installed turbos, now white smoke
 

I just finished installing new (used) set of twins, and when i started it I had some white smoke coming out of the area. at first I thought it might just be some fluids burning off as it warmed up, like pb blaster or coolant that leaked out, but i doubt that. I torqued everything acording to the shop manual. I reused the gaskets, because they were in good condition, and I sanded down the surfaces to make sure they were pretty clean. should I have tightened everything down a little harder sense they were old gaskets, or is their something else I should consider?

Thanks,
Dale

Did you re-use the copper crush washers that seal the coolant lines to the turbos? White smoke is usually coolant. Those crush washers cannot be re-used as they will almost always leak. If its on the inside of the turbo you will be pulling them off again as it is right up against the lower intake manifold and impossible to get at while in the car. My general rule is to replace EVERY gasket that gets crushed down. Not worth my time doing it twice to possible save a few bucks. The only ones I ever re-use is the turbo to manifold and manifold to motor gaskets only after careful inspection.

Never took those coolant lines off, just the hoses. I did use new gaskets for the oil drain lines though. I looked around the coolant hoses and didn't see any leaking out, but they are hard to see. It almost seems like the smoke is just coming off the downpipe, I'm getting back to think its just residue burning off, I did spill a decent amount of coolant when I took the hoses off and I'm not sure glycol will evaporate with water.

Thanks for advice,
Dale

How long have you let the car run? It will usually take 20 mins of idleing before the car stops smoking due to the PB plaster and mess you have made around the turbos. If it smokes after 25 mins of idleing I would start first by checking how tight the coolant line fittings are. Im pretty sure you can get to both of them but I know it is very difficult.

Good luck

Skor, thats what I wanted to hear. I didn't let it run long because the smoke scared me a bit. I'l try letting it burn off next time I'm working on it.

Cheers,
Dale