Hi all.

I bought a 1990 turbo'd mx5. I was wondering if you guys could help with an issue.

When I drive longer journeys, more than say 20 minutes, when I slow down or come to a stop a load of white smokes comes out my left headlight surround and the cabin fills with a burning smell. I quickly jump out my bucket seat (not quickly!) and open the bonnet and the smoke is coming from below the turbo. I look under the car and it seems to be coming from the downpipe (which is wrapped). It only smokes for about 15 seconds after I pull over which makes it hard to diagnose. Do you think a small oil leak could be leaking onto the wrap and burning off? The thing is it does this for long journeys and doesn't just burn off in the first 20 minutes it will smoke for a couple hours. Would burning oil give pure white smoke and a distinctive burning smell? I presume the downpipe isn't leaking itself as then it would smell like fumes not a burning smell.

Turbo is a GT2560 and only 6 months old. It looks like the turbo is causing the smoke initially but the smoke is definitely coming from below it.

It's worse on motorway journeys rather than around town. My car sits off boost on the motorway too so not stressing the turbo at all.

Maybe this has happened to someone else? Cheers guys
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Most likely an oil leak at either the turbo oil feed or drain is dripping on down pipe and then smoking.

 

Check below the dipstick tube where it connects to the block - I thought my oil drain was leaking and it actually turned out to be the very bottom of the dipstick tube.