Possible blown turbo, any advice or opinions?

[alhope34]

Today on my way home from work I was driving and without warning the clamp holding the coupler on my fmic pipe slipped off causing the pipe to blow out of the coupler. When I got home I went to put it back on, and noticed oil coming out of the compressed cold side of the turbo. The side of the turbo where the fmic coupler popped off. The oil isn't spewing or even dripping, just enough to leave an oil stain down the turbo its self and enough to wet the coupler and both hose clamps on the one side. I've never had this happen before, does this mean the turbo seals are probably blown or is it normal for the clamps to sometimes be worked loose and the "oil" I'm seeing is just the result of the egr/vacuum stuff being blown out a bit. I was boosting when it popped off, obviously, so it's possible all that garbage just got blown out. I just want to see what people's opinions are before I go to the dealership crying about a blown turbo.

[starscream]

Have you checked the turbo for shaft play? Like does it wobble (some play is alright, but too much is not good)? Blowing any smoke out the rear? Also oil comsumption, see any difference?

Typically if theres oil in the compressor side, it is a sign that a seal is bad, however not always. Taken this from a turbo rebuilder website

"Another thing to check for is the presence of oil in either the compressor or exhaust housing. Shaft seals at both ends of the wheel shaft normally keep the oil where it belongs. But if either seals goes bad, oil can be pulled out of the bearing housing. Oil leaks are more common on the compressor side because that side of the turbo is constantly exposed to intake vacuum.

Oil leaks can also be caused by residue plugging up the oil return line. If oil is present in both housings, but the turbo shows no signs of binding, wobble or rubbing, remove the oil return line and check it for obstructions by passing a stiff wire through it."

So maybe check that. Boost holding ok and all that? I would say keep an eye on it, do all the checks and then see. But from what your saying it sounds like the seals are starting to go.

[alhope34]

No blue smoke as of yet, but then I do have both the stock cats. The original owner of the FMIC said this happened to him and not to worry. Said I should replace the silicone connector on the turbo.

[WeatherB]

A small amount of oil residue in there is normal, I've seen it on a couple of cars. It's the PCV vapours being recirculated back into the intake. You can reduce it by getting a catch can.