rb20det - turbo related issue?

[deaf_rattle]

Got a text from my brother, saying his turbo had blown.
he overtook a truck and it made a funny noise, lost power and smoke came out the back.

He brought the car around and said it had been fine since then.

There are a few puffs of blue smoke that come out the back when you give the throttle about 3000rpm, but after a few goes it runs clean.

Going to take the intake pipe off and check for play.

I was thinking maybe the cat had finally spat the dummy, but the blue puffs of smoke lead me to believe that the turbo is on its way out.

Any thoughts?

[edwagon]

Check the turbo obviously - what boost has it been running?
Also the afm (although can't really check without replacing) - wouldn't cause BLUE smoke or noise, but would cause smoke and oddball engine performance if it was goosed. worth a try anyway.

[deaf_rattle]

it has been running "stock boost"
i say that loosely as there is no boost gauge in there. (something i have been trying to talk him into buying)

so it might be possible he is down on boost/power.

Yeah, i think the afms are prone to failure in those things

[RS13]

Have you run diagnostics?

Sounds like AFM, they're a sealed unit, once you open them and let any moisture in then they start doing funny things, especially when the engine bay warms up. I had one once that would limit the engine to 2500rpm, had to park up for a few mins to let it cool down before it came right!

Turbo sounds worn, not blown.. you get huge grey/blue smoke if it lets go.. if its' not missing or stuttering I'd rule that out. Worn stem seals can cause a puff of smoke off idle as well.

The only other thing that I've found that would make it cut out like that was fuel cut, ie too much boost.. kinda makes a fart kinda noise, revs drop momentarily, then it carries on as normal, however you don't get huge smoke out the exhaust. The factory A31/C33/R32 intercooler can have up to a 2psi pressure drop, I've seen a lot of guys wind "14psi" as measured at the inlet manifold, then wonder why their crap ceramic turbo only lasts a month afterwards! Same goes for a bigger intercooler, if he's running a front mount, then it'll be running higher boost.

Anyway sorry to rant, I'd run diagnostics first, instructions.. http://forums.d1nz.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... 00b3470ebb and then go from there.

[deaf_rattle]

thanks for that, ill check out the codes.
the engine is getting on, its done 220000kms i believe.

the car is completely stock, down to the factory exhaust.
r32 gts4 auto