My car has a GT25R turbo fitted which was rebuilt about 30000miles ago along with the pistons.
However, I'm getting blue smoke from the exhaust when the car is warming up and stationary. Temp will be about 45-60degrees coolant and it seems a fair bit from exhaust but I'm using barely any oil. Otherwise, other than a poor cold idle (suspect iscv) and the turbo overboosting, the car seems fine and drives fine. Am I likely to be looking at ruined turbo or pistons? The turbo has a blue tinge to it and defo has oil seeping through the seals and I read if the pistons were leaking the car wouldn't run barely.

Advice please?

 

well if its burning oil there are only really a few ways it can get in to the cylinders, valve stem seals, leaking oil on the compressor side of the turbo, getting by the piston rings which i would think unlikely, have a look for oil in the boost pipes to see if its the turbo, then start looking at the head if its the valve stem seals you need to take the head off.

 

There is an oily residue in the boost pipework yes, I was looking a few days ago when the compressed outlet from the turbo came off. Recently a test was done and the emissions were a joke really. Would it be cheaper to buy a new turbo (GT2554R) or would another GT25 turbo fit straight on without any new mapping needing done? Ie a focus RS turbo

Out of interest, how does it affect the turbo if it has 360 bearings and race spec balancing?

 

I think i have mentioned this before but it could be your pistons, when i stripped the T230 engine i have down to a bare block 2 of the pistons had cracked between the rings, part of the piston between the rings fell out when i removed it and another chunk came off another when i took the rings off. The metal was black under the bits that fell out indicating that they had been like that a while and whilst the engine was running, the only symptoms this threw up was a little blue smoke as you have. Maybe get the RS pistons as a cheap fix they dont come up very often but you will need a very low milage block with little wear to fit used standard size pistons in a worn standard size bore. Personally i would never be comftable doing this. I cant read your PM im having problems with PF at the moment
I think the T series engines were ok in the short term but they all seem to be having similar problems now they are getting on a bit, standard zetec pistons do not like boost

 

Would the RS pistons fit a 1.8 block?

 

yes if you get the block bored out

 

What's the different sizes and what's a rough ball park cost? Obviously block would be 1.9 or so afterwards.

 

Na would take it up to 2.0 the stroke is the same on 1.8 and 2.0 just different bore, doubt it would cost much contact a local engineering firm.

 

I think you can get low comp 1.8 zetec pistons from PEC?

 

I've had a suggestion from Ian Howell to just get a new crate block and start from there. But would I be better off with a new bottom end? Decided not to go for more power and keep it original spec'd so no need for forging it.
I had a look at the smoke earlier and it seems it is coming from where the exhaust downpipe joins the turbo. Its a bit loose and only really happens when I blip the throttle though it does a little smoke just sitting on idle. And only when it's just warming up. One garage has said likely just turbo and another said likely pistons and turbo. Can I check anyway for sure? Car uses a little oil but only maximum mark to minimum in 3 or 4 weeks.
There's a new 1.8 blacktop on eBay, still in wrapper for £650ish iirc that I was looking at but input welcome lads.

 

Just backing up a bit, you can't bore a 1.8 block to 2.0; the bore wall would then be too thin !

Modern CI blocks do not wear nearly as much as they use to. I've put FRS piston/rod sets into a couple of 50-80K engines with no problem at all.

Martin

 

if you are looking to buy a new or other engine why not go for a 2.0 since you need a new one anyway

 

Car came with 1.8 and I'd prefer to keep everything original as possible.

 

As said previously i belive the 1.8 block has a water jacket between cylinders, the 2.0L does not so if you too a 1.8 up to 2.0L it would break into a water jacket, you will need a 2.0L block if you want to run RS pistons, for the right price i may be presuaded to sell you my T230 2.0L block at least then its still a genuine Montune T series engine

 

The 1.8 still has a siamesed cylinder walls. By using different mould cores, the wall thickness is kept optimal. That's why the block has 1.8, as with the 2.0, cast on the outside to identify it easily. Pity they don't do that for the machined heads as well.

Martin

 

Sp3no, Could be interested mate yeah. Are you still having pm issues or they sorted? If it's easier, pm me an idea of how much you'd want and I'll see where we are from there. Gonna try and get a leak down test done asap so I know if engine is on it's way out or just turbo. But I've read that if it were pistons, I would have alot of smoke constantly and if it were stem seals, it would smoke from first start for a bit. And the car actually does neither of these. Would plugs go black if I was burning oil (thinking piston or ring failure) or is that wrong?

 

Right lads car has been checked by a garage and they couldnt see any engine issues other than the idle valve. So engine is fine and I just need turbo replaced or rebuilt. So..... Where does turbo rebuild or has exchange units for GT25R (GT2554R)?

 

Cr Turbos or Turbo Technics
Good news that the engine is ok

 

Defo. I've had a quote from RA Designs/ Turborebuild.co.uk of £190-£350 depending on problem and 48hour turnaround. Any good?