How to Determine the Quality of a Turbocharger?
2 Answers
Methods to determine if a car's turbocharger is malfunctioning include checking whether the engine still has power when stepping on the accelerator. The engine may not burn fuel completely, leading to strong exhaust odors. Water temperature may not be significantly affected. The engine may take longer to increase RPM than before, and there may be strange noises. Here are some indicators of a damaged car turbocharger: 1. Symptoms of problems: Blue or white smoke from the exhaust pipe, decreased power and increased fuel consumption, increased oil consumption, unstable turbo pressure, abnormal noises, high water temperature, unstable engine RPM, and ineffective turbocharging. 2. Methods of determination: The engine may feel relatively weak when accelerating (above 1200 RPM). Using a pressure gauge to measure the intake pressure, the normal pressure should be between 0.2--0.3 MPa.
I mainly judge the condition of the turbocharger through daily driving experience. If the acceleration feels noticeably sluggish, there's significant power lag when pressing the throttle, or you hear whistling or scraping sounds from the engine bay—especially when the noises intensify during hard acceleration—then you should be alert. Like the car I drove before, the turbocharging effect became much weaker; the RPM went up but the speed didn't follow. In such cases, it's best to check the fuel system for oil leaks and whether the oil level is dropping too quickly. Additionally, if blue smoke comes from the exhaust, it indicates oil burning, which also points to turbocharger failure. In short, don't ignore these signs. It's more reliable to promptly visit a repair shop and scan for trouble codes with a diagnostic tool. After all, a faulty turbocharger can drag down the entire engine's performance, increasing fuel consumption and safety risks. Regular maintenance checks can prevent problems from worsening.
