Blown turbo in a 300SD
 

I had a turbo go out on me and I thought the car was on fire with all of the smoke when I came to a stop after pulling off of the Interstate. I panicked, then resigned to the thought that I was stranded and was in for a long walk. Once I got to a safe place, I got out and checked the oil and it was a little low, but fine. I checked the coolant and it wasn't even that hot after about three hours of fairly hard driving. The transmission fluid level was ok as well. But with all of the blue smoke, I just knew there was no way for this car to get me back home. Anyway, I got in the car after about 45 minutes weighing my options and upon acceleration, the blue smoke, more than a mosquito truck cloud started again, but after I got up to speed the smoke stopped or at least I couldn't see it following me in the rear view mirror. I took it easy for about 15 miles and I didn't hear that infamous metal to metal clunking sound heard when a rod has flown through the block, so I kept going trying to get closer to home before it got dark. The car made it home. Now I know what a bad turbo is.

BenzDiesel

You have a blown oil seal. I feel for ya because I have been there too :(

Just wait until a cop pulls you over and says "Good evening Mr. Bond" . :D

I just had to deal with that too, but when I got the turbo off, it was shredded inside.

If your oil seal is blown id imagine the fluid bearing that once existed in the turbo no longer forms. New turbo? Take the U-tube off the intake of the turbo and with your finger feel the shaft. Does it spin freely with no grinding? Is there any play in the shaft? Of course when the car is off ;)

Turbo replacement solved the excessive blue smoke problem.
 

The shaft does wiggle excessively indicating that the bearings are a big part of the problem. While I had the turbo off, I repaired the leak at the big o-ring for the oil return pipe on top of the oil pan.

BenzDiesel

Yikes, how many miles on that turbo?