The scent of turbo

[Frostbite]

Has anyone else noticed a rather sickening burning oil/race fuel smell when riding behind a turbo equipped RX-1?
Is it more prevelant with one brand of turbo than others?
Does a smell indicate a seal or some other component within the turbo may be failing?
When riding with a turbo RX-1 it's usually only a matter of time before you end up riding behind them :lol:
PB

 

[lakercr]

I've noticed both. The race fuel smell is just that, while the burning oil smell has usually been because oil is getting past the seals in the core and burning in the exhaust. Oil can either get past because of too much pressure in the supply line, or oil not evacuating the return line quickly enough.

 

[Frostbite]

Is this more prevelant with a particular brand of turbo?
Wouldn't the oil be prone to burning off it's additve package much sooner than normal if one were to stop and shut the engine off after lake running for instance? Wouldn't theoil in the turbo more or less "cook" off the additives?
I know with my Powerstroke it's recommended to let it idle for a while after running under a load for that very reason.
I was thinking if I were running a turbo I'd probably be changing my oil twice a season instead of once for this very reason. PB

 

[lakercr]

I wouldn't want to put more than 1000 miles on my sled between oil changes now that it has the turbo. I would think that any of the Mfr's with the turbo in the rear would be more likely to have this problem. The oil return out of the turbo is only gravity fed, and there isn't alot of slope for the first 3' after the oil leaves the turbo. You should always let the turbo (engine) idle for a while after running it and before shutting it down. "Coking" the oil is what you're trying to prevent, as it is the most common reason that a turbo will eventually fail.

 

[RX1 Yooper]

It's probably the smell of plastic, and other materials getting so darn hot, it's giving off fumes.

 

[Convert]

PB are you sure that wasn't the chili burgers we ate at Seccesh :lol:

 

[Buckeye]

I love the smell of race fuel burning :lol:

 

[spray25]

I beleive PB is referring to my turbo. I do seem to be getting some comments on the smell. I beleive it to be the race fuel. The people that have used race fuel in the past have said that is what it is. Also When I run just pump fuel I get no complaints.

I am burning a little oil, but I truely do NOT think that is it. My sled is also a little rich right now so I'm sure that is not helping the smell issue.