Turbo issue but possibly another fault too?

JackieChan

I was driving from Dublin on the M7 yesterday and as I passed the Naas exits I noticed in my rear mirror that some whitish smoke was coming out of the car as I was accelerating. So I took it easy as I was trying to make it to Kildare.

As I continued the car started to billow white smoke even when I didn't press the accelerator and I had to pull in to the hard shoulder as there was clouds of smoke-apologies to anyone around at the time!

I managed to get it off at the Kildare junction. I checked the oil level and it was below low on the dip stick(no warning light was on dash).
Coolant level was just at the min level.

When I looked under the car I could see that it was dripping a little oil and the whole area under the engine was wet(assuming it was oil).

I topped up the car with 5-30 and got it to a mechanic.
He showed me where there was oil around the engine near where the turbo is and today he has told me that the turbo is the fault.

In the last few days I have noticed that infamous whirring sound coming from the turbo.He also told me that the car was probably over heating-the thermostat in the car was only about 1/4 way(normally it would be at the 1/2 way mark).

Because this is not my usual mechanic(he is 30 miles away) I'm just looking for a feel if this sounds like a turbo issue only. The plums of white smoke doesn't seem to be what you get with a turbo failure and I'm wondering if something else has gone aswell..perhaps head gasket?

Interested in your thoughts. This is a 2001 1.9tdi audi a4

mathepac

Black smoke = unburnt fuel
Blue = oil burning
White / Grey water vapour = Coolant in ignition / exhaust system

JackieChan

mathepac wrote: »

Black smoke = unburnt fuel
Blue = oil burning
White / Grey water vapour = Coolant in ignition / exhaust system

So that sounds like head gasket problem potentially(white smoke) and a turbo issue(infamous whirring noise from it).

George Dalton

Sounds like turbo to me.

JJJJNR

I think it sounds like a intercooler pipe has popped off, happened to me a while ago.

JackieChan

George Dalton wrote: »

Sounds like turbo to me.

George, Any idea whether Bradshaws can order one as a supurious part or would I be better to try somewhere like Whelans for a 2nd hand one?

Nissan doctor

JackieChan wrote: »

George, Any idea whether Bradshaws can order one as a supurious part or would I be better to try somewhere like Whelans for a 2nd hand one?

TBH, unless you just want a quick fix to get rid of the car then I wouldn't consider a second hand turbo.

JackieChan

Nissan doctor wrote: »

TBH, unless you just want a quick fix to get rid of the car then I wouldn't consider a second hand turbo.

I suppose you can't be sure what your getting from a 2nd hand one or how long it would even last!

dr.fuzzenstein

JackieChan wrote: »

I suppose you can't be sure what your getting from a 2nd hand one or how long it would even last!

Have it rebuilt/part exchanged for a recon one:

http://turbo-tech.ie/

JackieChan

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Have it rebuilt/part exchanged for a recon one:

http://turbo-tech.ie/

cheers, I'll call them on Monday ,any ballpark figure for what they charge?

dr.fuzzenstein

JackieChan wrote: »

cheers, I'll call them on Monday ,any ballpark figure for what they charge?

Couldn't tell you at the moment, but it was cheaper than a new turbo. A good bit cheaper AFAIK.
And since they are rebuilt and tested, you have a better chance of it lasting than a second-hand one, where you don't know the mileage.

mathepac

JJJJNR wrote: »

I think it sounds like a intercooler pipe has popped off, happened to me a while ago.

Nope. Clouds of jet-black smoke / soot, car seriously down on power and a deep rumbling noise where there should be none. Happened to me at 70-ish. It was like an explosion and smoke everywhere. Thankfully no leaks into the inter-cooler or there could have been oil all over the shop too.

JackieChan

Just to complete this thread.
I got a reconditioned turbo from Tom Cooney in Portlaoise and once mechanic fitted it all was fine again.

Was burning off some oil for about 10-15 miles of driving as some oil had gotten in to exhaust but was expecting it to be a lot worse.
Feel a lot lighter as the whole lot + service(oil and filters are highly recommended to be changed once turbo refitted) set me back 700 quid.
Good to be back on the road though!

dr.fuzzenstein

Actually, you're lucky.
What can happen is that the turbo starts spewing oil into the engine, engine will happily rev itself to death on that:
Whether that happened in this case I don't know, but the end result will look pretty much the same.
(Don't read the comments on that, some serious lunacy going on there)