Hey there guys, so i just finished installing my oem 8 turbo, oem manifold, no name housing and oem downpipe. After having my car started for about 10 minutes it started smoking from the headers (residue) now after that cleared up, i noticed smoke coming from the radiator and in the middle of the radiator and burnt circular spot was starting to form. Any ideas?

 

Do you have an exhaust leak that's pushing exhaust gasses right into the radiator?

 

If the radiator is filled it will take *forever* to burn. I once blew the wastegate discharge pipe and the exhaust gas blasted right onto the side of the radiator. It left a blacken spot about the size of a basketball yet the radiator is still working fine 'til this day.
Anyway, yeah if you see a black spot it's definitely Exhaust Leak.

 

Yup black spot the size of a baseball, any ideas on how to fix the exhaust leak?

 

New gaskets, bolts if needed. Or just tighten it up and see if that works.

 

What exactly am i tighting up? The downpipe to exhaust? Sorry pretty new to this lol

 

Just check all the connections in that area. Start the car and put a piece or cardboard or something between the radiator and your turbo setup and see where the leak is coming from and then either tighten the bolts/nuts to spec or buy new gaskets for the failed connection.

 

I know it cant be the gaskets because i got all new ones, so must be something loose. Im just scaredto start my car in fear of making that burnt patch on the radiator fins any bigger.

 

Tape a piece of cardboard over the radatior and start the car then go look at it while it's running to see where it's coming from if you're unsure which connection is loose. It should be obvious though

 

My guess would be the manifold to turbo connection which is right next to the radistor, or the front nuts on your o2 housing. Those would be the only connections close to the radiator that would burn the thing. Look up the tq spec thread and crank it down to spec

 

Where on the radiator am i taping the cardboard too? Theres nothing touching the radiator, the smoke/burns looks like its coming from the inside. And u could be right because i literally just finished putting in an oem turbo/downpipe so could be those connections.

 

Start the car and put your hand between the radiator and turbo. When you feel hot air look where it's coming from and tighten all the bolts in that vicinity. This shouldnt be that difficult to find

 

Okay will try that, i just hope its not the o2 housing, im not sure what brand it was but its stainless steel and i got it from a friend of mine who told me it would be a better replacement than the stock one.

 

Do you still have the "donut" gasket between the O2 housing and the DownPipe?

 

Yes