Hey guys,

Finally got my 1987 turbo II started after it sat for 5-7 years in someone elses garage. The car runs, but I get lots of grey smoke coming out from the turbocharger and the exhaust after about ~30 seconds of running. I also have zero boost, nothing, I cant even make the needle move.

My guess is that the turbo oil seals are shot, and oil is burning after the turbo heats up. Also, throttle input results in more smoke.

The engine stumbles a bit while running, not sure why. I've put new plugs, new wires, new battery, new belts, new oil and filter, new coolant.

Here's a video. If anyone has any suggestions on what is happening, or to confirm my suspicions I would really appreciate it!

Thank you!

 

the needle should at least go into vacuum. if it doenst move at all, the signal to it is bad. its signal comes from the ecu, and the signal to the ecu from the boost sensor......it would worry me alot, but if thats not connected it will run like poop.

 

oh, let me be clear. The needle is in vacuum. But won't budge from there under any throttle input.

 

Oh also, I noticed that this port was open. It appears that something has been removed but I cannot figure out what it is. It is located between the EGR and another valve just above the turbo. I blocked it off for now but what is this supposed to be?

 

mines open too, but im emissions stripped. i can't recall what does/where it goes.

 

Split air pipe. It feeds air from the air pump to the cat in certain situations. It is only needed for emissions and when running a catalytic converter.

 

it doesn't seem like an excessive amount of smoke, i'd just let it idle for a while to let everything in the turbo and engine settle back into place. if after a while of running it still is smoking alot then remove the plugs and see if they are oily, if not then start the car cold, run it for a few minutes until it smokes and then shut it off, remove the downpipe and see if the turbine section and downpipe are soaked in oil indicating a bad turbo piston ring.

 

Lyger.

If the spark plugs are covered in oil, that means leaky engine oil seals?

If the turbine/downpipe are covered in oil, that means leaking turbo seals?

Also, I cant get the turbo to build any boost. All I get is vacuum (indicated by the gauge). I also do not hear a turbo spool sound. Keeping in mind though that this is my first turbo car.

What does that indicate about the turbo?

 

no boost could be any of a number of things, first off you won't get any boost without a load on the car while driving. unlike a piston engine you won't see positive pressure unless you drive it. for the rest, yes.

some of the smoke may just be from oil that accumulated on the turbo while the car sat, or the new exhaust burning off.

 

hmm alright, I'll investigate and report back. Thank you for the help.

 

yeah, I would let it run longer to burn off whatever, they can take a while to burn everything off.

That port is for the catalytic converter, you don't need it.

it's not going to build boost without driving it.

seals could be bad on the compressor side of the turbo too to cause oil in the intake/engine

I would take the intake off the turbo and check for play in the turbo compressor wheel.