Help Diagnose My Turbo's Condition, And How Long Will It Live?

[ausdrift]

So I'm half way through installing a FMIC kit yesterday and decide that its a great time to check on my turbo while I have all the piping off. I take much of the piping off and find oil in some of the pipes. It isn't all the way through though thankfully. It seems to go from the turbo to only the first arm of piping, so not even to the section that dives down to the IC through the engine bay floor yet (so oil for about 40cm from turbo).

I checked the turbo itself and there was a little oil on the inlet. I checked the wheel for movement and there is no real side to side movement, but a little back and forth, maybe 1mm.

It feels to me like the condition of the turbo wheel/bearings etc is ok, but the oil leak suggests the rear seal is worn. Am I on the money here?

The car runs factory boost (for now), has done 125,000kms, and it runs fine.

So, what do we think the problem is, and importantly how long would you expect it to last? Also if I leave it as is what will be the consequences? Will it just get more and more smokey as the seals wear out more, or worse?

thanks

[ausdrift]

Oh, car is a 1996 R33 GTS-T

[Ben C34]

Oil could have got in there from the engine breather return to inlet.

1mm of movement is heaps. But I doubt it's 1mm. People can't judge less then with their fingers typically!

Just drive it. Pretend you never saw the oil.

But plan on getting a better turbo because the stock one sucks!

[vetter2769]

they all have a bit of oil in them, its most likely caused by positive crank case pressure which results in the oil air breather to spit oil into the intake of the turbo, then it throws it out the hot side, and because it only throws out such small amounts its not going to travel all the way to the IC.

when i pulled my old 180 apart the oil was all through the IC and everywhere.

I'd say its fine for a while, if you have plans on doing a new turbo + injectors + ecu etc then don't worry about it, save up and buy those things, don't waste money on factory turbo seals lol.

EDIT - What ben said ( beat me too it haha)

Edited November 4, 2014 by vetter2769

[ausdrift]

Yeah, come to think of it, it probably wasn't 1mm. It didn't feel to be loose or worn. Movement didn't really worry me when I checked it.