Should I rebuild my RS2 turbo

[chapel]

Ok, here's the story:
I bought this turbo on Audifans for $700. The previous owner had the turbo removed by Marc at EFIExpress. Both the owner and Marc stated the turbo was good without any smoking. I have the turbo shipped to my house where it sits in a padded box for 2-3 months while I get the rest of my kit in order.

Last Saturday, I finally get it installed
On first fire, it started up fine. Once things started warming up, CLOUDS of white smoke came out the turbo. Definitely smelled of oil and not coolant. After about 5 minutes, the smoke subsided. We took the car around a bit and there was no smoke under boost or anything else.

So we figured it must have just been from us installing it.

I don't drive it on Sunday, but I do on Monday for a short drive (about 2 miles).
It doesn't smoke at all when I first fire it up, but after a few minutes it starts smoking. By the time I get to the end of my 2 mile trip, it's stopped...
It does it again on my ride home 9 hours later.
I don't drive it on Tuesday, but I do again yesterday.
No smoke on the drive out to the train (again, 2 miles). But smoke on the way home. Same situation as before: it doesn't happen at first turn over, but it does a few minutes later. Then after a few more minutes, it stops.

I didn't drive it today either. It was nice enough to walk. All in all, I've only put about 10-15 miles on the car since I put the turbo in.

Someone suggested that the turbo sitting in the box has dried out the seals and when I turn the car on after a cold night, the turbo burns off the oil that's leaked through (after the turbo has gotten to temp) until the seal softens up, expands and seals off the leak.

Now, I'm wondering if I put enough mileage on it in one big lump, if it'll go away. Maybe the seal will relube itself.

If not, I kinda want to just rebuild it myself rather than spend another $350-450 to have someone else rebuild it for me. What would you guys suggest? All the other Audi forums have told me to come and ask here specifically. They say you guys are the best when it comes to this stuff.

[chapel]

Here is the turbo prior to my install
I assume it's a real Audi RS2 KKK K24-7200

[Rusty]

White smoke isn't usually oil related, that would be blueish smoke ordinarily...

Might be worth checking the coolant for signs of a head gasket leak using a 'sniffer' kit.

If the engine checks out fine then having the turbo rebuilt might be a good plan. Would be worth getting it upgraded at the same time to maximise future potential

[chapel]

Yeah, that's the thing. I brought it out on the highway once it stopped smoking and really gave it a good thrashing and there was no smoke
the color of the smoke is white, but the flavor is certainly oil...

Also, the head was rebuilt less than 2 years ago with new valve guide seals and valve seats.

what do you mean upgraded? I would prefer to stick with the RS2 turbo. I'm really happy with the power (from what I've experienced with it this week... briefly). Are there upgrades that can be done to the RS2 Turbo? if so, what are they and who does them?

Would you suggest a DIY rebuild?

If not, how long could I go on this without a problem? (probably a difficult question to answer)

[Rusty]

Just referring to a 360deg bearing on the upgrades list.

This is a strange one alright...

Have you checked the sparks to see if they're unhealthy in colour? If it's dragging coolant or oil through the engine then it'll show on there, if it's the turbine oil seal / bearing then it'll just be on the turbo...

[chapel]

I can yank em and look. I'd like to run the car a few more miles. I feel like the short mileage isn't going to tell me too much.

[driftin jo]

White smoke isn't usually oil related, that would be blueish smoke ordinarily...

Might be worth checking the coolant for signs of a head gasket leak using a 'sniffer' kit.

If the engine checks out fine then having the turbo rebuilt might be a good plan. Would be worth getting it upgraded at the same time to maximise future potential

The assumption that white smoke isn't oil is not always true , if you get a big leak you will produce lots of white smoke especially if it leaking into the downpipe , burning oil at lesser levels from the combustion chamber will produce blue smoke .
If you have ever had a piston let go on the motorway you would know that once you get enough oil burning it's not blue smoke you get it's clouds of white smoke. Like James bond style

[chapel]

so oil leaking directly into the turbocharger would more than likely produce white smoke?

[driftin jo]

so oil leaking directly into the turbocharger would more than likely produce white smoke?

Yes , I once had a turbo that smoked it's head off , it was funny because when it was hot I would sit at the lights with loads of smoke coming from the exhaust and people would laugh and point at me as they thought my engine was ****ed , then when the lights changed I would leave them behind me in a cloud of smoke .

[chapel]

see, that same thing is a bit embarrassing to me... despite the ability to disappear like the Roadrunner in a cloud of cartoon smoke.

So, considering the turbo seems to have JUST begun giving problems... how long do you think I can drive it about before I need to rebuild it? I probably put less than 6,000 miles on it this year.

[mcandmar]

I've had an oil seal fail on a standard K24 turbo and it produced clouds of white smoke when warmed up. With the turbo removed the exhaust side was damp with engine oil. As Jo said it was just burning off slowly with the heat of the exhaust.

I also have a second hand RS2 turbo i bought for a future project, although i bought it from a trusted source as working fine i wouldnt use it without having the bearings/seals replaced. Especially as its going onto a new engine. But thats just me.

[chapel]

I'm curious as to why it stops smoking after a while. If our assumptions are correct that the bushings are getting lubed up

[Golfboy666GTI]

White smoke isn't usually oil related, that would be blueish smoke ordinarily...

Might be worth checking the coolant for signs of a head gasket leak using a 'sniffer' kit.

If the engine checks out fine then having the turbo rebuilt might be a good plan. Would be worth getting it upgraded at the same time to maximise future potential

What is a sniffer kit? Ive had a google and cant really find anything.

My RS2 is smoking as chapels car does.
Its fine on cold start up (no smoke) But will smoke for a second or 2 on a warm start.

[chapel]

interesting... sorta the opposite of mine.
Same white thick clouds of smoke?

[s2spike]

What is a sniffer kit? Ive had a google and cant really find anything..

its called a block tester and known as a sniffer because it sniffs the fuel vapours mixed in the water, you take the top off the expansion tank and put the sniffer in its place then run the engine.

http://blockchek.com/