="0" alt="TB03 Turbo" ></a> <a href="http://s366.photobucket.com/albums/oo110/Ursan_780/780%20Project/?action=view&current=IMG_0829.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo110/Ursan_780/780%20Project/th_IMG_0829.jpg" border="0" alt="TB03 Turbo" ></a> <a href="http://s366.photobucket.com/albums/oo110/Ursan_780/780%20Project/?action=view&current=IMG_0830.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo110/Ursan_780/780%20Project/th_IMG_0830.jpg" border="0" alt="TB03 Turbo" ></a>


I'm way out dated when it comes to turbos, so I'm not sure if I can get any water cooled center section & just bolt it to the .48 A/R exhaust side & just go with it or if the exhaust wheel needs to be appropriately sized. I'd also like to stick with the Volvo stepped flange as I'd rather not remove the manifold at this point so close to the new home closing in the new few weeks.

I have a budget of around $500.00 to get this fixed and time/simplicity is more important than anything else. If anyone can suggest sites or of anyone has something they can sell or what have you, or if anyone can suggest the best course of action I'd really appreciate it.

Another thing before I forget.

I vaguely recall reading that sometimes it's good to have an oil restrictor in the feed line so as not to over pressure the turbo. Is anyone familiar with this or was I mis-reading something?

TIA

just get a turbo rebuild kit. Rebuilding my t3 was as easy was swapping out parts

contact tryingbe and get a turbo. harry is awesome.

draognfly1873 said:

just get a turbo rebuild kit. Rebuilding my t3 was as easy was swapping out parts

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I don't know the first thing about rebuilding. Nor do I have the tools to do it.

How long did it take & what's involved?

Lord_Athlon said:

contact tryingbe and get a turbo. harry is awesome.

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Who is this now? tryingbe? that's his user name?

yeah.

just get one of the ebay turbos and swap the exhaust housing for the volvo one. 200$ no problems, no complaints!

boosted12a said:

just get one of the ebay turbos and swap the exhaust housing for the volvo one. 200$ no problems, no complaints!

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I was thinking of that, but I have a .48 A/R. Would I need the same size or would another size work as well? I'll start looking. Thanks for the tip.

Well, I bought myself some time. I disconnected the wastegate rod. No boost = no smoke = slow car. oh well.

well, depends what you are trying for. max power, find a .63 exhaust housing from a 240. or you could stick with the .48 for quicker spool and swap over the exhaust wheel to the new center section and use the seals from the new turbo. the garret turbo wheels are ballenced seperatly so you can mix and match all you want.

boosted12a said:

well, depends what you are trying for. max power, find a .63 exhaust housing from a 240. or you could stick with the .48 for quicker spool and swap over the exhaust wheel to the new center section and use the seals from the new turbo. the garret turbo wheels are ballenced seperatly so you can mix and match all you want.

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What's the current safe method of removing a wheel? The exhaust side is screwed on right or does it have a nut on there as well. I vaguely recall someone just using a glove & folded shop rag so as not to damage things.

the nut is on the compressor wheel. i just wear my welding gloves to hold the exhaust wheel when removing the nut

Yeah, I've seen it done on a Banks upgrade kit. I'm assuming it's a similar idea only smaller?

Here are some of the things that need to be checked over

Compression number #
Leak down test #
Oil feed line - was a new line installed along with the turbo?
Oil return checked for blockage
PCV system checked for blockage
In and out shaft play on turbo
Side to side shaft play on turbo?
Oil return gasket or oil return pipe installed with RTV?
What is the history for the catalytic converter?

Oil comes usually out of tailpipe when idling, most cases when there is oil in the back of the car and smoke when under the boost is leaky oil return seal, you will most likely see it spitting oil when revving it under hood.

tryingbe said:

Here are some of the things that need to be checked over

Compression number # Can't do at the moment
Leak down test # Can't do at the moment
Oil feed line - was a new line installed along with the turbo? Yes
Oil return checked for blockage Doing that today
PCV system checked for blockage Doing that today
In and out shaft play on turbo Checking today
Side to side shaft play on turbo? Checking today
Oil return gasket or oil return pipe installed with RTV? Never
What is the history for the catalytic converter? It'll be a year old in August

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Today is warm & sunny. Good day to try things out.

JR-66 said:

Oil comes usually out of tailpipe when idling, most cases when there is oil in the back of the car and smoke when under the boost is leaky oil return seal, you will most likely see it spitting oil when revving it under hood.

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No oil when idling. I'll check the oil return. I'll seal as needed.

Zero play on the turbo shaft.

If my issue is too much crank case pressure, I think the issue might be that the intake plumbing from the filter to the turbo doesn't produce any vacuum, (tested, confirmed) so it's not "sucking" the gases from the crankcase.

This is why I'm going to install a vacuum pump to assist evacuation of the crank case.

I just installed (today) a new oil separator on the block. The old one wasn't blocked in any way. But as I sit here thinking about it, is it possible that the orifice on the block that vents into the oil separator is itself blocked? I didn't think to check down in there. I know one of the 2 holes is a oil drain and the other is just a vent. I think the vent is the one on the right. It didn't look blocked as I could see the oil pump gear. The one on the left is the oil drain back from the separator. That's the one with the rubber tube going back into the oil pan, correct? earlier this week, I took the vent hose & blew into it into the oil separator, I felt something bubbling. Could that be the oil drain in the oil pan? If so, shouldn't it have not done that or am I over thinking things?


After I take a break, I'm going to tear into the turbo drain. Who knows what happened. Maybe the hose collapsed. I have new oil/fuel rated reinforced hose to go on.