Rover 75 1.8turbo Smoking, Please Help!

[Tube Screamer]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone could help me with a problem which I have with my Rover 75 1.8t automatic?

I had the head gasket changed on it about 18 months ago after seeing white smoke coming from the exhaust and also noticing that it was consuming the coolant.

Since then it has been running fine, until yesterday, when I decided (for the first time since I have owned the car) to try the sport mode (a small button next to the gear selector).

Once in this mode, before long, plumes of blue/white smoke was pouring from the exhaust pipe!

I took the car straight to the mechanic that looks after my car (the one that also did the head job) and he told me that it seems to be burning oil and water, and so I left it with him to investigate.

He called me later to tell me that the oil level had gone down to minimum (I check it regularly) and so it has obviously burnt quite some oil although the coolant level was still fine and with no signs of contamination. He has removed the spark plugs and checked the top of the pistons with a torch and says that both the plugs and pistons are clean and dry and so it doesn't look like the oil has passed through the engine, as if that quantity of oil had passed through that short space of time, there would definately be evidence of it there.

He next suspected the turbo and removed the exhaust outlet from the turbocharger. He told me that he was expecting to find a good deal of burnt oil residue in there, but once again, he said that it was quite clean and although there are slight signs of oil, he still isn't totally satisfied that this is where the oil is going. He said that maybe because of the intense heat in the turbo, the oil isn't getting chance to collect there before being burnt straight up?

He said that he is next going to totally remove the turbo from the car so that he can give it a more thorough examination of the seals and impellors.

I was just wondering if anyone else had experienced this problem and what turned out to be the cause of the problem?

My mechanic said that the turbocharger is a very expensive unit (even reconditioned) and that he needs to be totally sure that it is definately this at fault before fitting one!

Can anyone help please?

Thank you all for your time

Russ

[Gman2]

I've done a search for you but there's not much except for this:

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20126&highlight=turbo+smoking

Perhaps give Trevor a pm and see if he got sorted? As far as I'm aware if you get light coloured smoke on start up that eventually disappears then that indicates wear in the seals. Continual dark smoke is a turbo on the way out or indeed other problems. There are a fair few parts specialists on the forum who should be able to give you an indication on price of a turbo if it comes to that?

[sworks]

some cars have had turbo's fail, If there is blue smoke i would check this first.

[bl52krz]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone could help me with a problem which I have with my Rover 75 1.8t automatic?

I had the head gasket changed on it about 18 months ago after seeing white smoke coming from the exhaust and also noticing that it was consuming the coolant.

Since then it has been running fine, until yesterday, when I decided (for the first time since I have owned the car) to try the sport mode (a small button next to the gear selector).

Once in this mode, before long, plumes of blue/white smoke was pouring from the exhaust pipe!

I took the car straight to the mechanic that looks after my car (the one that also did the head job) and he told me that it seems to be burning oil and water, and so I left it with him to investigate.

He called me later to tell me that the oil level had gone down to minimum (I check it regularly) and so it has obviously burnt quite some oil although the coolant level was still fine and with no signs of contamination. He has removed the spark plugs and checked the top of the pistons with a torch and says that both the plugs and pistons are clean and dry and so it doesn't look like the oil has passed through the engine, as if that quantity of oil had passed through that short space of time, there would definately be evidence of it there.

He next suspected the turbo and removed the exhaust outlet from the turbocharger. He told me that he was expecting to find a good deal of burnt oil residue in there, but once again, he said that it was quite clean and although there are slight signs of oil, he still isn't totally satisfied that this is where the oil is going. He said that maybe because of the intense heat in the turbo, the oil isn't getting chance to collect there before being burnt straight up?

He said that he is next going to totally remove the turbo from the car so that he can give it a more thorough examination of the seals and impellors.

I was just wondering if anyone else had experienced this problem and what turned out to be the cause of the problem?

My mechanic said that the turbocharger is a very expensive unit (even reconditioned) and that he needs to be totally sure that it is definately this at fault before fitting one!

Can anyone help please?

Thank you all for your time

Russ
i dont know about turbo's going on cars.(must be the same.) when the turbo went on a lorry i was driving, there was black smoke everywhere.
also when the filter (air) became absolutely blocked with dust, the same thing happened.
check your air filter.

[TrevorL]

Yes it was the turbo seals and bearing gone had to have the turbo replaced, it is common for the turbo to go after head gasket failure due to coolant mixing with the oil damaging the turbo bearing this is due to the very close tolerances involved I have read that turbo very rarely fail they are damaged by other factors, I would get some of the oil drained off and inspect for metal particles as this will also point to possible turbo failure as well, it's also worth having the sump removed and cleaned out to remove any metal particles and the oil feeder pipes replaced at the same time as they can get clogged up.

Trevor

[Gman2]

Yes it was the turbo seals and bearing gone had to have the turbo replaced, it is common for the turbo to go after head gasket failure due to coolant mixing with the oil damaging the turbo bearing this is due to the very close tolerances involved I have read that turbo very rarely fail they are damaged by other factors, I would get some of the oil drained off and inspect for metal particles as this will also point to possible turbo failure as well, it's also worth having the sump removed and cleaned out to remove any metal particles and the oil feeder pipes replaced at the same time as they can get clogged up.

Trevor

I can confirm the above. Since HGF on the ZTT in January the turbo has developed a slight whine. No smoke or anything for the mo' so I can live with it but the mechanic did say this may be as a result.

[Tube Screamer]

Thanks for all your input and advice,

Just to let you know for future reference, when the mechanic removed the turbo, it had quite an amount of oil within it (the areas that oil should not be found) and the bearings were totally gone. The impellor shaft was full of play and able to move in all directions.

So; clouds of blue/white smoke from a Rover 75 1.8t exhaust pipe with a rapid engine oil consumption but no loss of, or contamination of the coolant = A cream crackered turbocharger!

Hope this info helps someone in the future,

Russ:)

[James.uk]

The turbo was replaced on my car last december (before I bought it) and the receipt (found among the cars history stuff) show a total cost of £800..
.

[Gman2]

The turbo was replaced on my car last december (before I bought it) and the receipt (found among the cars history stuff) show a total cost of £800..
.

Blimey that was a big hit - must have been new? I had to replace my Garrett T28 18 months ago when I had my fiat coupe and it cost £180 for a used unit from a rear ended car. Judging by the lack of posts on the forum re turbos they would appear to be reasonably reliable?

[James.uk]

Yes, the receipt says a new turbo was fitted. .. :)
.

[eskezz]

I have had a quote for recon unit supplied 0f £380+vat plus £8 delivery if anyone wants the contact details just send me a pm. Random quote so can't speak for their quality.

[Greeners]

I have had a quote for recon unit supplied 0f £380+vat plus £8 delivery if anyone wants the contact details just send me a pm. Random quote so can't speak for their quality.

You might want to try these people (http://www.midlandturbo.com/index2.php?search=ROVER) if you haven't already

[tony123]

I have had a quote for recon unit supplied 0f £380+vat plus £8 delivery if anyone wants the contact details just send me a pm. Random quote so can't speak for their quality.
hi, thanx for the post, i would very much like the contact details as its the best price i ve seen so far, thank u, tony. ps did u buy the part?