If there’s one thing that frustrates a driver, it’s their car acting up unexpectedly. Whether it’s a sudden problem out of nowhere or a prolonged issue transitioning into a bigger one, it can become a stressful and expensive ordeal. This is especially true when it comes to replacing a non-functional turbocharger.
So, here’s a quick guide for identifying a failed turbo and steps for how to replace a broken turbocharger kit. Unexpected repairs are a part of life. Try not to get overwhelmed by them. Grab your tools, your owner’s manual, and a water bottle; you have a lot of work to do.
How To Identify a Failed Turbo
Before figuring out how to replace a broken turbocharger kit, it’s essential that you get an idea of how to identify a failed turbo. There are many different reasons why turbochargers break, but some early signs include exhaust smoke, a turned-on check engine light, a whining engine, and sudden power loss in your turbo.
Additionally, the inability to maintain high speeds is an obvious indicator. It can feel frustrating, but it’s safer to replace it rather than ignore it until it’s too late. So, let’s look at why a turbocharger starts to fail.
Oil and Lubrication
Since engine oil makes your car function correctly, it needs to stay clean and get replaced over time. It helps lubricate key moving parts, cools them cool while in use, and protects the engine from corrosion.
When your engine experiences oil starvation, contains an incorrect grade of oil, or suffers from poor oil quality, it can create a buildup of contaminants. It results in abrasive damage inside the turbo. Don’t forget: filter replacements and correct engine oil matter.
Damaged Seals
Having seals will prevent leaks and corrosion inside your turbocharger and engine. If the compressor and engine seals become worn or cracked, the exhaust system will experience leaks, quickly deteriorating the turbocharger.
Because of wear and cracks forming, it causes the turbo to work harder to release air pressure. As such, it reduces the efficiency and boosts delivery by the turbocharger.
Wear and Tear
When installing a turbocharger, its life expectancy matches the vehicle itself—roughly 150,000 miles or more. However, turbochargers may wear out sooner depending on how hard you are on your car and the quality of the turbo. So, you must monitor and maintain your turbo throughout its life.
Foreign Objects
The compressor and turbine are the fundamental components of a turbocharger. Compressed air, fuel, and power result in a satisfying boost in your engine. However, foreign contaminants such as dirt, dust, and small debris do enter the turbo. It usually occurs in either the turbine inlet or the compressor, getting caught in the air filter before reaching too far into the housing.
If foreign objects end up in the compressor, it’s due to the air filter. Oppositely, it can result from things entering the turbine, resulting in further issues. Ensure that your filter gets replaced regularly to prevent rogue debris.
Steps for Turbo Replacements
After identifying the signs of a failed turbocharger, it’s time to replace it with a new one. Luckily, it’s a straightforward process that will get you back on the road.
Let Turbo Run to Functional Temperatures
Before removing the turbo, let the engine run at its functional temperature. Because of the oil’s low viscosity, you’ll have a better chance of removing as much of it as possible. From there, you can flush the oil mixture and disposal method based on your owner’s manual guide.
Remove Old Filters and Turbo
After emptying the oil, remove the oil filter and discard it. Everything must remain clean before the new turbocharger installation. Don’t forget to remove the oil feed pipe.
Secondly, start to remove the old turbocharger by locating the exhaust pipe, removing the bolts, and detaching the piping. Ensure proper intercooler removal and cleaning to remove any oil by flushing it with an oil degreaser.
Detach Exhaust Manifold
After removing the old turbocharger, the next step is to separate it from the exhaust manifold. You unscrew the nuts and bolts holding it together, then lift the turbo through the top or below the engine compartment.
Install New Turbocharger
Once your remove everything, make sure to correctly install the new turbocharger, linking all necessary parts back together. Reconnect it to the exhaust manifold with the correct nuts and bolts and tighten it correctly.
Then, reattach the turbo intercooler, the air intake, and the exhaust downpipe. Once everything has been adequately checked, you’re nearly done.
Replace Oil Feed Pipe and Flush Oil
When you introduce the new turbocharger, it’s vital that you replace the oil feed line, copper washes, and banjo bolts. Squeeze some engine oil into the turbo oil bay for lubrication, then ensure that the oil return pipe is clean. After removing the old oil and filter, install a new filter and add new oil.
Final Checks
After installing your new turbocharger, you must go through the final checks to ensure that your vehicle will run optimally. When you start your engine and run the turbo, don’t immediately rev it. Instead, allow for your car to run for 10 seconds, then shut it off. This is the time to check for oil leaks or dripping.
Wait a few moments before checking the oil level. Top it off if needed. From there, you can restart your vehicle. Don’t rev your engine, but let it stay idle so that it can reach running temperatures.
Your turbocharger from there will run smoothly and allow you to get back on the road. Take your car for a joy ride and check for any abnormalities. Otherwise, enjoy the open road.
Having the correct parts for your turbocharger matters in keeping it operational and reliable. We at TurboTurbos pride ourselves in our expertise. We provide high-quality turbocharger repair kits and parts for your specific turbo. You can find Garrett turbo parts and other name-brand kits in our online catalog today. If you have any inquiries about our company and products, please contact us today.
