Turbo issues troubleshooting
 

Hey all,

I just finished installing and tuning my turbo FRS. Ran great for about a week, but then noticed some oil smoke coming out the exhaust pipe in city driving, out of boost. It usually happens on low load in 4th or 5th around 2500 to 3000 rpm after its warm. It doesn't happen in boost that I can see, or on the freeway.

My first thought was turbo seals. I took the exhaust outlet flange off and saw no signs of oil on the o2 sensor, or on the turbine fins. Intake inlet side looks fine as well. No shaft play at all, spins freely very nicely.

No oil in the throttle body at all.

Never had a single issue before the turbo was installed. Oil is clean and clear, car still runs great, just that issue. It stops smoking while idle, or higher RPMs from what it seems.

I am about to completely pull the turbo off and check the manfold, but right now I am stumped.

What color smoke blue or white?

Definitely blueish white. Not coolant white. Had a few people yell at me for burning oil too.

List all your parts and who/how it was tuned.
Dyno charts may clue us in also.
Also datalogs if you have any.

My guess is cheap parts or the tuner. Many so called "tuners" don't do partial throttle tuning, so you could be running rich. Also many don't know how to tune with the direct injection.

What, if anything, did you do the the PCV system?

If you are running a can, which one?

What turbo are you running and where are you feeding oil from?

How did you plumb the turbo drain?

Each question is related to a different possible issue.

It was the crappy CX racing turbo kit (all parts except the turbo itself, extensively modified.

EL Manifold
3" turbo back to stock muffler, No cats
Greddy FV BOV
Tial 38mm Wastegate routed back into the exhaust before the over pipe
-10AN oil drain with full 1/2" opening on oil pan (there is a small dip below the plug, but it doesn't fall below the oil pan)
Mocal 13 row oil cooler.
shitty CX racing turbo. (but again no signs of oil, unless it burned of in the short time I let it idle [about 2 min] ) Ready to replace it with a GT2871r if you think its bad

Tuned by Delicious Tuning with ECUtek on full speed density. 11 psi Map sensor No dyno charts, I tried to log it, but for some reason, the logs didn't save to the computer this time (damn you windows 10!) Running Torque Pro the STFTs in that time are hitting between -18 and -23% but AFRs are fine at 14.5

No catch can. breather hose that was on the stock intake pre-TB is just sitting there in the open. No oil leaking from it.

Oil feed is from the oil pressure sender port with a manifold to keep both.

Oil drain is directly on the bottom of the turbo (all clocked correct) down to the oil pan. Very small dip below the bung, but well above the oil pan bottom. full 1/2" opening from the hose to the pan. 5/8 hose from the turbo.

Do you have a restrictor on that ball bearing turbo or are you feeding it straight oil pressure from the engine?

If not, try an .040 restrictor and see if the smoke magically vanishes.

I'd bet you're blowing a little bit by the seals. Doesn't take a lot of oil to make smoke.

.040 restrictor

+1

Make sure the oil drain tube is smooth and not pinched/kinked anywhere. I found the tiniest bit of restriction to cause the turbo to over fill = through the seals.

Thanks everyone. I'm 99% sure turbo blew. Bought a new one and adjusted oil drain to get rid of the small dip in the line. And bought a .040 restrictor.

And upping the boost while I'm at it. +2 psi.

How has this modified cxracing setup lasted since you added the restrictor? Any dynos? About to do this exact thing (bought intercooler and manifold, nothing else yet; going to ceramic coat the manifold and get the flanges milled). Was the turbo you bought another ball bearing, or journal? I had planned on getting the "t3 t05e 6063"