Got a small problem with my turbo, thought I'd ask in here coz there's a lot of people with turbo knowledge in here!

I've got an Vauxhall Astra Coupe Turbo on a 2001 plate. The problem I'm experiencing is that it chuff's blue smoke randomly at low revs/low speeds only when the engine is warm. Can't really notice an blue smoke at 70mph on a motorway so can't say 100% that it doesn't.

I've taken the pipes off tonight, cleaned out all the breather pipes I could find, and I notice there was a fair amount of oil in the charge pipes. There's a breather that goes from the camcover to a charge pipe just before it enters the turbo, when taking this off I notice a track of oil leading from it and down into the turbo. Then taking the pipe off from the intercooler to the inlet also has oil in.

There was some gunge in the pipes that I clean, but I wouldn't expect that it could have caused this?

It seems to use the oil rather rapidly, about a litre every 300-400 odd miles.

Can anyone suggest something that I could try to get to the bottom of this problem??

Just to add the car was recently serviced at Vauxhall, not that I really trust the monkey boys that done it, it was sent back 4 times, and a harsh letter written to the MD because nothing was done right! All I wanted was a stamped service history!

The oil that Vauxhall put in/suggest was shell Helix 10/40 is this what it should be using?

Please HELP!

 

has the warranty expired?

 

yeah fraid so!

 

10/40 oil is far to thin,

I had the same problem with my Calibra Turbo engine, sounds like the seals are leaking when the oil is hot, (to thin) run a 10/60 oil it sorted out mine and i had not further problems.

If you still have the problem then you are looking at new rings, pistons ect.

Good Luck

 

But how long will thicker oil sort the problem out? if there is a problem is it better to get a recon'd turbo? than just making do with a thicker oil??

 

Well if you have the £300+ for a recon then go right ahead !

Even when its rebuilt use a thicker oil 10/60.... this will stop you having the same problem again.

 

Could be anything from knackered turbo to worn piston rings really. It is normal to have oil in the boost pipes especially as your breather is connected to the inlet. Cossies are also prone to that. My first Cossie had a standard air box with the breather attached and there was oil inside all the breather pipes. On my current cossie I have a seperate breather that does not go back into the inlet and now I have no oil in the boost pipes. If your engine is breathing badly then that oil will go back through the inlet and burn with the fuel/air causing your engine to smoke a bit.