So after all these months of getting my TT Project completed. I finally started it today. I was suprised at how it was a little quieter than it used to be, untill the turbos started spooling up, then it sounded like nothing else in the world.. (the sound is pure sweetness). Anyways I have come across some issues. First let me tell you I havn't begune to look into these issues yet, just observed them.

1: It just won't Idle.
2: When turning over the engine smoke pours out of the valve breather holes.
3: When running smoke POURS out of the valve breather holes.

4: Well thats all I have really noticed so far except for the fact that I noticed some oil comming out of my turbine outlet. Kinda bothers me, since it is brand new.

Possible questions. Since I had my Heads O-ringed, the shop suggested that I use Copper Wire for the O-rings instead of Steel. I am running 93 thousands thick copper gaskets. what are some of the tell tale signs of a leaky/ (not properly sealed) head gasket?? I do not have any coolent running in my engine as of yet. "no need to since I am only test starting it"

I am assuming that there is some vacume since my head lights do come up, But on my Boost guage there was no vacume at all.. "though the reasoning for that could partly be due to the goofy sealing system Autometer used. I think I might have crushed the line when tightening down the nut.

hmm.. anyways, any info as to why there would be smoke or some sort of gas pouring out of my valve covers would be greatly appricated..


I will keep you all informed as of my status.. if any of you are intrested.

"and I will take pictures."

 

That's awesome.

How are the turbo's plumbed and drained for oiling. You say they are new, so the seals should obviously be good. Are the turbo's in a high mount position, where gravity can drain the oil from the turbo's? A -12 or equivalent line is recommended for the turbo oil drain, and make sure it is draining above the oil level in the oil pan. What size are you using to feed the oil to the turbo. If it's more than a -4, you might want to put a restrictor in it. The seals on the turbine shaft are not made to handle alot of oil, and too much oil volume or pressure can overwhelm them, putting oil into the intake tract and turning your engine into a pretty effective smoke machine.

 

I believe my oil inlet lines are -4, and my outlets are -12, But now that I think about it, I had some real steel braided heater hose. "not to sure what size that is," I had sitting in my garage, I ended up using that instead of the -12. I am going to double check to make sure the lines come out above the oil level in the pan, I am pretty sure it does however. I am no too worried about the seals though cause I tested the seals earlier by putting oil in the turbos and resting them on the turbine outlet side, and no oil leaked out.

The only thing that really has me worried is the Smoke pouring out of the Valve cover baffles when I go to start it. From what I remember I don't think that is normal. but when I but a breather cap on it it doesn't seem to throw out smoke. but still I don't think it should when the cap is off though.

 

No, smoke coming out of the breather cap isn't "normal", but it could be caused by a couple of things. Since this is a new engine that hasn't been had a load put on it, the piston rings are probably not fully seated yet. Also, depending on how long the engine has sat with motor oil in it, and depending on how the weather has been, the oil could have enough water condensation in it that is is creating some smoke as it vaporizes and burns off.

Does the smoke emitted change with engine rpm. Does the smoke stop when the engine is under a high vacuum condition, like when it is decelerating rpm with the throttle closed?

Also, it sounds like you are just running breathers, with no PCV. With this setup, you would normally tend to see a little more smoke in the valve covers since you are sucking the crankcase vapor into the intake via the PCV.

Oh yeah, I wouldn't run it without water/coolant in it either. I understand that you were just starting it, but the engine should always have coolant in it. The coolant is needed to lubricate the water pump, as well as provide for a means of cooling. The areas around the combustion chamber, expecially in the cylinder heads can get hot very quickly, and without water in the cooling system, you have no way of knowing what the actual engine temp is.


[Modified by Monty, 2:56 PM 3/11/2002]

 

Yes, Keep us updated.
Do you have any pics?

Is it possible to have too much oil going into your turbo?

 

Well after playing with it today some more, and since I only have one breather cap at the moment, I covered the other with tape. and the smoke issue stopped, though it's still to early to tell if that was the only problem. I have only run the engine probabily a maximum of 40 seconds. "reason being it just will not idle. the other source of smoke was infact comming from the passenger side turbo. I opened it up and re torqued it down, and then adjusted the bering housing so it was more vertical. I am going to give it one more shot tomarrow and see if it in fact stopped the smoking issue. Thanks for letting me know about the water pump issue, I will add coolent first thing tomarrow before I start it again.

If all goes right, only thing I will have left to do is get her to stay running.

I need to get ahold of a digital camera then I will take some pictures. Thanks to all of your for your help, I really appricate it.

Aaron