2001 7.3 has alot of oil in intercooler

[mcnewton]

My 2001 Excursion 7.3 has alot of oil in the intercooler, enough that it is blowing oil through it and into the intake of the engine which is producing blue smoke and burnt oil smelling smoke. Only smokes on deceleration, that I can tell. Have replaced factory compressor wheel with wicked wheel about 10,000 miles ago, had no problems then other than a little side to side play in turbo. Turbo has alot of side to side play now, probably 1/4 to 1/2 ".
Could excess wear in Turbo cause "blow by" into intercooler? Engine runs great, no misses or anything noticible other than smoke. I do have a six position chip "TS" and only run it on 75 hp gain, with no towing! Suggestions please!!!!!!!!

[SuperCrutyPS]

In the intake tube TO the turbo, there is a CCV (Crank case ventilation) opening that comes out of the valve cover below. Remove the tube and start your truck to see if lots of smoke is coming out of that opening. That would mean you have lots of blow by in the crankcase. That smoke carrying oil ends up in your boost tubes and intercooler. "SOME" is normal.

I don't know enough about the turbo to know if you could be sucking oil around the shaft. That much play does seem like to much...but that's my limited knowledge.

[mcnewton]

Thanks,
I have checked it and there is definatley smoke, but I don't think that it is enough to make all these areas wet with standing oil. It has to be coming from somewhere. Someone please help!

[goats]

If you have that much play in the turbo it's time to rebuild or replace cause that's bad and that will cause your issue

[greasltn]

I agree with goats, you need to replace or rebuild the turbo.

[goats]

I'm just wondering how the wheel looks cause with that much movement it has to hit the compressure cover

[mcnewton]

The wheel doesen't look too bad! Granted it hasn't been that long since the wicked wheel install. I think I caught it before it got too bad. It was only driven twice after I noticed the smoke and then made the wifey park it. Yes this is my wife's truck. On a side note, I really appreciate everyone's responses, it helped me make a decision. Just ordered a gtp38r from Majestic Turbo in Dallas for under $1500.00. More than I wanted to spend but I hope in the long run it will be a wise investment.

[HostileWes]

1/2 of side to side play? WOW. Parking was a wise choice. Im 98% sure with that much play the seals around the shaft are shot and there is your oil coming in. Into the housing, out the turbo. If the hot side seal is gone the oil will just make its way down the downpipe. Cold side, well, hello motor. When those blades start moving around that much, they start to shave off the blades and the inside of the housing. Im sure you can guess where the metal goes. If its was mine, when you pull that turbo, have a good look at it, and shaved down spots on the cold side, you need to go find them. My guess is in the bottom of the coldside tank on the IC.

[bigwhite7.3stroker]

Thats a good price on that 38R and when you get it in I would also do the CCV mod to keep that oil out of the Intercooler

[mcnewton]

Anyone have any good ideas of how to clean the oil and whatever else out of the intercooler. What products or procedures to use. How hard is the IC to pull. Do I have to remove the Radiator or just move it out of the way?