2001 3.0 Diesel white smoke from exhaust video

[Zedex]

The consumption tests will be they way to go IMO, to see what fluid is causing the smoke.
I failed to mention in my first post that if you decide to go ahead with it, before you perform the hard run on the engine ensure it is warmed through fully and up to normal operating temperature.
Z.

[powers1]

Originally Posted by RichardSA

Balong,
A mate had an issue with white smoke. He had the the Oil Separator Valve replaced and this sorted the issue. The old one was completely clogged and had failed to operate. It wasn't too costly either.

Sorry - only read the first page so didn't realise the diagnosis had already been made.

Come on guys!I know you are all trying to help but please read previous posts before giving your opinion!
Post#37 already deals with the breather issue!
The OP problem has obviously been oil being blown from the turbo as a result of a warped compressor which results in an unbalanced turbine rod and thus blowing oil to inlet!
This happened on both turbos the OP had replaced and all because some F*****g idiot dropped something on turbo inlet pipe from air-filter.

We are now just waiting for a few weeks when the OP will go to dealer to check if turbo is ok and if this time they did check the the air-filter pipe to turbo is clear of any debris and has not fouled the compressor as on the previous 2 occasions.

Lookiing forward to having this confirmed and problem solved....Just irritates me that people put their cars to be repaired in the hands of incompetent idiots that cant even do a simple check to see if all pipes are clean!

[RichardSA]

Please accept my apologies.

[balongbalong]

Update:

Trip to dealer today, took out the just the necessary parts to access and take a picture of the turbo compressor vanes:

Turbo #4


Turbo #4 close up


As you can see there is damage already. Dealer does not know what caused this.

I checked the tube from filter to the turbo and no debris that came from it.

As you can see there is oil the compressor vanes. Dealer says that amount is normal.

[balongbalong]

been closely looking at all the pictures i have with regards to the turbo, and i noticed that the number of vanes from turbo 3 and 4 are the same but is different from turbo 2

[X5Sport]

My initial thoughts are - has someone hammered the turbo into place using a socket against the inlet vanes!! Other than debris getting in I can't think of anything else that might cause such damage - especially if the inlet is clear of obstructions that could strike the turbo. Looks scary!!

I assume you have an air filter fitted - may sound stupid, but as it's an absolute b+tch of a job changing it on a diesel unit, someone in the past may have 'removed' it, or damaged it so that debris can get in to the turbo.

4 turbos with similar damage is very odd indeed. The different number of vanes could simply be a different 'mod' of the same basic design during production - or a wrong unit got fitted with different performance characteristics. I hope you get to the bottom of the mystery, but it sure is an odd one.

[powers1]

Originally Posted by balongbalong

been closely looking at all the pictures i have with regards to the turbo, and i noticed that the number of vanes from turbo 3 and 4 are the same but is different from turbo 2

The turbo indicated for x5 Diesel with your engine year code is in fact part number 2249950(as per your photo),which is gt2256 but can also be a Gt2056 which has a smaller hot side compressor.Both of these turbos have a 6-vane cold side compressor,as I can see in the latest turbo you had replaced as well as on a previous photo you posted here.The other cold side compressor which has 12 vanes (actually its 6 twin vanes) doesnt seem to be a compressor usually fitted as stock on these turbos.In fact it seems like its off a Mercedes gt2256!Maybe on a previous turbo install,someone just replaced the compressor?

With regards to the apparent damage to the vanes now and previously,they still havent found out the real problem thats causing this,which to me is unbelievable how can they overlook easy mandatory checks which results in the same damage to vanes again.

As X5Sport also pointed out,there is no doubt that some debris is still getting to the turbo(remember that turbo spins at 100,000 rpm so it just takes a minute debris to damage vanes!).This debris can only come from unfiltered air or a hole in the rubber air filter pipe to turbo inlet.So check air-filter installation and any air leaks to turbo.
The other way you could get debris in the engine would from the breather pipe ,in the case that your engine was shearing something!But this cannot be be because the breather has a paper filter and would catch any debris.

I also find it odd the amount of "oil slush" around your latest turbo!The oil in the turbo inlet is normal but the oil on the turbo pipe to intercooler and around the outside of the turbo ,definitely isnt!It looks like oil pasted with sand or other road grime and if you were to have a small leak in the rubber pipe near the compressor ,this could suck in this debris...


Anyway,i wish you good luck.Maybe you will find someone competent enough to resolve your problem.

[powers1]

Balong,balong,
Why did you have your head gasket replaced ,what were the symptons and when?

[balongbalong]

Originally Posted by powers1

Balong,balong,
Why did you have your head gasket replaced ,what were the symptons and when?

when they opened the engine to inspect if the pistons, cylinders, etc. are in good condition they recommended that the head gasket might as well be changed as well. it was replaced after the 1st turbo was replaced and before the 2nd turbo was installed.

[bigwave2255]

at the risk of getting flamed, and having not read ALL the posts, is the intercooler on the inlet side??? and if so could it be disintegrating internally or could it have crap in side that is causing the failures??