What are the symptoms of a faulty car turbocharger?
3 Answers
Symptoms of a faulty car turbocharger: When a car's turbocharger is damaged, the exhaust pipe may emit blue or white smoke during driving, the car's power will noticeably decrease, fuel consumption will increase, and engine oil consumption will also rise. The engine may shake when idling, and the turbocharging effect during driving will be significantly reduced. A turbocharger is a technology that uses exhaust gases generated by internal combustion engines to drive an air compressor (Aircompressor). Commonly used in car engines, turbochargers enhance the horsepower output of internal combustion engines by utilizing the heat and flow of exhaust gases.
I've been driving for many years, and it was really frustrating when the turbocharger broke down recently. The most obvious symptoms were a sharp drop in power, and when accelerating, even with the pedal to the metal, the car would crawl sluggishly, as if the engine had lost all its strength. Additionally, I heard a high-pitched whistling sound on the highway, like a leak, which was especially noisy at night. The engine warning light on the dashboard came on, and black smoke occasionally came out of the exhaust pipe, with a nasty burnt smell. Fuel consumption also skyrocketed, burning an extra liter per 100 kilometers, costing more money and polluting more. I rushed to get it checked, and the mechanic said the turbo blades were worn or the oil line was clogged, and not fixing it in time could lead to engine failure. Since then, I've developed a habit: regularly changing the oil and air filter, checking the turbo seals every six months to avoid small issues turning into big disasters. Safety first—paying attention to these signals while driving allows for early intervention.
Symptoms of a faulty turbocharger are quite common. There will be a noticeable decrease in power, such as feeling sluggish during acceleration or overtaking, and the engine response becomes slow, which is due to the turbo failure. You might hear unusual noises, like hissing or whistling sounds, especially after acceleration, indicating a turbo air leak. If blue smoke comes out of the exhaust pipe, it means oil is burning into the exhaust, leading to increased fuel consumption by 10%-20% per 100 kilometers. As someone who frequently repairs cars, I recommend paying attention to these signs: feeling the car is underpowered while driving, increased noise, smoke emission, or abnormal spikes in fuel consumption. You can perform a preliminary check yourself, such as opening the engine compartment to listen for sounds and checking for oil stains near the turbo. However, it's best to take the car to a professional shop for a diagnostic scan to read the fault codes and get it properly fixed. For maintenance, regularly changing the oil and maintaining the turbo cooling lines can extend its lifespan and reduce problems.
