oil contamination is one of the major reasons a turbo will fail

in the first place.  as turbochargers can operate at over 240,000 rpm and endure temperatures of 950 degrees centigrade, turbo bearings are under great stress.  the turbine shaft and bearings rotate in a thin film of oil.

consequently any fault with the oil supply to the turbo means its bearings are likely to fail before the engine’s main bearings.  running a turbo without oil for five seconds is as harmful as running an engine without oil for five minutes.

while it is important to check the engine oil pressure meets the manufacturers specifications, it is even more critical that the oil feed pipe  to the turbo is clean and clear, so you are certain it can supply uncontaminated oil, at the correct pressure.  contaminated or dirty oil will scratch or score the bearings, leading to rapid wear and ultimately , turbocharger failure.

so what causes contaminated oil? here are a few main reasons

1.  a blocked, damaged or poor quality oil filter.

2. high carbon build up in the engine. this can rapidly contaminate even new oil.

3. accidental contamination of new oil during servicing.

3. a malfunctioning oil filter bypass valve.

4. engine wear, leaving swarf deposits in the oil.

5. oil that has degraded due to excessive temperatures or extended service intervals.

to prevent turbo failure caused by contaminated oil

1. always use fresh oil and a new oil filter as recommended by the engine manufacturer when fitting a new turbo.

2. ensure the oil is the correct grade for the engine.

3. clean or replace oil inlet pipes to eliminate any carbon deposits or sludge that could enter the turbo or restrict oil flow to the bearing

here at turbo repairs uk we give a 2 year unlimited mileage warranty with all our turbochargers so adhering to the above points mentioned will ensure your turbo will have a good start in life.