My 05 legacy gt is smoking and cutting off when reducing speed. Could the turbo possibly be causing this my check engine light is NOT on. It was on but when I replaced the spark plugs it went off but still smoking. Turbo problem??

Have you tried to pull the codes to see if they are still stored in the system?

Hi,

 

 

+1  - GET the Codes First. What made you change the plugs w/out checking the code(s)?

 

If you're over 100K miles on the GT than Yes, the VF40 is likely dead. Do NOT continue to drive it as the turbo can disintegrate and dump parts into your block and your replacement cost will go up ...a LOT.

 

Get another VF40 or VF46 (double-check on the 46's fitment), or upgrade to a VF52 from a WRX - MUST GET A TUNE! - w/the 52.

 

P.s. You can find these used on Legacygt or Nasioc websites - ensure/ verify miles as these cars are getting old and low mileage ones will be harder to find.

 

GL,

tD

Edited August 16, 201510 yr by wtdash

I checked codes first of course. And I had a misfire on 3. So I changed plugs and coil paks. And now its still smoking. Your the 3rd to say turbo off the top. So I recently pulled turbo and it does have some but not much play in the thing that spins (what's it called? itd be nice to know) and also I appreciate your time it's hl very helpful. I can tell ya anything about a Ford but this all I'm seeing is sign language. But I must say am glad I made a change these things are something else.

I checked codes first of course. And I had a misfire on 3. So I changed plugs and coil paks. And now its still smoking. Your the 3rd to say turbo off the top. So I recently pulled turbo and it does have some but not much play in the thing that spins (what's it called? itd be nice to know) and also I appreciate your time it's hl very helpful. I can tell ya anything about a Ford but this all I'm seeing is sign language. But I must say am glad I made a change these things are something else.

And also do you know how expensive it is to get a tune??? just wondering? if I have an SCT tuner could I do it with that jw idk was looking into one. But I would like to upgrade to the 52

Edited August 17, 201510 yr by Bama13josh

The turbos on your LGT model are a known weak point...go search on LegacyGT.com...it could be something else, but it's common.

 

Also, and I tell everyone w/these engines - EJ255 and EJ257- do a compression and leak down test to get a 'health check' done b4 you start throwing parts @ it. They have a history of blowing ringlands, head gaskets, burned valves, etc....expensive fixes...usually in the 150K miles range.

 

A tune is really dependent on your source. Don't know what 'jw' means, but NO an SCT won't work. 

 

COBB AccessPort is the most common (only?) plug-in tuner that people use. Cobb has Off The Shelf (OTS) tunes that are a general tune that can be applied to your car, depending on mods, or you can get a ProTune w/the Cobb that your local Tuner (a person skilled in tuning ECUs / engine computers) would do - preferably w/the car on a Dyno. Also, there are Open Source tunes that require a special Tactrix cable, RomRaider and ECUFlash software and a LOT of knowledge, or, again, a local Tuner that can tune it for you.

 

Expect to spend a min. of $500....If you think that's a lot then I suggest looking for a new hobby. :-)

TD

Edited August 17, 201510 yr by wtdash

ANY play in the shaft,  even half a millimeter, is too much!  The rpms in a turbocharger average somewhere in the 7500 range.  The smallest bit of play is causing damage. 

 

WT is right: these become kryptonite at about 150K (as one guy a dealership put it).  

 

Trust me on this.  We build these engines every week and they don't come cheap, from us or anywhere else!

 

Emily

No offense to 'ccrinc', but journal bearing turbos, such as these, will have a little play - Side-to-Side- when not spinning...from everything I've read on numerous sites. One such LINK HERE. And HERE.

 

There are two types of play most commonly seen in turbos: side-to-side, called Radial play. And in-and-out, call Axial play. The in-and-out is BAD, so that's what you do NOT want.

 

Journal bearing turbos use the oil pressure  to maintain their 'balance' when on boost.

 

I had a TD05 from an older Subaru and it had Radial play, but it held 18PSI, made over 250HP/Torque AWHP, car used no oil and had no smoke.

 

 

But a little and a lot of play make all the difference....and I can't tell you How Much is Too Much, but there should be tolerances online.

 

 

 

TD

Edited August 26, 201510 yr by wtdash

Well I replaced turbo and still getting smoke not as much much still puffing constant blue smoke (I'm sure it's blue) and burning oil and I mean burning it like wildfire. 1qt lower like 150 miles later. Idk what to think. Maybe rings or seals???. Maybe headgasket?? Burned valves? Can anyone help me please

Compression test!!

No check engine light = mechanical issues.

From my experience, especially on the 2005 model year, at the very least, you have cracked ring land(s). 

 

C/N: you need a new engine.  (Sorry)

 

Emily

Well I replaced turbo and still getting smoke not as much much still puffing constant blue smoke (I'm sure it's blue) and burning oil and I mean burning it like wildfire. 1qt lower like 150 miles later. Idk what to think. Maybe rings or seals???. Maybe headgasket?? Burned valves? Can anyone help me please

Yes...we have given you the help. Now please go get the Comp/Leak down test.....you won't like the result, but you'll know the cause.

 

My '04 XT (same engine) did exactly as yours w/the burning oil when it lost a ringland.

 

Td