What are the symptoms of a broken engine turbocharger?
4 Answers
Here are the symptoms of a broken engine turbocharger: 1. Blue or white smoke from the exhaust pipe, accompanied by a decrease in power. 2. Increased fuel consumption and higher oil consumption. 3. Unstable turbo pressure. 4. Abnormal noises, high water temperature, unstable engine speed, and ineffective turbocharging. Here are methods to determine the condition of the turbocharger: 1. Listen: Normal wear cannot be heard unless foreign objects damage the impeller, affecting dynamic balance and causing slight vibration sounds. Look: Remove the exhaust pipe connected to the compressor side to check for oil presence or excessive blue smoke from the exhaust. 2. Use: The engine feels relatively weak when accelerating (above approximately 1200 rpm). 3. Measure: Use a pressure gauge to measure intake pressure; normal pressure ranges from 0.2 to 0.3 MPa.
My previous car had a turbocharger failure. While driving, I suddenly felt the car had no power, and even with the accelerator pedal floored, it couldn't accelerate fast—completely no sense of push-back. During acceleration, there was always a hissing sound, like wind whistling, which was extremely annoying. Fuel consumption also skyrocketed; a full tank used to last a week, but now it was empty in just a few days. The scariest part was black smoke coming from the rear, making me almost think the engine was on fire. After inspection, it turned out the turbocharger had failed—possibly due to blade wear or seal leaks. I recommend regular maintenance of the turbo system; otherwise, small issues can escalate into costly repairs. Driving such a car not only affects safety but also wastes money—don't underestimate it.
When I was a new car owner, the supercharger broke down and left me completely baffled. The car felt sluggish, tires seemed glued to the ground when climbing hills; no response when stepping on the gas, acceleration was painfully slow; fuel consumption skyrocketed to ridiculous levels, doubling my end-of-month bills; plus there was this weird humming noise coming from under the hood. A friend warned me this could easily cause engine overheating and damage – how dangerous it would be to lose power on the highway. Later I learned some basics: get it fixed promptly – don't try to save money by delaying. Newbies must remember these details to avoid major losses over minor issues. Supercharger problems affect the entire driving experience and pose safety risks.
Common symptoms of turbocharger failure include: sluggish acceleration and unresponsive engine; frequent abnormal noises resembling whistling or wheezing; RPM stuck at low levels and unable to rise; blue or black smoke from the exhaust pipe indicating oil leakage issues; sudden increase in fuel consumption affecting performance. Some may mistake it for other faults like fuel pump or spark plug problems. Don't wait until it becomes severe to repair—it may damage the entire turbo unit. Regular maintenance of the turbo system is recommended to ensure safe driving. Small oversights can lead to major troubles.
