Burning oil?

[mybabyblue]

So i guess my car is mad at me or something, because it started burning oil about 2 months ago. I keep checking the levels and adding oil if needed. starting last week, when i start the car and first hit the gas there is a nice puff of whit smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. I know this is the second turbo on the car, since the previous owner blew the first one. Any one have any ideas on what i should look at first?

[MikeGT]

The white puff came on a cold start? Check any loose fittings and see if you're losing oil as well. i.e - oil build up around the pan, on the engine underneath. Check the pcv valve to see if it is still working. (remove pcv valve and shake it, if it clicks it is still good. If stuck, time to replace it.)

[MoN]

Are you catless? If so that causes a white cloud to expell as well, smells like straight gas, then thats norm.If it smells like anything else try taking off the turbo inlet and the intercooler and check for oil in it, means bad turbo. And if you can take off the downpipe also check for oil in the turbo itself to double check. If both are clean have someone do a compression and leakdown test. That checks for low compressions and leaking head gaskets which would also cause white smoke from exaust at start up.

[mybabyblue]

Thanks guys. Im going home tomorrow, and my dads gonna take a look at the pcv valve, that was his first thought too. I havent gone catless yet, but thats a good thing to know! thanks!

[Ron89]

I had a puff of white smoke on start up but the car ran totally fine. Turned out to be a bad ringland on cyl #4. I did a compression test and had 90 psi in cyl 4. Luckily I had my powertrain warranty for another thousand miles and got a new shortblock and turbo. Also, if you over-fill the oil, you can sometimes get the excess blown into the PCV system (as was mentioned). I did a compression and leakdown at work and it only takes like 15 min tops.

[bannerd]

Doesn't sound good, white smoke isn't oil it's either moisture or anti-freeze. When oil burns it comes out blueish tint and it smells. Usually on start up condensation in the exhaust is burnt off as the pipes get hot. This causes the car to smoke. If the car is hot and it is still producing white smoke I would say your head gasket is gone and will need to be replaced. A compression test will rule this out as well, you can also let the car heat up to normal temp and squeeze the top radiator hose. If it stays hard while you squeeze it then your heads are good, if it slowly collapses then that's not good at all :lol: Of course brown oil in the radiator fill can is never a good sign.

[mybabyblue]

Hey everyone this is Jackie's brother, Brian. Im gonna first check out the intercooler for oil then check the downpipe. If they are both clean ill do a compression test and a leak down test. Im also gonna check the up-pipe to see if the cat is still intact. If Its anything major Ill probably just bring it out to Metric Subaru and just pay them to fix it since me and my dad don't really have the time right now to do a major tear down. Thanks for everyones help. Ill probably look at it tomorrow and let you guys know whats up with it.

[xxthat girlxx]

Good luck Jackie and Brian!

[Lperkins88]

good luck guys! hope it isn't too major

[MikeGT]

good luck guys! hope it isn't too majorDitto

[mybabyblue]

well thanks everyone, but unfortunately my dad and brother looked at my car today, and when they took off the turbo there was metal shavings, so apparently my turbo is shot. anyone have any suggestions for what else to check while everythings apart, or the best way to try and fix the problem (besides the obvious of getting a new turbo)

[MoN]

Do you kow if the shavings were found in the compressor side, or the exaust side?

[bannerd]

well thanks everyone, but unfortunately my dad and brother looked at my car today, and when they took off the turbo there was metal shavings, so apparently my turbo is shot. anyone have any suggestions for what else to check while everythings apart, or the best way to try and fix the problem (besides the obvious of getting a new turbo) That is not good, ouch.:( I wouldn't be surprised if there is fragments in the oil galleys and throughout your motor. You should really just take it apart and make sure it's clean.

[bannerd]

Do you kow if the shavings were found in the compressor side, or the exaust side? Yeah hopefully its on the hot side but still it's risky :(

[mybabyblue]

Unfortunately im not sure where they were found. all i got were pictures texted to me from my brother saying that its not good. I'll make sure he checks everything else out though. My dad and I have already started looking at new turbos, and whether this one was a refurbished one or not (it was the second turbo on the car already, last owner blew the turbo in 08).

[deebsr6]

Hey everyone its brian figured I might as well sign up. The metal shavings came out of the cold side of the turbo and where all over the throttle body and where the bpv meets the intercooler and it was a lot of small shavings. We figure it is because the screens in the oil line by the bango bolt got clogged and then starved the turbo of oil. If we fix it we will drop the oil pan and check for the metal shavings and figure out what needs to be checked. Thanks for everyones help in this I will keep everyone updated as time progresses.

[Bugichic]

oh no =(

[xxthat girlxx]

EEK. No good. Good luck!

[bannerd]

Hey everyone its brian figured I might as well sign up. The metal shavings came out of the cold side of the turbo and where all over the throttle body and where the bpv meets the intercooler and it was a lot of small shavings. We figure it is because the screens in the oil line by the bango bolt got clogged and then starved the turbo of oil. If we fix it we will drop the oil pan and check for the metal shavings and figure out what needs to be checked. Thanks for everyones help in this I will keep everyone updated as time progresses.

Goodluck :cool:

[Lperkins88]

hopefully she is back on the road real soon and all better jackie! =)

[mybabyblue]

So my baby is finally getting fixed (3 weeks later), its at the shop costing 2,000 to replace the turbo and labor. Hope no one has to go through this anytime soon!!

[MikeGT]

Hey I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you. Sucks that you had to go through this process and expense but good that it was discovered at home and not on the road.

[xxthat girlxx]

Good luck with the fix.

[ylime]

reading this is depressing, so im going to stop mid-way. hope everything going to turn out a-ok (it better after forkin up 2 grand)

[Lperkins88]

hope all goes well jackie and you have your leggy back in notime! :)

[mybabyblue]

its all done. with a year warrantee. hopefully it doesnt blow another turbo within a year....just cant drive it til i get home in a week. thanks for the support everyone!

[Lperkins88]

yay congrats! =)

[SassySTi284]

Awesome!!!

[djmatao]

Yes depressing story, but im glad to hear its back up and running!

[mybabyblue]

so sorry to keep this thread going, but my car is all fixed and going well, and then when my dad went to do an oil change to see if there was any residue from the old turbo after 1400 miles, he noticed the car had burned close to 1 1/2 quarts. I've heard that subies burn oil, but i feel like this is extreme. any opinions on this?

[subarugirl03]

so sorry to keep this thread going, but my car is all fixed and going well, and then when my dad went to do an oil change to see if there was any residue from the old turbo after 1400 miles, he noticed the car had burned close to 1 1/2 quarts. I've heard that subies burn oil, but i feel like this is extreme. any opinions on this?

It could be the oil you have in it. My husbands car burned oil a lot when he had I believe mobil 1 in it but mine runs great with mobil 1 so just kind of throwing it out that it may be that.

[mybabyblue]

yea, thanks. i was using regular oil. castrol, and now i switched to synthetic. still burning. idk, on legacygt.com it seems that a lot of leggy burn that much oil, and subaru says a quart per thousand miles is normal....i think that is a little much.

[subarugirl03]

yea, thanks. i was using regular oil. castrol, and now i switched to synthetic. still burning. idk, on legacygt.com it seems that a lot of leggy burn that much oil, and subaru says a quart per thousand miles is normal....i think that is a little much.
that sounds like a lot to me

[2.5guy]

What weight oil are you running? If you are running a thinner oil subaru's tend to burn it a little faster. I would avoid 0w 20 Mobil 1 never heard good things about it and I personally went through two motor's running it

[mybabyblue]

Yea, my dad only uses castrol. I was using 5w-30 regular, and am now using 5w-30 synthetic. all castrol.