car smoking

[therex]

Originally Posted by RETed

Where is the smoking coming out from?
Under the hood?
From the exhaust?

Is the smoke from oil?
Smell the smoke...
If it burned your eyes, it's oil.
If it's sweet smelling, it's coolant.

If it's under the hood, then it's a leak somewhere...
You need to replace the gasket or tighten the fitting.

If it's the exhaust, then it gets a bit more involved...
It could either be the engine or the turbo.
How much miles on the engine?
If you're around 200,000 miles, the engine might need to be rebuilt - no way around it.
If it's the turbo, then the turbo needs to be rebuilt.

One quick test is to pull the spark plugs...
Are the they are cruddy and wet with oil?
Good chance the motor is no good; minor chance the turbo compressor seal is bad.
Pull the intercooler pipes and intercooler - lots of oil pooling inside?
Turbo compressor seal needs to be replaced - i.e. turbo rebuild.
I don't see oil leaking from the turbine section - usually that's an indication of the turbine oil seal going bad.
It might be the seal hasn't totally let go and is only a minor leak so far.

You're not getting too many responses, cause your posts and descriptions so far are very vague.


-Ted

i know i know, sorry

yes the smoke smells like oil and is coming out of the exhaust, not the hood

engine shouldnt have more than 20k on it but i honestly dont know

i had the spark plugs out a couple days ago, i dont remember them being wet

and already checked the intercooler pipes for the TB side, no oil. should i check the other side?

and i drove the car yesterday and it barely even smoked, but the night before my friend was behind me and i could see the smoke because of his lights

thanks ted