Bobcat S185

[WVBobcat]

Ok guys i'm new here so don't beat me up too aweful bad....lol. I recently accquired a used 2004 S185 with 1800hrs. When i brought the machine home and started using it,it was smoking heavily "white smoke" Fuel smell that would burn your eyes and give you a headache for 2 days. After approx 2 hours of running i brought it to the house checked the oil and i'm on the add mark. So i'm thinking i have two separate problems here. I've checked compression. 380-420 on all cylinders. I took the turbo off and it was sludged up something aweful, still spinning freely though. I dissassembled it checked the seals and couldnt find any issues where maybe it would be passing oil. I guess my question is has anyone out there had a problem like this? Do you think from the amount of sludge and carbon that its possible i have some sticking oil rings? i have started putting additives in the fuel and oil to get me though the winter and i'm running it approx 3/4 throttle. What would make this thing sludge up so bad internally? If they idle alot would that do it? Any help guys i would sure appreciate. Thanks again.

 

[Tazza]

Where is the oil sludge? on the exhaust side or the inlet (compressor)?

 

[Kermode]

Where is the oil sludge? on the exhaust side or the inlet (compressor)?

White smoke and a fuel smell would indicate overfueling although that is usually associated with black smoke. Perhaps a stuck injector. White smoke can also indicate antifreeze or water in the combustion chamber caused by a cracked head, bad head gasket or liner seal. (Do Kubota's have liners?) You've definitely got a problem though. I had the intake off the turbo on my 2003 S185 with 3000 hrs and it was clean as a whistle. You shouldn't have any sludge ion the intake side.

 

[WVBobcat]

Where is the oil sludge? on the exhaust side or the inlet (compressor)?

Most of the oil oil and sludge is on the turbine side of the turbo. There were some very small traces of oil on the compressor side also. I sent the pump and injectors off to have checked and everything came back with a clean bill of health. Intake manifold was clean btw. Probably something obvious that i'm just overlooking but with the amount of oil its burning i wish i had another turbo to bolt on and try rather than spend a grand for one. Keep the questions coming guys i appreciate your help with this.

 

[Dogsluvtrux]

Most of the oil oil and sludge is on the turbine side of the turbo. There were some very small traces of oil on the compressor side also. I sent the pump and injectors off to have checked and everything came back with a clean bill of health. Intake manifold was clean btw. Probably something obvious that i'm just overlooking but with the amount of oil its burning i wish i had another turbo to bolt on and try rather than spend a grand for one. Keep the questions coming guys i appreciate your help with this.

Everything your describing is the seals are cooked on your turbo...if you take a turbo charged engine, run it hard for an hour and shut it off without letting it idle, you WILL over time cook the seals in the turbo. The other cause I've seen are guys that run down the road with the machine loaded backwards without covering the exhaust...the air forced down the exhaust will spin the turbo with no lubrication. Neither of these will cause immediate failure, but both significantly shorten the life of the turbo charger. Easiest way to check...take all of the exhaust system after the turbo charger off, start the machine and run 3/4 throttle. Take a peak inside the turbo, if the seals are going out, you will see oil being slung around...it looks like someone blowing a puddle of oil around with an air gun.

 

[WVBobcat]

Everything your describing is the seals are cooked on your turbo...if you take a turbo charged engine, run it hard for an hour and shut it off without letting it idle, you WILL over time cook the seals in the turbo. The other cause I've seen are guys that run down the road with the machine loaded backwards without covering the exhaust...the air forced down the exhaust will spin the turbo with no lubrication. Neither of these will cause immediate failure, but both significantly shorten the life of the turbo charger. Easiest way to check...take all of the exhaust system after the turbo charger off, start the machine and run 3/4 throttle. Take a peak inside the turbo, if the seals are going out, you will see oil being slung around...it looks like someone blowing a puddle of oil around with an air gun.

i did take the turbo apart and the housing on both ends and the seals looked ok. What ur saying about runnning down the road backwards makes sense to me and i never gave that a thought. From now on i will cover it. I will take the exhaust off and do the check your talking about thats a good idea. Thanks for the advice i will keep you guys posted.