How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

Sup guys? I just picked up a nice saab t3 from a junkyard. I had to get it. Their turbo's are only 45 bucks and this one had NO shaft play and spun realllly smooth. BUT I don't want to put it on my car and then the seals end up being blown. Is there any way to tell whether the seals are bad or not before I go putting it on? I always thought a good indication was if there was shaft play but there's not on this one.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

by the way, I just looked and there's a little bit of oil in the compressor housing. Not like a ton but it's noticable. Im wondering if it could have just rolled in there when I was taking the turbo off of the saab. I moved it around a ton.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

I wouldn't worry about it. It seems pretty rare for junkyard turbos to be completely worthless. I've only had one, which also didn't have any more shaft play than any other junkyard turbo I've had. Realistically the most you'll have to do is put a restrictor on it and choke it down.
From my experience, you have about a 6% chance that it's completely worthless, and those are good odds. Run it.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

Smoke

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

I think you have zero % chances that it's worthless.
the condition of the seals and some sloppiness of the shaft is nothing to worry about because you will have it rebuilt prior to use. You didn't plan to use it as is did you?? :l

at least, You have a good stage1 t3 0.48 a/r turbine there.
The compressor is a 45 or 50 trim 0.42 a/r, too small for most performance application. t3 60 trim or a small t4 compressor feels much better on most 4 banger if it's for a performance application.

MOST probably, the turbine housing is cracked across the wastegate hole and along the turbine snail, which has to be fixed. typically, they always have tons of carbon residues inside, that already started to take a toll on performance and reliability of this turbo.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

No I wasn't going to have it rebuilt. Im just doing a simple HMT kit to drive around on daily. Only gonna be running 7lbs. What would be different about buying this turbo from a yunkyard opposed to buying a used one from someone on here? Anyway, like I said, there's no shaft play and it's a pretty clean turbo. I don't think the seals are bad. I was just curious as to whether there was a way to check or not. Thanks

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

This is HMT, we don't buy turbos with the intention of rebuilding them, and the cracks on the wastegate don't amount to jack.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

:y just buy a restrictor from www.---------------------------

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

---- that. If she leaks go buy another one for $45.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

aaahh ok, sorry! My bad.
I did not realize it was just for driving around at 7 psi daily. In this case, It's a whole different story: your junkyard turbo with oil in the comp housing will not cause you any problems. That's for sure.
in case of problems, don't worry, take Mr, ososlohatch'S word for it: if the seals are blown, a Stealthmode restrictor will resolve all your problems.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

avoid this hand job just try'n to make another buck .. run the turbo have fun then laugh at the french canadian dingle berry muncher try'n to make money off of honest americans ;)

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

huh.
honest? ::)
aren't you the one who stole 2 flanges from me a few months ago? Yiou're a good example of someone who could run away with anyone's money, or unpaid product. American or canadian makes no diffence. :-\

i'm here to give my advice and opinion and it remains unchanged: HMT project or not, you don'T install a used turbo from the 80's that spent 10 more years sitting in a junkyard in a puddle of mud. actually, if i can help anyone spare some time and money by doing things right the first time around, I feel like i have spent my time on this forum for a good reason. regardless of who's rebuilding the damn thing.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

thanks for the advice guys. Honestly, I think with the stealthmode restrictor, it would be fine. It doesn't look like it leaks at all. That oil wasn't in there when it was still on the car if I remember right. It really is a pretty nice turbo to be a junkyard turbo. Spins perfect and very smooth. Don't people use these "turbo's from the 80's" all the time? Then resell em and other people use them as well? With the SM restrictor, how closed should I make it?

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

i've literally seen hundreds of cars running junk yard turbo's non rebuilt with zero problems

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

that makes me feel a little better lol. The only thing that has me even the slightest bit worried is that there's a tiny ass bit of oil in the compressor. I dunno if it leaked through the seals or if it ran in there when I took the oil lines off, because some of that oil is on the compressor turbine fins.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

If your worried about it buy a rebuild kit off of ebay. Do a complete disassembly and clean out all of the parts really good. Rebuilding a turbo isn't really that hard just takes some time and patience. Even a Canadian can do it... >:D

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

I'm running a junkyard POS mid 80's turbo that I REBUILT after i seized it with nothing but sandpaper and emory cloth. I'm running this turbo at twice the boost its factory intent was designed for and it screams for more every time I lay into it (multiple rapes per day, sometimes dozens). btw, this turbo has more shaft play than a french hooker on labor day and as long as the wheels are not scraping the compressor housing i'm cool with it.

BTW anyone want to buy a sweet hmt d-series setup? its for sale, lol.

Edit:

thats what I did after I busted my restrictor, starved the turbo and melted the bushings to the shaft, rip it down, sand her up and get back home for supper :6

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

I think I'll try and run it and then if it's fucked then I'll buy a rebuild kit. One more questions...the turbo is water and oil cooled, Im not going to use the water part. Do I need to put bolts in the holes or does it even matter. I didn't think it mattered

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

just leave them open if you're not using them, why not though its so easy to tap into the water lines going to you're TB. even I water cool my peice of metalshaving infested spinny wheel's of love machine.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

it dont need rebuilt the ------- kit will cost more than the turbo

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

Hehe... I know what you mean. I bought my turbo for $40 and the rebuild kit cost $75. Go figure... :-\

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

from what you explained its in great shape, i wouldnt even ---- with it, just slap it on and go.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

I wouldn't even get one until you know you need it.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

well I planned on getting it anyways just because Im sure it's easier on the any turbo's seals. Why put extra pressure on em if I don't need to. Im gonna just run it and see how it does but IF I do end up rebuilding it...how hard is it to do yourself? I thought it needed to be professionally done to balance it and ----?

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

If you run it to a point where you notice that it's fucked, you can't rebuild it yourself.
Those rebuild kits are good deals for preventative rebuilds - new bearings and seals before you've worn through the existing ones, damaged the turbine shaft, worn the compressor, etc.
You'll need more than that if you've got some junkyard stuff rattling around at 100k rpm.

They are not hard to rebuild. If you pull them apart, mark the compressor orientation on the shaft that way you keep the original balance. If damaged and you have to replace stuff, you should always have it balanced.

BLAAST, despite being in Canada, does offer a pretty good deal on a rebuild.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

alright, sweet. Thanks. I'll run it and see what happens. I've still got a while though. This is the 1st piece to my kit so far lol. I've got a full piping kit with t clamps waiting on me for 60 bucks down the street though.

Re: How can you tell if the oil seals are bad?
 

HEy, I want the contact info of that 45$ per turbo place!! I need cores !!!