Sensei

Hey

I'm in the last steps or rebuilding a 1.6 turbo. Forged pistons, new damn near everything. I got the car fired and heat cycled yesterday, but the turbo was smoking a little, I figured no biggie since I'd spilled a little oil on it filling the engine. Got the car up to 180deg. Then shut down to check for leaks. This is my 2nd attempt at the feat, first time revealed several issue that are now solved. Anyway shut it down and got a puddle of oil indee the car. Investigated and it appears the turbo was leaking in a big way. There is no shaft play but I'd say that's oil! The turbo I believe has a restrictor in the feed line, I'll confirm that shortly. Wondering if there's what the next step may be. Is this a fixable problem or do I need a new turbo? It's a Garett 25--I'm drawing a blank.....maybe 60. The leak appears to be coming from the ring that connects the hot side to the center section. I'm not very knowledgeable on turbo anatomy.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

Are the bolts holding the drain flange to the turbo completely tight?

Sensei

I believe so, before installing the engine I checked it and it was tight. Is there a certain torque value recommended? I did not torque them.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

I don't know if there is a specific torque value for them. I just know I have had them been a bit looks and leaking in that similar spot. Just something to check before you start taking apart the rest of the turbo to figure out where the oil is coming from.

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

Usually oil on the outside of the turbo is not from an internal leak. Probably either a bad (or missing) drain gasket, or loose bolts.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

if it's actually leaking from between the chra and turbine, then it's an issue with the rings on the turbine shaft, or it's coming from the motor...

Sensei

Ok so I'm working on the car now. These bolts I can tighten with a wrench. Can I just tighten them more or is there a torque value required?

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

Those bolts would not cause a leak like that. So the oil is coming from elsewhere. Check the drain flange first.

Although those bolts being loose can cause your turbo to separate and break. So yes they should be quite tight, but not stripped.

Sensei

Awesome thank you! I'm tightening the drain line now. I put a wrench on theses just off hand and they were much looser than I was expecting. The oil seems to be coming from this ring on the bottom side, but it could also be the drain line. I'll tighten both and see where that puts me.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

that means it's getting past the oil seal on the turbine...

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

Which means dead turbo

Sensei

Yeah that's what I'm afraid of. I'm thinking it's either the drain line leaked the oil and it ran onto the hot side or the hot side itself is leaking. The shaft is solid no wiggle, no wobble no nada. Hopefully it's just the drain line!!

Sensei

Was able to tighten the left Allen bolt on the drain line 1/4 turn the bolts on the housing- some I got almost a full 360 turn on with the wrench. 2 left then I'll see how it goes. Cleaning off the old oil I'm using brake clean and a wire brush so hopefully I can pin point the source if it persists.

codrus

It could also mean the motor is blowing a ton of oil out the exhaust ports -- remember E02K's motor?

--Ian

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

This is also true.

Either way, that amount of oil should not be in the turbine housing.

Sensei

The motor is freshly rebuilt with about 5min of total run time on it at this point and only at idle. I've had problems with timing belt, leaks, bad maps and non-fictional gauges so I've only had it up past 180 deg once.

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

G's motor was a freshly rebuilt motor. With dead valve stem seals out of the box.

Sensei

Got it all set started it up. It looks like the problem is stemming from the oil return line.

Sensei

Is there supposed to be a gasket between the turbo and that fitting? Can I disassemble and just use some permatex gasket maker?

As the motor warmed up it was fine until about 160deg. Then I started to get some white smoke from the tail pipe then smoke from the turbo, im assuming as the oil leaked out into the hot side.

codrus

I can't tell from the photos -- do you think it's leaking from between the hose and the hose end, hose end and fitting, or fitting and CHRA? None of those locations will put oil in the hot side, though.

You need a gasket between the fitting and the CHRA, but not in the other two locations.

--Ian