THRESHOLD

to check for a good turbo


1. Listen

Leave all the ducting in place. Start the engine... does the sound of the turbo cycle up and down in pitch? Check for an inlet air restriction! Is it whistling? Look for inlet air or exhaust gas leakage!

2. Look

Shut the engine off. Let the turbo stop turning completely. Take off the inlet and exhaust ducts. Using a flashlight, look for foreign object damage to the wheels. Are there any rub marks on the wheels, housings or turbine shroud? Adjust your light to get a good look at the turbine blade tips. Are any of them bent, chipped or missing? Check inside the wheel housings. Any sign of oil leakage?




3. Feel

Push inward on one of the wheels while you turn it by hand. Do you feel any rubbing or binding? Now try the other wheel. What do you feel? The wheels should turn freely with no scraping or rubbing noises from contacting the housing, backplate or shroud.

If the turbocharger passed all these checks, then it's probably O.K.,and the trouble lies elsewhere in the engine or supporting systems.

When installing a turbo be sure to check all ducting for foreign material, AND DON'T FORGET TO PRE-LUBRICATE THE TURBO BEFORE SRART-UP!