I got home from a drive today and noticed steam/smoke rolling out from under my hood on the turbo side. It wasn't pooring out like when you over heat a car badly, but it was noticable, and is definitely from oil not water.

I popped the hood, and its coming from the turbo. The oil feed (banjo bolt) and drain look to be fine, and I don't see any leaks. Does this mean oil is leaking past a seal in the turbo and getting into the hotside and burning? Or is this a symptom of the turbo not getting oil and just starting to cook (maybe an oil line blockage, but i guess then it wouldn't really smell like oil because there'd be no oil in it)? It wasn't bright red or anything though.

The turbo is pretty old and warn out, so i guess this can be expected. Before i take it off i was wondering if anyone else has had this symptom before.

thanks.

 

Has anyone else had a similar problem? I don't have any smoke coming out of the exhaust, it seems to just be radiating from the turbo itself. There is no oil around the oil feed banjo bolt so I don't think its leaking, but im not sure of any other place the oil could be coming from.

 

My same problem different turbo. Holset hx52. Oil looks to be coming fron turbine housing onto the center section. Seems like seals

 

Colin, if it's coming from the engine bay and it's turbo related I'll put money that the oil feed fitting/flange (whatever you're using) or the oil return fitting/flange is leaking. It doesn't take much oil to make smoke so the fact that you don't see any visible oil doesn't roll it out. If you're using gaskets simply replace them. Take the fittings or flanges off and freshen up a little bit before you get too worried. Call me if you need me. Take care!

 

Thanks Lance, I''m thinking it may be the oil feed banjo bolt washers, maybe they are leaking so little that all of the oil completely burns off. I'll swap them this weekend and see what happens.

 

What do you think lance?

40 weight?

50 weight?


Sorry. I couldn't resist. I'm tired and it's oil related and your friend is named lance. Too easy.

 

Yeah yeah yeah... and FYI I use 10w40!

 

The turbo is probably leaking between the center section and turbine housing. This is common when the rear piston ring on a turbo starts to leak.