Dead turbo or engine?!!!
 

I'm fearing the worst here but i'm hoping i'm wrong?
MY96 uk turbo running 1.35 bar of boost with supporting mods, noticed that the idle was slightly lumpy when i was letting the car run down last week after a spirited drive down the motorway, took it out the next day the idle seemed ok but after a ten minute drive i pulled up the idle was lumpy again and when i revved the engine smoke was puffing out of the dump valve? on the way home i started to get a lot of blue exhaust smoke.

Had a look when i got home and there was oil blown out of the dump valve on the inside of the bonnet, on further investigation the intercooler and pipework have alot of oil in? at first i thought it was the turbo? but there seems to be oil in the inlet pipework to the turbo and there's smoke coming out of the breathers? now i'm thinking the piston rings on one of the cylinders may have gone?

any ideas?

if you take the oil filler cap ff, it will smoke if its engine related generally..............................

alyn

Thanks alyn, looks like your right!
Spoke david at api and pat h today and looks like my worst fears are confirmed! looks like i've melted No 3 piston so the engine is most probably scrap! I,m gutted!
Put a new clutch and lightened flywheel in it 3 weeks ago and it was running great!
good time to go down the uprated 2.5 road tho???

if its only damaged piston no.3 then the bottom end is not scrap, quite straight forward to overhaul if thats the obnly damage
9 out of 10 times you will not damage the bore and therefore can sort with a new piston...............

alyn

if it is just No 3 mate and the bores ok can i just change that piston? or would it need all 4? could i fit a used piston? only need it to last about 6 months as i'm planning to go 2.5 but want to use the car while i build the new engine?