Turbo Oil Leak - Help! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Shake & Bake · 04-03-2016, 10:04 AM

I have the standard Turbonetics stage 2 kit and I can't figure out how to stop an oil leak that is only on the exhaust turbine side downstream of the turbo. I am running a 416 stroker with high volume Melling oil pump but pressure seems to be normal using the stock gauge.

I had a second shop inspect the install and everything appears to be per Turbonetics install instructions but even rebuilding the turbo (after calling Turbonetics) and adding a restrictor (need to check size) didn't solve the problem.

This only seems to happen after a high boost pull.

Do I need to add a scavenge pump on the downstream side and/or increase the size of the tube? Other thoughts?

dreksnot · 04-03-2016, 11:39 AM

http://turbolabofamerica.com/causes-...burn-oil-find/

Shake & Bake · 04-03-2016, 08:16 PM

Thanks for the info dreksnot but I have an update and maybe someone can point me in a more specific direction. I finally got some good seat time in today and smoking was very minimal until I sat at idle for an extended duration. Even after normal (no/low boost) driving, I encountered an enormous amount of smoke - very embarassing...had to turn the car off while in line at a drive-thru.

There seems to be a correlation between turbo temp and smoking - does that make sense? I do have a very good "lava rock" blanket that I'm sure keeps the turbine wicked hot.

After driving for a while, I could see the underhood temp drop by about 6 deg and no more smoke. I then let it idle again and no smoke but the temp remained low. Now I'm wondering if it's related to coolant flow.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Moreair1 · 04-04-2016, 09:07 AM

What type and weight of oil are you running?

DaFisch · 04-04-2016, 12:53 PM

sounds like a tuning issue.

Elite Engineering · 04-04-2016, 03:52 PM

What are you doing for crankcase evacuation? If your using a gravity oil return and have no constant evacuation, the pressure in the crankcase can prevent oil from draining back. With a sump tank and scavenge pump this is not usually an issue, but show us what your doing for PCV system. Turbo's need the proper system, and far too often people just add breathers or vent. This will lead to other issues over time as well.

Taco Time · 04-04-2016, 04:56 PM

I've been having the same issues. For my car it was pressure in the crank case. I'm having one of these fancy boxes fabbed up for me.

Shake & Bake · 04-04-2016, 08:02 PM

I'm running 5w30 amsoil racing oil temporarily but had similar problem with amsoil 5w30 synthetic before having the turbo rebuilt (to no avail). I'm running stock pcv valve with elite catch can and no ventilation to atmosphere. I'll check the pcv but it seems odd that I wouldn't see smoke under boost...just afterward and even after no boost. I have a low compression setup so is there something other than boost driven blowby that can cause high crankcase pressure build up? Sorry, I'm ignorant!

Nice setup Taco Time...did you or will you have to retune?

Moreair1 · 04-04-2016, 11:08 PM

Have you tried a thicker oil to see what happens? If I remember right my instructions told me to not use 5w oil but 10w 30 or 10w 40, when your car gets hot the oil gets thinner and then when in boost it maybe pushing it out of the turbo housing and into the exhaust, I'm still. Learning the ins and outs of turbos so probably not the real issue but an idea

Moreair1 · 04-04-2016, 11:38 PM

And this quote was in dreksnot's link as well
improper Oil Weight. Just like Engines, Turbochargers have a Required Thickness of Oil to be Used. If you Use too Thin of oil Weight For the Ambient Temperatures, Your Turbo can Result in Blowing Oil. The Minimum Weight Required is 10w 30, But Often Some People Are Able to Run 5W Oil in Their Cars in Below 0 Degree Temperatures, but just Remember Your taking a Risk if You Forget to change the OIl When Warmer Temperatures Come Around, Your Turbo Will Fail Quickly!

But wish you the best of luck with your issue

GetYouOne · 04-05-2016, 02:39 AM

For me it was too late I was building a lot of back pressure and it blew the seals in the turbo. Not sure what happened, but my catch can was set up properly. Got it rebuilt and put an oil restrictor on it as a added precaution measure. It was pretty bad.

I'm running high flow cats, but will be removing those next month to free up backpressure.

Taco Time · 04-05-2016, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shake & Bake

I'm running 5w30 amsoil racing oil temporarily but had similar problem with amsoil 5w30 synthetic before having the turbo rebuilt (to no avail). I'm running stock pcv valve with elite catch can and no ventilation to atmosphere. I'll check the pcv but it seems odd that I wouldn't see smoke under boost...just afterward and even after no boost. I have a low compression setup so is there something other than boost driven blowby that can cause high crankcase pressure build up? Sorry, I'm ignorant!

Nice setup Taco Time...did you or will you have to retune?

That's not my engine bay. That's off a different car at the shop. Just using it as an example of what they're making for me.

I think the shop has now put 10w30 in my car but I will ask them to be certain. Mine was doing something similar. When driving it wouldn't smoke. It would smoke on deceleration or at idle (sitting at a stop light).

And yes. completely retuning it. Going from NA on current tune to turbos with e85.

Shake & Bake · 04-06-2016, 12:04 AM

I'm checking on the oil weight again with my shop, but it's been in 40's/50's lately. But, that doesn't matter if things are running hot under the hood. My very crude temperature sensor for now is actually what feeds the display on the radio. I saw it spike to over 80 deg when ambient was around 50 and smokefest. The turbo has always affected the reading.

I was also running solo hfc's until I melted one, hydrolocked, cracked a piston, bent 3 rods, etc. Never saw smoke before but I wonder if oil spraying on the cat killed it...hmmm.

Shake & Bake · 04-06-2016, 12:06 AM

I'm checking on the oil weight again with my shop, but it's been in 40's/50's lately. But, that doesn't matter if things are running hot under the hood. My very crude temperature sensor for now is actually what feeds the display on the radio. I saw it spike to over 80 deg when ambient was around 50 and smokefest. The turbo has always affected the reading.

I was also running solo hfc's until I melted one, hydrolocked, cracked a piston, bent 3 rods, etc. Never saw smoke before but I wonder if oil spraying on the cat killed it...hmmm.

04-03-2016, 10:04 AM	#1
Shake & Bake Drives: 2011 Black 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Cary, IL Posts: 28	Turbo Oil Leak - Help! I have the standard Turbonetics stage 2 kit and I can't figure out how to stop an oil leak that is only on the exhaust turbine side downstream of the turbo. I am running a 416 stroker with high volume Melling oil pump but pressure seems to be normal using the stock gauge. I had a second shop inspect the install and everything appears to be per Turbonetics install instructions but even rebuilding the turbo (after calling Turbonetics) and adding a restrictor (need to check size) didn't solve the problem. This only seems to happen after a high boost pull. Do I need to add a scavenge pump on the downstream side and/or increase the size of the tube? Other thoughts?

04-03-2016, 11:39 AM	#2
dreksnot Served USN - Atomic Chimp Drives: 2021 Camaro ZL1 1LE A10 (stock) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 1,710 View My Garage	http://turbolabofamerica.com/causes-...burn-oil-find/ __________________ > > 2021 Camaro ZL1 1LE A10 > > Past Builds: 2013 Twin-Turbo LSX434 M6 - 1,359rwhp daily

04-04-2016, 09:07 AM	#4
Moreair1 Drives: 2011 ss convertible Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,329 View My Garage	What type and weight of oil are you running? __________________ Cai intake and a few other mods😎

04-04-2016, 12:53 PM	#5
DaFisch Master Amateur Mechanic Drives: Victory Red 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: South Barrington, IL Posts: 1,719	sounds like a tuning issue. __________________ 2011 Victory Red 22/RS Forged 418 Ls3 from Texas Speed, LSX heads from Texas Speed, Tick Turbo cam, Jakes/PCM/Billet 4l80e, 3200 Stall converter from Circle D, DSS 750 hp axles, DSS aluminum driveshaft, stock 3.23 gears, TSW Wheels Front 20x10 Rear 20x11.5, Fabberage Twin Turbo Supercharger Killer kit with Upgraded Turbos, Squash Dual fuel pump, Full BMR Suspension/bushings, Holly High Rise intake manifold, ID1300 Injectors, Megan Coilovers, PCM of NC plug and play trans kit. HP/TQ TBA

04-04-2016, 04:56 PM	#7
Taco Time Drives: 2014 1SS Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Angleton, TX Posts: 1,338 View My Garage	I've been having the same issues. For my car it was pressure in the crank case. I'm having one of these fancy boxes fabbed up for me. Attached Images __________________ Taco's 2014 SS Mods: 417 Stroker \| CAI \| Bo's PTB \| Kooks LTs \| Flowmaster Outlaw Catback \| Night Fury Cam \| Powerbond UDP \| Apex Catch Can \|PRC Ported Heads \|FAST 102 Intake \|Suspension Crap\| Built by J-Rod.

04-03-2016, 08:16 PM	#3
Shake & Bake Drives: 2011 Black 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Cary, IL Posts: 28	Thanks for the info dreksnot but I have an update and maybe someone can point me in a more specific direction. I finally got some good seat time in today and smoking was very minimal until I sat at idle for an extended duration. Even after normal (no/low boost) driving, I encountered an enormous amount of smoke - very embarassing...had to turn the car off while in line at a drive-thru. There seems to be a correlation between turbo temp and smoking - does that make sense? I do have a very good "lava rock" blanket that I'm sure keeps the turbine wicked hot. After driving for a while, I could see the underhood temp drop by about 6 deg and no more smoke. I then let it idle again and no smoke but the temp remained low. Now I'm wondering if it's related to coolant flow. Thanks in advance for any advice.

04-04-2016, 03:52 PM	#6
Elite Engineering Drives: 2010 Camaro Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 1,383	What are you doing for crankcase evacuation? If your using a gravity oil return and have no constant evacuation, the pressure in the crankcase can prevent oil from draining back. With a sump tank and scavenge pump this is not usually an issue, but show us what your doing for PCV system. Turbo's need the proper system, and far too often people just add breathers or vent. This will lead to other issues over time as well.

04-04-2016, 08:02 PM	#8
Shake & Bake Drives: 2011 Black 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Cary, IL Posts: 28	I'm running 5w30 amsoil racing oil temporarily but had similar problem with amsoil 5w30 synthetic before having the turbo rebuilt (to no avail). I'm running stock pcv valve with elite catch can and no ventilation to atmosphere. I'll check the pcv but it seems odd that I wouldn't see smoke under boost...just afterward and even after no boost. I have a low compression setup so is there something other than boost driven blowby that can cause high crankcase pressure build up? Sorry, I'm ignorant! Nice setup Taco Time...did you or will you have to retune?

04-04-2016, 11:08 PM	#9
Moreair1 Drives: 2011 ss convertible Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,329 View My Garage	Have you tried a thicker oil to see what happens? If I remember right my instructions told me to not use 5w oil but 10w 30 or 10w 40, when your car gets hot the oil gets thinner and then when in boost it maybe pushing it out of the turbo housing and into the exhaust, I'm still. Learning the ins and outs of turbos so probably not the real issue but an idea __________________ Cai intake and a few other mods😎

04-04-2016, 11:38 PM	#10
Moreair1 Drives: 2011 ss convertible Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,329 View My Garage	And this quote was in dreksnot's link as well improper Oil Weight. Just like Engines, Turbochargers have a Required Thickness of Oil to be Used. If you Use too Thin of oil Weight For the Ambient Temperatures, Your Turbo can Result in Blowing Oil. The Minimum Weight Required is 10w 30, But Often Some People Are Able to Run 5W Oil in Their Cars in Below 0 Degree Temperatures, but just Remember Your taking a Risk if You Forget to change the OIl When Warmer Temperatures Come Around, Your Turbo Will Fail Quickly! But wish you the best of luck with your issue __________________ Cai intake and a few other mods😎

04-05-2016, 02:39 AM	#11
GetYouOne Drives: 2012 2SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 1,595	For me it was too late I was building a lot of back pressure and it blew the seals in the turbo. Not sure what happened, but my catch can was set up properly. Got it rebuilt and put an oil restrictor on it as a added precaution measure. It was pretty bad. I'm running high flow cats, but will be removing those next month to free up backpressure.

04-06-2016, 12:04 AM	#13
Shake & Bake Drives: 2011 Black 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Cary, IL Posts: 28	I'm checking on the oil weight again with my shop, but it's been in 40's/50's lately. But, that doesn't matter if things are running hot under the hood. My very crude temperature sensor for now is actually what feeds the display on the radio. I saw it spike to over 80 deg when ambient was around 50 and smokefest. The turbo has always affected the reading. I was also running solo hfc's until I melted one, hydrolocked, cracked a piston, bent 3 rods, etc. Never saw smoke before but I wonder if oil spraying on the cat killed it...hmmm.

04-06-2016, 12:06 AM	#14
Shake & Bake Drives: 2011 Black 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Cary, IL Posts: 28	I'm checking on the oil weight again with my shop, but it's been in 40's/50's lately. But, that doesn't matter if things are running hot under the hood. My very crude temperature sensor for now is actually what feeds the display on the radio. I saw it spike to over 80 deg when ambient was around 50 and smokefest. The turbo has always affected the reading. I was also running solo hfc's until I melted one, hydrolocked, cracked a piston, bent 3 rods, etc. Never saw smoke before but I wonder if oil spraying on the cat killed it...hmmm.