Blue/black smoke can be caused by numerous conditions, and one of them could be a turbocharger worn past its useful service life. The following are potential reasons that blue/black smoke could occur:
- Clogged air filter element or obstructed air intake duct. This condition creates a vacuum due to high differential pressure resulting in oil drawn into the compressor and subsequently burned during engine combustion.
- Engine component problems; i.e. worn piston rings or liners, valve seals, fuel pump, fuel injectors, etc.
- Obstructed oil drain on turbocharger resulting in pressure building inside the center housing and forcing oil past the turbocharger seals
- Damaged turbocharger or turbocharger worn past its useful service life
- Black smoke is also sometimes indicative of too rich an air/fuel mixture.
