An automobile turbocharger, despite the longevity (10 years) and wear resistance promised by the manufacturer, still fails, jumps and breaks. Therefore, it is necessary from time to time to eliminate malfunctions of the turbine of both diesel and gasoline engines. And in order to identify the signs of a malfunction in time, you must always pay attention to the non-standard behavior of the car.

The turbine has broken down if:

  • there is a feeling that traction has disappeared (power has decreased);
  • when accelerating a car, smoke of blue, black, white comes out of the exhaust pipe;
  • when the engine is running, whistling, noise, grinding are heard;
  • consumption has increased sharply or there is an oil leak;
  • air and oil pressure drops frequently.
  • If such symptoms appear, then in these cases a thorough check of the diesel turbine is needed.

Signs and malfunctions of the turbocharger

  • Blue exhaust smoke is a sign of combustion of oil in the engine cylinders that got there from the turbocharger or engine. Black indicates an air leak, and white exhaust indicates a clogged turbocharger oil drain.
  • The cause of the whistle is an air leak at the junction of the compressor and motor outlet, and the screeching indicates rubbing elements of the entire turbocharging system.
  • It is also worth checking all the elements of the turbine on the engine if it shuts down or stops working altogether.

90% of automotive turbine problems are oil related.

Lack and low oil pressure

Occurs due to leakage or pinching of oil hoses, as well as due to their incorrect installation to the turbine. It leads to increased wear of rings, shaft journals, insufficient lubrication and overheating of the turbine radial bearings. They will have to be changed.

5 seconds of operation of the turbine of a diesel engine without oil can cause irreparable damage to the entire unit.

Oil contamination

It happens due to the untimely replacement of an old oil or filter, the ingress of water or fuel into the lubricant, the use of low-quality oil. Leads to bearing wear, blockage of oil passages, axle damage. Defective parts should be replaced with new ones. Thick oil also harms bearings, as it builds up deposits and reduces the tightness of the turbine.

Entry of a foreign object into the turbocharger

Leads to damage to the compressor wheel blades (hence the air pressure drops); turbine wheel blades; rotor. On the compressor side, replace the filter and check the intake tract for leaks. On the turbine side, it is worth replacing the shaft and checking the intake manifold.

Can I repair a turbine myself?

The turbocharger seems simple and straightforward. And all you need to repair a turbine is to know the turbine model, engine number and manufacturer, and have spare parts or a factory turbo repair kit on hand.

You can independently carry out visual diagnostics of the turbocharger, dismantle it, disassemble and replace defective turbine elements, and reinstall it. Inspect the air, fuel, cooling and oil systems with which the turbine closely interacts, check their operation.

Turbine breakdown prevention

Change the air filters promptly.

  1. Fill with original oil and quality fuel.
  2. Completely change the oil in the turbocharging system after every 7,000 km.
  3. Observe the amount of boost pressure.
  4. Be sure to warm up a vehicle with a diesel engine and turbocharger.
  5. After a long drive, allow the hot engine to cool down by idling for at least 3 minutes before turning it off. There will be no carbon deposits that damage the bearings.
  6. Perform regular diagnostics and take care of professional service.