Situation:
Just installed a new FP HTA Green which came with new gaskets from FP. On initial startup the car runs and idles fine, but I have a nasty smell from the turbo area and some white smoke. The smoke doesn't smell like E85 exhaust and I think it is coming from the Manifold-turbo and O2-turbo gasket area.

I am hoping this is the gaskets burning off the protective coating but not sure. Will the coolant circulate immediatly to the turbo?

Thoughts? No leaks from oil or coolant lines. idled for under 5 minutes because I got a bit nervous.

 

Did you happen to use antisieze compound on any of the turbine housing/O2/exhaust manifold threads? This stuff will smoke up at first. Also, it is almost impossible to do a turbo swap w/o a few stray drops of oil getting onto the turbine housing, the O2 housing, or the exhaust manifold.

Start it up again and illuminate the potential hotpsots with one of those 1,000,000 watt lamps.

 

Did you prime the turbo before starting up? (as in taking out the plugs and fuses for ignition and fuel and cranking so oil pressurizes into the turbo)

 

It's likely jsut residual oils, antiseize, etc. Check for oil/colant leaks and you should be golden.

 

Yes, used anti-sieze on all bolts. (To many siezed bolts on the turbo assembly have broken on me.)

Did not prime the turbo, 1st timers mistake. I am using the new FP oil feed line that draws oil from the filter housing.

The New gaskets from FP had a black plastic like coating and I am hoping it is that burning off. My fear is the turbo is not getting cooled or something and it burns up! Just looking for others experiance and if this is a common thing on new gasket / turbo installs.

 

I've done two turbo installs. Both times it smoked and smelled bad from spilled oil and antiseize. i did fill the turbos with oil. if your just idling i don't think you'll hurt the turbo any from not priming it. It usually takes about twenty minutes or so for all the smoke to go away. The smell usually lasted a couple days for me.

 

Cool, I thought it seemed wierd that the white smoke appeared to be coming from both gasket areas. Just don't want to fry the new turbo! Anything you suggest looking for on initial warm up?

 

I just look for leaking oil and coolant. I always check again in a week or so. I try to clean the area up pretty good so it will be more obvious if something is leaking and not just left over.

 

As most have mentioned, it's most likely due to spilled stuff during the install. Mine smoked a bunch after the turbo installation because of all the PB Blaster/Liquid Wrench I had sprayed to get the bolts off the turbo. And it also smoked a bunch when I spilled a bunch of coolant everywhere during a different install. And yes, the smell takes quite a while to go away.

 

Thanks guys, the turbo was brand new, but I did get some oil on the outside. FP responded to me stating the gaskets have a protective coating and it may burn off and smell.

 

good to hear its nothing serious, now lets get some dyno numbers on that HTA Green

 

x2