Hi I have a 2011 Impreza WRX my car started blowing white smoke from the turbo and the exhaust. At first when I cold start it it doesnt blow any smoke but once it warms up it starts smoking. It's really expensive to fix the headers or if its the head gaskets it's still going to be an expensive job. I was wondering if it would be better to buy the short block or if it would be better to buy the whole engine with transmission to do an STI swap
Before you talk about spending all that money, I would find the actual source. Do a leak down test.
What do you mean smokes from the turbo by the way?
Putting in a new motor is a big, expensive job.. Doing an sti swap is a much bigger and more expensive job.. We're talking almost $10k in parts I that's just an estimate based on some prices I've seen for the individual parts). There's another problem with buying a used engine or tranny... You don't know how the donor car was modified. They could be ready to blow and in worse condition than yours.
The short block is likely not even the source of your problem. I would not replace a good short block unless you're getting a built one and plan on selling the stocker.
By the way your headers have nothing to do with this. Unless you mean heads, which they also have nothing to do with this.
Head gaskets are $50 each at the dealership and it's not that bad of a job. I know a few experienced mechanic guys that would do it for a few hundred bucks.
If it's your turbo, you can get a number of turbo's, ranging from used replacement for a few hundred to an aftermarket upgrade and gain a lot of power if you do the other mods needed to support it. I got my hands o on a used vf39 from an sti for $320 and rebuilt it just in case for @45.
Smoke from the turbo... Like there is an exhaust leak between the turbo and the uppipe? Or the turbo itself is smoking?
Pics / youtube vid?
If you had a problem with the short block, heads, exhaust headers, it would be smoking all around the engine, not just by the turbo. Is there white smoke coming out the end of the exhaust system or just leaking before the cat? Is it running hot? Is the cat glowing red? Is it idling rough? Does the smoke smell like exhaust or is it a burning, melted plastic type of smell?
As stated don't start dropping money until you know EXACTLY what's going on. Take it from someone who's been there/done that...15k in and all I get is to stare atm.
Anyways, the 1st and EASIEST things to check are:
TMIC, pull the intercooler off (check DIY/vids for how-to) and check if there's oil inside it or the couplings. If so then your turbo seals are on their last leg..I actually just did this and it was not pretty inside. Usually if you see this you will also find the turbo shaft has play (in and out is worse than side to side but both aren't good). Time for a turbo!
Exhaust, unbolt the DP from the turbo and mid pipe, if you see/feel oil this confirms the above.
Now on to the icky info...if you don't find oil in those places the next place to check would be inside the engine. But you can check many of those with a leakdown tester (requires air compressor), it will check your rings/valves/gaskets. Read up on these tests and let us know what you find.
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