Bad Valve Seals or Turbo?

[MandTPhotography]

Basically, I've got a T25 that's been on the car for almost two years at 14lbs.

I noticed that my car randomly started to smoke like a motherfucker at idle, getting progressively worse as the car warms up.

While driving it's okay, but when I come to sit at a stoplight or something, my car just smokes like crazy.

Other than a leakdown, is there any easy way to tell what it is?

The smoke is a whiteish color in appearance. Smells horrid too.

Helppppppppppp!
:wtf:

[Redsunz916]

sounds and smells like u blew some oil seals in that t25. im surprised it lasted 2 years

[Sileighty_85]

do a compression test

Usually white smoke mean a blown head gasket which is coolant burring,
does it smell sweet?

[eklips3]

that sounds like a turbo seal is done.

do a compression test just incase though.

[jdm213]

it could be both coolant from hg or blown seals ?

[jisatsu]

so a blown HG can cause the exact same symptoms (meaning, it doesn't smoke while in gear & driving?)

i got the same symptoms... only smokes while idling.

[fliprayzin240sx]

Its a blown seal...smokes at idle due to the turbo having no load on it and basically lets coolant seep thru into the exhaust housing. Pop the inlet elbow and check the shaft play.

[jisatsu]

sorry, but what does the shaft play have to do with the broken seal

(my first turbo car... i have no idea)

[jza240sx]

If it smells like oil burning or straight up smells bad(It smelled like ass in my situation) then your turbo is going. It doesnt hurt to check compression tho :)

[rebornS14]

had the same problem, smoke was white, didnt have smell of coolant and compression was fine. it was my turbo so i got a GT28 and called it a day.

[jza240sx]

^^^^:stupid:^^^^

[spooled240]

from my understanding:

blown turbo seals would make the car smoke almost all the time, driving/idling especially on boost

bad valve seals would only smoke if the car was idling for a while and you puff a cloud of blue smoke.

I changed my valve seals and my car still puffed a cloud of blue smoke after idling for a long time until recently when it stopped smoking..I think the oil level was too high (my KA is weird, 4qts is overfilled on the dipstick)

still smells though, but that's just the test pipe ;)

[TheWolf]

Its a blown seal...smokes at idle due to the turbo having no load on it and basically lets coolant seep thru into the exhaust housing. Pop the inlet elbow and check the shaft play.

there is zero ways for coolant to get into the exhaust or intake unless the center section cracks or breaks into pieces. Zero.

the coolant just cools the cast iron around the oil floating bearing section.

If the smoke is sweet then it's coolant and coming from the engine.

If it's oil then pull the hot pipe off the turbo and check for oily residue on the inside of it. It's rare for oil to leak around the mainshaft seal in the exhaust side of the turbo without leaking past the thrust bearing cold side. If all this checks out fine then it's probably valve stem seals. Usually stem seals will be worse when the motor is cold and have sat all night. Should send a good size ploom of smoke and then a little at idle warmed up.

Since you say it gets worse while warmed I've got a sneaking suspicion that you've got a blown HG. Check and see if your low on coolant and if it's pressurizing the cooling system.

[MandTPhotography]

Well, as an update, I replaced the turbo with a brand new T25 and 90% of the smoking went away. It doesn't smoke under boost or while driving, but when it idles (Only sometimes...) it'll sit there and smoke for a while.

It's wierd though because it's intermittent and only just happens sometimes. It's more whiteish than anything else. Lingers for a while.

[rb25_s13*CHUKI]

Well, as an update, I replaced the turbo with a brand new T25 and 90% of the smoking went away. It doesn't smoke under boost or while driving, but when it idles (Only sometimes...) it'll sit there and smoke for a while.

It's wierd though because it's intermittent and only just happens sometimes. It's more whiteish than anything else. Lingers for a while.

compression test It. could be rings,head gasket slightly ripped or damaged. rings could be on their way out. maybe valve seals. comp test It and let us know!

[MandTPhotography]

Will do. Got a crazy ass work schedule, but I'll test it ASAP.

Last time I checked it, compression was a little low. I can't remember exactly, but I think it was in the 120's.

[jza240sx]

Will do. Got a crazy ass work schedule, but I'll test it ASAP.

Last time I checked it, compression was a little low. I can't remember exactly, but I think it was in the 120's.

dam 120......

[MandTPhotography]

Yeah I'm not 100% on that though.

[MandTPhotography]

Also, it's white smoke. I'm going to get a compression test ASAP.

[MandTPhotography]

Alright, well I got a leakdown test and here was the results.

1st Cylinder: 7%
2nd Cylinder: 15%
3rd Cylinder: 65%
4th Cylinder: 25%

Well, obviously the third cylinder is pretty shitted on. I poured two capfulls of ATF into the cylinder to try and seal some shit up.

What are my options here?...

Also the tuner said that the oil could be from the IACV being cracked.

[MandTPhotography]

After I poured the two capfulls of ATF in the car and let it run, it only smokes when it's been idling for a long time.


Aside from the leakdown problems, I think my valvestem seals may be bad, or going bad.

[MandTPhotography]

Well, nothing matters anymore because last night rod #3 decided to break in half.


Rebuild time. =/

[D.Adams]

that fucking sucks ass ... i was about to see if you wanted my spare set of sr oem valve guide seals for only the shiping cost.

why did #3 rod snap did you hydrolock the motor

[MandTPhotography]

I don't know for sure if it snapped or not, but I have TERRIBLE rod knock. Car started after I shut it down the first time, but straight up won't crank anymore. It's done.

I suppose it's going to be rebuilt with a standalone and a 2871. =/

Edit: And no, it didn't hydrolock.

[buentellomma]

my car is doing the same, runs great, doesnt smoke when i first start it up or while im driving but when im idling, it looks like my car is on fire. pulled the spark plugs they looked good, so im leaning towards my turbo being bad

[MandTPhotography]

valve stem seals or turbo, I'd say. 90% of my smoke went away when I replaced the turbo...for a while at least.

[buentellomma]

i think its the turbo because my car still runs great, and it only starts smoking after about 10 mins of driving, if its cold outside i can make it about 20mins before my car covers everyone behide me lol.

[MandTPhotography]

^ One thing I noticed too. When I had both efans going, it smoked a LOT less.