How do i test turbo seals and if they were bad would i lose boost?

[windyctyaudi]

I still have yet to find out why i have white smoke comeing out my exhaust when at idle. i changed my valve gaket because i though thtat was the problem and did a compression test and my only 2 choices left are my turbo seals and oil cooler.

How do i test my turbo seals and would i be losing boost if they were bad??
Do i have to take the whole thing off or can i just take my TIP and cat off to see if there is any fluid in there??
I spike around 17 and hold about 14-15 with GIAC chip?

Is there any way to really tell if my oil cooler is bad. I am losing coolant but verry verry slow but my oil is ok no mixing with each other and same goes for the coolant

[absolutegtr]

Look at the coolant resevoir...is the coolant a brown color? If so, it could very well be the oil cooler.

Contact "HeymyA4" he JUST had the same problem with smoke coming out of his exhaust and he might be able to help you!! (BTW, his problem was a busted oil cooler)

[windyctyaudi]

thanks, My coolant is fine its normal color

[AudiA4_20T]

getting a big turbo usually cures this, so Ive heard

[windyctyaudi]

lol i wish i could afford it but I still have a aftermarket warranty but if i am lucky that is my problem and i can get a K04 or maybe an GTRS Eliminator

[AudiA4_20T]

yea Im just messing with you - bored on AZ

anyway could be your headgasket also

[windyctyaudi]

i did a compression test all cylnder were at about 180

[BLACKa4QUAT]

i had this problem on my b6 before, it started out intermittently, then it progressively got worse and worse. one day, about three months or so after i first noticed smoke, it felt like the turbo didnt do shit at WOT at good speed, then came the dreaded dentist drill noise. that pretty much told me it was the turbo. oil consumption got worse and worse, till eventually i got a k04 for it.
a thing to check if its the turbo is to take the hose off of the metal tube that the tip connects to the intercooler with. mine had a quart or so of oil in it after the turbo was dead. if its clean then it may be something else.
also i didnt have any oil in my coolant at that time either.

[windyctyaudi]

^^^^Thanks i will check that out tomorrow

[diagnosticator]

^^^^Thanks i will check that out tomorrow

If the compressor shaft seal is bad, there will probably be a lot of oil in the compressor discharge> intercooler hose. The exhaust turbine shaft seal could be bad allowing oil to leak directly into the turbine housing. With a hot system, will generate lots of smoke. Oil burning is almost always blue smoke, if it is really fog white, that is most likely coolant. You should do a pressure test on the cooling system. If pressure drops on a cold system, check for coolant in the engine cylinders. A compression check often won't reveal a bad head gasket. There is no association between the oil cooler and exhaust smoke. There is no test for leaking turbo shaft seal/s, only evidence by "wet" oil in the turbine housing or compressor discharge.*

* A light oily film in intake piping is normal, max accumulation ~1 or 2 fl oz.

[windyctyaudi]

anyone know where i can get the special tool to pressure test the coolant system

[diagnosticator]

anyone know where i can get the special tool to pressure test the coolant system

Do all the plugs look the same/normal? If coolant is leaking into one or more cylinders, the plugs in those cylinders usually look abnormal. Cooling system pressure test to confirm if some plugs look darker/wetter than normal.

[windyctyaudi]

Do all the plugs look the same/normal? If coolant is leaking into one or more cylinders, the plugs in those cylinders usually look abnormal. Cooling system pressure test to confirm if some plugs look darker/wetter than normal.

Yea they are just a little dirty because there was oil all over them from my leaking valve gasket. I thought that was the problem but it wasnt.

[windyctyaudi]

Do all the plugs look the same/normal? If coolant is leaking into one or more cylinders, the plugs in those cylinders usually look abnormal. Cooling system pressure test to confirm if some plugs look darker/wetter than normal.

Do you know where i can get the adapter to do the pressure test

[diagnosticator]

Yea they are just a little dirty because there was oil all over them from my leaking valve gasket. I thought that was the problem but it wasnt.

Sorry, I meant the appearance of the plugs spark gap or firing tip end. The appearance of the exterior plug parts outside the cylinder combustion chamber does not matter. The plugs must be removed to evaluate the firing tips appearance regarding clues of what the conditions are in the cylinders when the engine was last running.

[windyctyaudi]

Sorry, I meant the appearance of the plugs spark gap or firing tip end. The appearance of the exterior plug parts outside the cylinder combustion chamber does not matter. The plugs must be removed to evaluate the firing tips appearance regarding clues of what the conditions are in the cylinders when the engine was last running.

When i took them out the looked fine to me

[diagnosticator]

When i took them out the looked fine to me

OK, but with "white" smoke, a cooling system pressure test is needed regardless.
However, it's remotely possible the turbo center housing is cracked leaking coolant, but you only need to consider obscure causes like that after a failed cooling pressure test that does not result in coolant in any of the cylinders, or evident any other external leaks. The adapter needed is VAG1274/8. Try Google for online sources.