HELP!!! My turbo keeps blowing seals... Why?

[johnnno004]

Ive got a MQ Patrol SD33t. My car used to blow heaps of white smoke so i was told my old turbo blew its seal so dropped a grand for a new 1 which is now losing oil aswell. While the turbo we off i started the car and it blew no smoke. now with the new turbo its starting to blow smoke again?? Ive taken off the oil return line and the oil filler cap and gave it a blow with the compressor. At first it was blocked but then it blew free. Does any1 no wat can cause a blockage between the oil return line and the oil filler cap? Cheers

[RED60]

Is the oil line that goes to the sump "downhill" all the way..... if it isn't you may find that the outflowing oil is building up till it gets back to the turbo and is getting into the intake side of the turbo.... just a thought....

[johnnno004]

Nah its all downhill. wat is blowby? It just popped in my head.

[Clanky]

Things to look for are:
Too much oil pressure at turbo bearing
Blocked oil drain when engine running (could be crankshaft oil splash or blowby throwing back up drain hole)
Blocked or restricted air filter or inlet
Blocked crankcase breather
Oil level too high in sump (above oil drain )
Lack of a oil restrictor on oil inlet (ball bearing type turbo)

You will need to check if the oil is going down the exhaust housing or being sucked into the compressor side then being burnt in the cylinder - this may give you clues

[zukIzzy]

It needs the money???

[tehekho]

It needs the money???

Didn't know seals paid?

[mud4b]

I have found that its usually blowby... add a decent catch can (not the small blingy drifter type as this will make it worse, too much restriction) and run it for a while to get the remaining oil out, usually if its a decent turbo the oil no longer passes the seals..
cheers mark.

[KiwiBacon]

Turbo seals don't "blow". A turbo leaking oil into the compressor or exhaust means something else is wrong, not the turbo.

Turbo seals are like piston rings, they are a labyrinth and always pass a little air. They rely on the pressure being higher in the intake and exhaust housings than in the bearing housing so they always leak air and exhaust inwards. That air and exhaust exits the turbo through the oil drain into the crankcase and out the breather.

If the crankcase pressure is too high, this can't happen. The turbo then spits air and oil through the seals the wrong way. But this isn't the turbos fault, it's the engine.