So a shop here in Reno, NV performed a boost leak test up to 28-30 psi and left it in the system/engine awhile. When i picked the car up I noticed there was a puddle of oil under where I was parked. I thought it might have been there before my car so didn't really get down and check. I let the car warm up before getting into boost, but as soon as I did I saw a HUGE cloud of white smoke coming out the back! it only happens when I get on it/ into boost. The shop said it's most likely a turbo seal. But the turbo has maybe 8000 miles on it.

What could it be... Please help

TIA,

Cory

 

Sounds like a head gasket to me. Did u do a leak down test?

 

That's a lot of Boost Pressure to hold in there for a "long time" on a stock turbo. The blew a seal or gasket is my guess. You don't need that much pressure in the system to hear a leak anyway! That sucks.

 

If you want the piece of mind check your oil for coolant.. From there i'd guess its the turbo seal like the others have suggested.

Cheers!

 

They must have pressurized the crankcase and pushed oil were ever it would go including through a seal and through the turbo. Anyway, this shouldn't hurt anything unless it continues to leak. Well, it will muck up your inter cooler. I'd say drive it a bit, it should go away.

 

How much "pressure" is a safe amount to hear where the leak is?? 20 tops is my guess. Anyone confirm this?

 

^ Yeah, sounds like they pressurized the crank case which is not supposed to see that much boost. 28psi through there is not good, you're supposed to disconnect pcv connections or block them off.

 

So is there something I can do to prove it?

 

Depends on how small or big the leak is. Sometimes you may need 20+psi to certain leaks or as little as 4-5psi for larger leaks. I guess they left the compressor pressurized at 28psi to go around the motor and pipes to listen for leaks.Nothing wrong with that unless you are pushing air into the crankcase

 

He said he didn't go through the turbo like normal... so oil just went everywhere?

 

Prove what? That they pressurized your crank case?

 

Where did they go from? Throttle body?

 

I guess.. I usually go through the turbo.. didn't know there was another way.

 

I'm not sure, I believe it was a couple vacuum hoses one of the head and another off the IM.... OK he said pressurized IM and plugged Crank vent but not the PCV

 

Seals hold in oil but if you keep building pressure behind them they are going to eventually leak.

You could go back to the shop that did the work ask them clean the intake tract so you don't smoke. Other than that, if the leaks have stopped, you should be good to go.