My '94 7.3L Powerstroke consistently uses about 1 qt. oil per 1000 miles. It smokes when I first start it in the morning when the engine is cold. I don't notice any smoke otherwise. I've gone through about everything else and now I wonder if my turbo seal might be allowing oil to pass oil into the intake side of the engine. It has a lot of miles on it and to my knowlege, the turbo has never been refurbished or anything. Any way I might test this?
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turbocharger using oil
- Thread starter sdan27
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Does this truck have a charge air cooler? If it does you can remove some of the plumbing and see if theres oil in them.
Oil in the intake of a diesel can be disasterous. A diesel can run on oil and keep running untill it over revs and blows up.
Oil in the intake of a diesel can be disasterous. A diesel can run on oil and keep running untill it over revs and blows up.
How many miles on the engine? Smoking first thing is usually valve guides .If the smoke is white untill the engine gets running good is unburned Diesel. Pull the piping from the turbo and see how much oil is in there .
The truck does not have an aftercooler. The engine does have a lot of miles with nearly 400,000. It's been using oil at this rate for along time though. Like you say, it's not really a blueish smoke like you'd expect with oil getting through the valve guides. Usually the smoke is kind of a white to grayish color. I had an old F150 with a 302 in it and that thing you could really smell the oil burning whereas with this truck, you can't really. I pulled the intake tubes that go from the turbo to the manifolds and did notice some oil accumulated on the rubber tubes where they attach to the intake side.
You should see leaks or smoke, when you approach that kind of oil use.
Maybe you don't see it out the tailpipe when you are driving. It needs a load to blow out.
Maybe you don't see it out the tailpipe when you are driving. It needs a load to blow out.
The smoke you describe, coming out at the time you describe, isn't likely from the turbo. More likely it's due to worn injectors, problems with the valvetrain, low compression, etc. Personally if the fuel mileage is still good, the valve train isn't making funny noises, and it doesn't smoke once warmed up- then I wouldn't worry about it.
But if you want to check your turbo, he's how. Remove the intake pipe right where it comes out of the turbo. Check to see if there's oil in the pipe. A thin film is fine- doesn't mean much. A heavy coating of oil indicates a problem- but not NECESSARILY a bad turbo. Restriction on the drain line, excess exhaust back-pressure, excessive crankcase pressure, or a clogged air filter can all cause a turbo to blow oil. These conditions can damage the turbo over a long period of time, but if they're caught and corrected early, then the turbo can avoid damage.
But if you want to check your turbo, he's how. Remove the intake pipe right where it comes out of the turbo. Check to see if there's oil in the pipe. A thin film is fine- doesn't mean much. A heavy coating of oil indicates a problem- but not NECESSARILY a bad turbo. Restriction on the drain line, excess exhaust back-pressure, excessive crankcase pressure, or a clogged air filter can all cause a turbo to blow oil. These conditions can damage the turbo over a long period of time, but if they're caught and corrected early, then the turbo can avoid damage.
How many miles on the truck?
Originally Posted By: sdan27
The engine does have a lot of miles with nearly 400,000.
Man, what I'd give to go back and purchase that 2002 7.3L instead of the lower mileage 6.0L I did.
The engine does have a lot of miles with nearly 400,000.
Man, what I'd give to go back and purchase that 2002 7.3L instead of the lower mileage 6.0L I did.
400,000 miles / 15 mpg * $2/gallon = $53,333.33
Holy [censored], man.
Holy [censored], man.
Yeah, I didn't know for sure. I knew it would be better than the gas engines but not by much. But still, [censored]!
I drive like your grandma too. Safer, cheaper and just better that way.
I drive like your grandma too. Safer, cheaper and just better that way.
Might be turbo oil seals with that kind of mileage. You could pull the pressure side off the turbo and take a gander.
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