What are the symptoms of a faulty diesel engine turbocharger?
2 Answers
Diesel engine turbocharger failure symptoms include: 1. No turbocharging effect in the engine; 2. Poor exhaust heat dissipation during prolonged engine operation; 3. Sharp screeching noises when the engine is running; 4. Insufficient air entering the combustion chamber, leading to reduced power output; 5. Increased throttle input without corresponding power gain, only producing black smoke. The function of a turbocharger is to compress air before supplying it to the cylinders, thereby increasing air density and intake volume to enhance engine power. The working principle of a turbocharger involves converting the kinetic energy from exhaust gases into increased intake pressure. The exhaust pipe contains a turbine blade that rotates when the engine produces exhaust gases. This rotation, transmitted via a shaft, causes the intake compressor blade to spin as well, thereby increasing intake pressure. When the throttle is opened wider, exhaust flow increases, and intake air volume rises correspondingly with the exhaust increase.
My diesel pickup truck had a clear symptom when the turbocharger malfunctioned. While driving, I felt a significant loss of power, and stepping on the accelerator didn’t help—it struggled uphill like an old ox pulling a cart, with no increase in speed. Thick black smoke poured from the exhaust pipe, especially during startup or acceleration, as if burning charcoal. Not only was it polluting the environment, but it also filled the parking lot with smoke. Fuel consumption skyrocketed alarmingly—normally, a full tank could cover around 500 kilometers, but after the failure, it barely made it past 400, wasting money on fuel. The noise was also unusually loud, with a sharp whistling sound at high RPMs that made my ears uncomfortable. Later, oil stains were found leaking under the chassis, and the inspection revealed damaged turbocharger bearings. If left unrepaired, it could lead to bigger engine issues, so I sent it to a professional shop immediately. Such problems shouldn’t be delayed—both driving safety and maintenance costs are affected.
