What are the common faults of turbochargers?
2 Answers
The following are specific introductions to common faults of automotive turbochargers: 1. Oil leakage fault of turbocharger. The oil consumption is large, but the exhaust smoke color is normal and the power does not decrease. It is generally caused by oil leakage. 2. The oil consumption is large, the exhaust emits blue smoke, but the power does not decrease. It is caused by oil leakage at the compressor end of the turbocharger, and the oil enters the combustion chamber through the engine intake pipe and is burned. 3. The oil consumption is large, the exhaust emits blue or black smoke, and the power decreases. The gap between the piston and the cylinder is excessively worn, and the oil enters the combustion chamber and is burned. 4. There is metal friction sound in the turbocharger. The exhaust emits black smoke, the power decreases, and there is abnormal noise in the turbocharger. It may be caused by excessive wear of the turbocharger rotor bearing or thrust bearing, and the impeller rubs against the turbocharger housing.
I've been driving turbocharged cars for several years, and common issues include oil leaks where aging seals cause oil to seep from the turbo, dirtying the engine bay and even dripping onto the exhaust system, causing smoke. Another major problem is blade jamming or breakage—a small stone sucked in at high speed can damage the blades, leading to weak acceleration and a buzzing noise. Insufficient lubrication is also frequent; a clogged oil pump or obstructed oil passages can burn out the turbo bearings, producing noticeable abnormal noises. High temperatures can cause oil to coke and block pipelines, especially if you floor the throttle right after a cold start in winter. I recommend idling for a minute or two before shutting off the engine to let the turbo cool down, using full synthetic oil and changing it regularly without cutting corners. Also, inspect the intake pipes to ensure they're clean, as foreign objects entering can be dangerous. Small habits like gentle driving can extend the turbo's lifespan by several years.
