I know you love your GM trucks but I like to bring my other problems here 2016 Chevy trax smoking

[Tonyv__]

Anyone work on these cr@p 1.4 ecotecs that Chevy put out?

Helping a friend out (who has zero knowledge of cars). It’s a 2016 Chevy trax with 75k miles. He says he filled up the gas tank then left the gas station. Next thing he knows it’s blowing smoke out the exhaust and loss of power. Drives it home. Then tries to drive it to my house a couple weeks after sitting. Doesn’t make it. Starts smoking about 5 mins into the drive and loses power. Leaves it for a few days then tries to drive it again. Can’t even get it out of the parking lot without stalling. Finally has it towed to my house..

I replaced the entire pcv system. Because apparently they’re prone to failure and I was able to diagnose that the valve cover was definitely bad.. Cleaned the oil out of the intake tubes, intercooler , but haven’t removed the turbo. Oil was pitch black.. Put it all back together. Changed the oil. The idle is smooth. Doesn’t stall. But still smoking. Trying to figure out if it’s residual oil burning or If the turbo is spitting oil….

I haven’t put the car on the road yet. Just idled and revved the engine.

Anyone have any tips for diagnosing the turbo?


I have done compression test, cylinders seem healthy

 

[Fless]

How's the fuel? We keep reading about stations mistakenly having diesel put in the underground gas tanks. Sampled it?

 

[Tonyv__]

How's the fuel? We keep reading about stations mistakenly having diesel put in the underground gas tanks. Sampled it?

U know what. Someone else said possible diesel as well but there is massive amounts of oil in the intake pipe so I’m inclined to think it’s oil smoke… but I have no sampled the gas. I’ll have to check that

Would a gas engine run on diesel?

 

[TollKeeper]

Those engines were known for massive turbo failure. Thats where I would be looking.

Engine Oil Leaks



If there is a low engine oil level, excessive oil consumption, oil leaking into the induction or exhaust system, excessive oil in the PCV bypass hose, or excessive smoke or oil leaking at the tail pipe, verify the proper engine oil level and perform an inspection of the entire engine, checking for any aftermarket devices or custom modifications.



In addition, remove the turbocharger rubber outside air inlet duct — there will be normal oil staining in the turbocharger outside air inlet (Fig. 5) — and inspect the inlet tube for oil leaking into the opening of the turbocharger bore for the PCV bypass hose. Also check the turbocharger oil feed and return pipe for leaks, restrictions or damage.

Fig. 5



Inspect the exhaust system for the presence of oil as well. If oil is present, there may be a broken turbocharger turbine or compressor wheel. It is very unlikely that the turbocharger will leak oil internally if the turbine and compressor wheel shaft is not broken.

Misdiagnosis of Returned Turbochargers – TechLink

gm-techlink.com

 

[Tonyv__]

@TollKeeper The whole intake was flooded. I just assumed the pcv sent that oil throughout the system. (From what I read on other forums). At this point I might just throw a cheapy turbo on there for the hell of it… I’d go GM but apparently they aren’t reliable enough to make it past 70k miles


Also it was definitely low on oil but I couldn’t tell you the last time maintenance was done on this car. I’m going in blind

 

[Fless]

U know what. Someone else said possible diesel as well but there is massive amounts of oil in the intake pipe so I’m inclined to think it’s oil smoke… but I have no sampled the gas. I’ll have to check that

Would a gas engine run on diesel?

Not for long.

 

[Tonyv__]

Not for long.

I’ve definitely idled it for over 30 mins. Which leads me to believe it’s probably not diesel

 

[89Suburban]

Off the cuff I would think turbo failure.

 

[Tonyv__]

Off the cuff I would think turbo failure.

Kind of thinking the same. There was a ton of oil. Apparently with pcv failure the car will still run just kind of crappy at times. So maybe his pcv has been bad for a while and now the turbo ate sh*t. It’s cheap enough to just replace at this point. I might just go for it

 

[TollKeeper]

The cheapness isnt the problem. Getting the studs off, and oil lines, are the pain.

 

[Doubeleive]

U know what. Someone else said possible diesel as well but there is massive amounts of oil in the intake pipe so I’m inclined to think it’s oil smoke… but I have no sampled the gas. I’ll have to check that

Would a gas engine run on diesel?

it would run on diesel/gas mix but it would smoke like hell

 

[Tonyv__]

The cheapness isnt the problem. Getting the studs off, and oil lines, are the pain.

Yeah I was reading that the oil lines will likely break. I’m gonna see if I can spend some time on it tonight.

 

[Tonyv__]

So I took the car for a spin tonight. I’m very new to turbo engines so I’m thrown off by this. I took it for a spin down some side streets. Under 20mph it drove fine. Hit the main road and punched it. Got some turbo lag ( I think). Rpm’s shot up. But the car barely goes. Now I’m confused? Is the transmission going out also or is that normal for a car with a bad turbo? I’ll attach a video. Also when I got back to the garage. The intake tube is puking out oil again. And the idle has gone back to total sh*t. Assuming the oil has something to do with that. The CEL is a turbo underboost code. So I definitely think the turbo is shot but now I’m concerned the trans might be slipping as well? If that’s the case this thing might be trash

 

[Doubeleive]

So I took the car for a spin tonight. I’m very new to turbo engines so I’m thrown off by this. I took it for a spin down some side streets. Under 20mph it drove fine. Hit the main road and punched it. Got some turbo lag ( I think). Rpm’s shot up. But the car barely goes. Now I’m confused? Is the transmission going out also or is that normal for a car with a bad turbo? I’ll attach a video. Also when I got back to the garage. The intake tube is puking out oil again. And the idle has gone back to total sh*t. Assuming the oil has something to do with that. The CEL is a turbo underboost code. So I definitely think the turbo is shot but now I’m concerned the trans might be slipping as well? If that’s the case this thing might be trash

I don't know but that took a awful longtime to go from 20-60

 

[Tonyrodz]

@swathdiver is a GN/turbo guy, maybe he has an idea. James?

 

[Tonyv__]

I don't know but that took a awful longtime to go from 20-60

Way too long. If it was a NA engine id definitely say trans. But I’ve also never driven it before today. So I don’t even know if this guy has been driving with a bad trans.. I find it hard to believe the pcv, turbo and now trans all went at the same time

 

[Doubeleive]

Way too long. If it was a NA engine id definitely say trans. But I’ve also never driven it before today. So I don’t even know if this guy has been driving with a bad trans.. I find it hard to believe the pcv, turbo and now trans all went at the same time

Frozen PCV valve issue 1.4T (existing T.B.?) + blown oil...

www.cruzetalk.com

 

[Doubeleive]

 

[Bill 1960]

Do you know if the turbo was producing any boost on that drive? No boost; no power, and worse than NA if the thing is locked up. That is probably the cause of high revs and lack of acceleration.

 

[Tonyv__]

Do you know if the turbo was producing any boost on that drive? No boost; no power, and worse than NA if the thing is locked up. That is probably the cause of high revs and lack of acceleration.

There’s no boost gauge on the car. And that code at the end of the drive was an underboost code so it’s likely the turbo is not producing or the blowoff valve is shot. But it’s all in 1 unit….

What I’m mostly confused about is what is the transmission doing? Like with high rpm’s why isn’t rhe torque converter telling the trans to go? Is the ecm telling the trans to hold off the engine isn’t getting sufficient power?