Is the turbo gone ??

[spoed]

The 400 I just bought guzzles oil at a rate of up to 2 pints per 1000km.
I knew about it and am investigating the cause. Upon removing the pressure ducts from turbo to intercooler, I found the rear turbo duct moist with oil. Not dripping, but it has had oily air running through it.
I also saw about a teaspoon worth of oil in the intercooler. [Looked through the outlet hole with a torch].
I think the front turbo is toast. But before I start stripping, is some oil in the duct acceptable? Any other checks i should do ??

[BobE]

Do you get blue smoke following you?

[Jim O.]

Might not be a bad turbo - remove and check the inlet pipe for the front turbo. Might be oil from the vent on the breather can, which could possibly mean engine issues. If the oil is coming from the breather, you might want to get compression and leakdown tests done on your engine...

[Gadgeroonie]

its possible the turbo is ok - its not uncommon to find a trace of oil in the inlets tract

i suggest you get a compression check and leakdown test done to see if the engine is worn

if the turbo's were shot there would be a lot of smoke

does the engine smoke at start up

does it smoke if you give it a hard rev

[spoed]

Never thought the vent would pump oil unless the car was tracked and oil sloshed around a lot. Would ring blowbys pressurize the sump sufficiently to spill oil out ?
In any event, youre all right, I need to do a proper survey and blow by.
Ill get back with details.

[JLSELAN]

spoed said:

Never thought the vent would pump oil unless the car was tracked and oil sloshed around a lot. Would ring blowbys pressurize the sump sufficiently to spill oil out ?
In any event, youre all right, I need to do a proper survey and blow by.
Ill get back with details.

In a word--Yes. Especially on a turbo equipped motor. Most likely, when it comes out of the breather it's oil vapor rather than oil, but it condenses to oil rather quickly. For a quick check: after a thorough warm up and with the engine at idle, disconnect the breather pipe at the swirl pot inlet and check to see if it is putting out vapor at positive pressure. Rev the motor a few times to see if there is any change in what comes out of the pipe. A "tight" motor will have little or no breather positive pressure and no change with revs.

[spoed]

JLSELAN said:

In a word--Yes. Especially on a turbo equipped motor. Most likely, when it comes out of the breather it's oil vapor rather than oil, but it condenses to oil rather quickly. For a quick check: after a thorough warm up and with the engine at idle, disconnect the breather pipe at the swirl pot inlet and check to see if it is putting out vapor at positive pressure. Rev the motor a few times to see if there is any change in what comes out of the pipe. A "tight" motor will have little or no breather positive pressure and no change with revs.

Didnt have much time today, but pulled off the breather at duct inlet and found the breather rather dry.
I will try the pressure test as well. Seems like a good idea.