Topic: Smoke coming from your tailpipe - must read!!!

[Sol Asylum]

Chuck there are several different designs for turbo seals and bearings and the ones described in that video may or may not apply to our turbos.  Unfortunately I haven't seen any good cut away drawings of our turbo to be able to tell you how ours is designed.

[chuckdoc]

Ah, at least I can picture the concept, I never could before.  I would love to see a turbo like ours cut away,

[Brazen17]

Back in the day, you always let your turbo cooldown, by letting the car idle for a while before you shut it off.  There even created an aftermarked with turbo timers for the aftermarket turbo set up.  Maybe you guys should practice letting them cool down before you twist the key and jump out of the car

I always drive mine a few miles after running it hard and pop the hood after I park it to let as much heat out as quickly as possible.  Especially on those 100+ degree days!

[LatinVenom]

I do the same thing as you but, I also make sure the coolant is about 199 or less.

[NormSky]

Today's turbos are water cooled so no specific shut procedure. At an autocross or road course day I'll pull in and pop the hood. Just the mechanical conscientious in me. 

[spider]

chockdoc can you find out how one diagnoses a turbo seal leak as opposed to a pcv issue. The 2 volume workshop manuals only reference to under boost positive crankcase ventilation in regards to service is to blow 25 psi of air into a central hole in the intake manifold once its removed. Thats it, no reference to an actual valve. As to how the system works it says only that the valve cover oneway checkvalve only lets air in. No mention of the other line from the valvecover to the intake side of the turbo compressor which would inturn let air back out & through the compressor & all downstream.(I presume this is the only one that needs the catch can providing the checkvalve functions as it should) It says that under boost where there is likelyhood of blowby (duh) the check valve shuts & the pressure is relieved from the crankcase into the intake manifold.(( So how likely is the crankcase blowby  pressure going to be more than the boost pressure in the intake manifold ?)) So, thats my 2 questions... anyone?...... I have my car on an oil IV drip to keep the intercooler oil filled not to mention keeping the dipstick damp!! <Hmm maybe a catch can on my intercooler?> I'm hopeing its a turbo seal, since I work at a coating shop, I'd have an excuse to coat the exhaust manifold & both snails. 

[chuckdoc]

When I had the pcv replaced, it was my idea.  I bought a new pcv valve myself and brought it to the dealer.  They could not find the replacement procedures and had to call gm for advice.  As it turns out, this was not the problem.  By the way, most people confuse the pcv check valve on the turbo side with the pcv valve inside the intake manifold.

The symptoms of a turbo seal leak are excessive oil in the intercooler pipe on the turbo side at the air box, loss of oil, smoke at idle and when you let off the turbo but not when you get on with boost. 

I hope this helps.

[spider]

Your symptom's fits mine to a "T". I think I'll get a replacement & coat it. Since my car is a daily driver I'll be able to minimize downtime by just doing a swap. 
Glad to hear there is an actual pcv valve though. I'm curious what pcv valve failure symptom's would be? Smoking under boost only + oil consumption?
 Anyway, thanks for confirming my suspicions. Where is a good online parts catalogue? I'd like to see what gskts. you listed plus any others I might get to keep from killing a quick swap. Probably a sticky somewhere,right? This weeks favorite online parts house? <that would make a nice sticky.   

[1LILNDN]

The symptoms of a turbo seal leak are excessive oil in the intercooler pipe on the turbo side at the air box, loss of oil, smoke at idle and when you let off the turbo but not when you get on with boost.  
I hope this helps.

Spider ; You have it backasswards

[spider]

The boost reference was to a pcv valve failure's possible symptoms, not turbo seal................ My fault. I tend to communicate laterally rather than linear.

[spider]

found the parts cat. A sticky  in problems & service (duh)
http://www.gmpartsgiant.com/Page_Product/PartDetail.aspx?modelYear=2007&model=Solstice&make=Pontiac&catalogCode=2M9&majorIndexID=00&minorIndexID=2M0001801&isBigPicture=True
 E-bay turbo is on its way!!

[1LILNDN]

Thanks Spider just might come in handy some day.