People, help me - I am having a crisis. I have only had my ZX TT a short time and the drivers side tail pipe has decided that it wants to take up smoking when I'm stuck in traffic. An ideas?

hmmm turbo seals ???

First thing. What colour is the smoke. Blue/Purple? If it is on one side it sounds like your turbo seal it leaking.

 

Stuart

 

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Aztec Red

UK 91

Manual TT

The smoke is light blue. When I am driving it is ok, nothing comes out but this morning I got stuck in traffic and after 25 minutes it was pushing out a lot of very light blue to grey smoke. Once I started going again,it was ok after half a mile.

sounds defo like a seal

 

 

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BUFF MAN 300ZX SUPER HERO!!!! or is that DUFFMAN????

Does anyone recommend Nissan? or should I be looking for a turbo specialist?

 

Oh yeah, and has anyone got third party warranty on their ZX and do they know if the seal going is classed as wear and tear? Is it not the case that if Nissan request a reconditioned unit that the old unit would be classed as faulty?

The general feel is stay away from Nissan. We have had stories of people gone into Nissan to order a part for there car only to be told there is not such car as a Nissan 300ZX.

Turbo seals are strange to find how much to get them replaced. The seals, I have heared cost about £20 but cost loads to install them. I would think that leaking turbo seals do come under wear and tear.

Where abouts are you? So we can see where best it is for you to go.

 

Stuart

 

 

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Aztec Red

UK 91

Manual TT

I am near Nottingham or Derby or Sheffield. Has anyone used John Noble Motorsport - if so let me know what the verdict is.

Well, I am sure that there are places round the will be able to assist.

I dont know personally but if you look in the morning, some one will be able to help you more than I have. Good luck Cos

 

Stuart

 

P.S. I think the Zcentre is in Nottingham

http://www.zcentre.co.uk/index.shtml

 

E-mail Luke I think it is. He will tell you, what it will cost.

 

 

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Aztec Red

UK 91

Manual TT

Thank you

 

It does sound like 99% certainty that it's a turbo seal. Theoretically it can be done with engine in but those who've done them reckon it's a lot easier with engine out.

 

With work of this nature, it would be unwise to do anything other than have both turbos replaced.

 

My recommendation would be to ensure that you go to someone who really has done this job before on this car. They should give you a fixed price. To check, tell them that you have a leaking rear oil seal on a turbo and ask them what's involved in replacing. If they don't say it's engine out or convince you that they've done it before then I'd suggest staying clear.

 

SE in Essex have done many of these but there will be plenty of others around.

 

When I had mine done it was £600 fixed price for labour and then around £650 per turbo (slightly uprated).

 

Don't waste the opportunity for bigger turbos if that's something you're considering.

 

Dave

 

£600 for labour only???

 

Do yourself a favour and go to Sterling Nissan in Ipswich. I paid £200 all in for one seal that had gone.

 

Andy

£200?

 

It's a 19hour job just to remove the turbo!!

 

Sounds a very good price

 

on the subject of repairing a turbo. 650 pounds per turbo is an absolute rip of of note (and no im not having a go at anyone, or any company) cause this seems to be the general consensus in this country.

In JHB a full turbo rebuild from a company like garret Sout Africa costs around 70 pounds !!!!

 

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BUFF MAN 300ZX SUPER HERO!!!! or is that DUFFMAN????

Well I took Hairsy's message to mean he *bought* new turbos at £650 a piece.. God I do hope that wasn't a rebuild price!

 

Az

 

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Stage: Rather Ill

Cos - you don't say how long you've had the car for...and whether you bought it trade (hopefully) or privately...

 

if you can elaborate that would be useful...;o)

I'd maybe speak to Hiteq in Wigan via Johnny at GPS, pretty sure they HAVE done work with Turbos whilst the engine is in the car.

 

Also, don't do anything until you've defo spoken to Luke at the Zcentre in Nottingham.

 

IMO

 

I'm trying to recall what it was I paid and what I got. Unfortunately haven't got the receipt any more. But it was the standard SE upgraded (stage 1) turbos. Probably on their site.

 

Dave

 

P.S. If I could have got it much cheaper, do me a favour and lie to me and tell me it was a great price !

Hiteq in Wigan can change the turbos without removing the engine. Ian quoted me about 14 hours labour to do the job (around £550).

I'm looking to get mine replaced (with bigger ones!) soon

Dave

Stop being a load of wimps and replace the turbo's yourselves

 

Az

 

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Stage: Rather Ill

Mr williams the man, please be patient im going home at end of november and will make a plan for you.c

Nice going Dave. I have been told by Craig that I am heading the same way as you (started off by telling everyone that I want to stay stock and then......).

 

Regarding the new turbo seals, I'm gonna have to dig out my receipts then. I'm sure of three things though:

1) I didn't pay £600 as I would not be here typing this (I would be in intensive care somewhere recovering from shock)

2) That my engine wasn't pulled out.

3) That I don't have blue smoke coming out of my left exhausts anymore.

 

If I remember, I'll check tonight when I get home.

 

Andy

Hairsy, don't panic, price for upgraded turbo's is around the 650 mark and upwards depending on spec, i just paid 820.00 apiece for mine, ball bearing jobbies.

RC in Warrington and Ian at Hiteq are both cheaper than SE and both know their stuff too. If your stuck for cash cos, get a breather kit from Johnny, this will give you some more time, whilst you save yer pennies. Smithy

I second that smithy - Hiteq are the dogs danglies for good work at a good price BTW

 

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

Hi all just a thought on turbo seals and the use of fully sythetic oil, a short stop may be to change to a sythetic base with a higher 10 or 15 rating as some of the full synths. are very, very thin I think.Just my view. Jeff TT

Okay.. try this... don't laugh but take note. My Zed's stock turbos started smoking 2.5 years ago. They're still in there. Last oil change (Friday) and no smoke.. none..notta...not happening. When they first started smoking I didn't want to drive the car.

 

Still reading ? Yes I thought you were.

 

1. Check the temp sensor, clean the plugs and replace sensor if necessary. - These can sometimes cause problems with overrich running at idle which washes the bores and out comes the oil.

 

2. Search out a MOTUL oil stockist (try Gary at GTART www.gtart.co.uk) and put in a fresh load of MOTUL 300V Chrono Racing 10w40 and hang onto your money for a bit longer.

 

I've been running MOTUL for quite some time now and at the beginning of every fresh oil change - no smoke, after a few thousand kays a little blue stuff starts appearing. Good sign to change the oil. When you first drive the car from cold in the mornings or evenings make absolutely sure that you warm it up for 3-4mins and drive gently for the first 5 mins . If you exceed the big 4 mark when it's cold this forces oil past the seals on the turbo and it starts smoking.

 

The stuff that started my turbos off was ELF Synthese 5w40. The seals just did not like it. The oil was pouring out the seals and creating billowing clouds of smoke. But now there's virtually none.

 

And whats more your engine gets protected with some of THE best oil there is full stop.

 

If it doesn't work, well it's money you had to spend on oil anyway.

 

Regards

Rowan