TURBO FAILURE!

[BUBBA-KONA]

I have been running chevron oil since new. I do give it a cool down everytime I park it after a run. (this drives my wife crazy!). Only mods are a BAE CAI and axle back exhaust.
This is my work car, (I'm a manufactures rep.) so I do not abuse it at all. I am going to try and get some pictures of the dead unit if there is anything to see to share with you all. I will try nad get the straight skinny from my service rep when I pick up the car next week.... I hope

[BUBBA-KONA]

3Bar... A valve stem seal was my first thought also. When I explained what was going on to the service writer, I told him it was like an old Chevy with bad valve guides. Decel down a hill ... cloud of smoke at the bottom ... I am going to ask to see the parts and get an explanation of the trouble so I can pass it on to you good folks. SOON I HOPE!

[Gary04GT]

Sorry about your turbo engine problem but it is nice to hear that your dealership is making things right for you. Good luck.

[Turbo Tommy]

I would bet that the seals on the exhaust side of the turbos bearings has gone, and now the oil is just getting into the exhaust, causeing the blue smoke. Not uncommon on much older turbos, when the garrett turbo on my daytona was rebuilt, that was leaking a little, causeing a lite smoke at cold start.

Otherwise for 150k on it it was looking pretty good, with only mild play, the water cooled bearings helped alot. The rest of the motor was pretty trashed though which shows how well chrysler engineered those eighties turbos.

Yes we use a mitsubishi turbo, but they have built turbos for years, and the 2.5 chrysler motors used them also. Many lasting longer than the motor, hopefully it is an icolated case what your experienceing.

[3BarBoost]

Any new news? Still betting it isn't the turbo...

[Exhaust Depot]

The turbo will dish out alot of smoke during idle when the seal blows inside of it. Usually when you take it on a run you will not see the smoke until you let it idle. Its a defective turbo, it happens.

[3BarBoost]

All I'm saying is this kind of failure (a defective turbo seal) usually shows up WAY before 15k miles. Just really curious...

[BUBBA-KONA]

Ok here is what I know. They had the car for exactly two weeks. The engineers asked my dealer to run a compression and cylinder leakage test which it passed. They then asked them to check the PCV system for problems... it passed that test. They then asked them to check the axial and end play. There was axial play so they replaced the turbo exhaust manifold assembly and re-set the adaptive memory. (I guess i have to re-train the car all over again!)
Now that I have driven it after it's return, I have noticed that there is a lot less turbo noise than before. After I changed the intake to the BAE CAI I think I was hearing some bearing noise, but was not aware that it was anything but normal since it had always been that way. I think I just got a bad turbo from the get-go. I would like to install a "Turbo Timer"... what do you guys feel is the hot set-up and where can I get one. I am getting weary of leaving it running with the key in it in my driveway.
Your thoughts on this whole thing would be welcome of course.

[3BarBoost]

So it was a thrust bearing failure (or defect) leading to a seal failure. Hmm, did you get a new wastegate, surge valve or vacuum lines in the deal? The axial play is one of those things MHI checks as part of the manufacturing process, since compressor to housing clearance is critical for turbo performance - so the bearing either wore out or got damaged after installation. Usually this is from a surge valve leak allowing turbo overspeed. Did the car perform normally (make good torque) before your cloud of smoke? It sounds like it.

The water cooling circuit for the turbo bearing is designed to allow siphon convection of the bearing housing after shut down, essentially preventing excess heat build-up same as a turbo timer. I would recommend against a turbo timer - but then would be accused of having some ulterior motive, so I won't say either way. But search through the threads and form your own opinion.

[Kirby]

3Bar,
It takes so many words for you to say something profound and simple as you just did. Please correct me:

Installing a turbo timer may be of minimal effectiveness due to the way the turbo bearing is cooled?

No conspiracy!