Oil from turbo to intercooler

[jamesgrant]

So now I have found that the pipe from the turbocharger to the intercooler has oil dripping out of it.

(300Tdi)

Should I worry?

Someone said this could mean a problem with turbo as it should not be pee-ing oil out.

On looking at the workshop manual, I see that there is a turbo oil drain pipe. Doesn't look too hard to replace. Could this be blocked and causing all the above, or am I being too optimistic there?

Should I just forget it an wait for turbo to give up the ghost or is there something I could do?

89K miles on clock.

 

[Pikey]

Blank off the EGR valve as this puts loads of crud into the intercooler and associated pipework.

 

[jamesgrant]

Ok.
I can do that- in fact it is a job I've wanted to do since I read that it helps miles per gallon. I read on here that it is a good idea to flush the intercooler when blamking off the egr valve.

Have you found that come MOT, you are up the creek with regard to emissions though, or does it not emissions off the scale?

 

[stig]

Ok.
I can do that- in fact it is a job I've wanted to do since I read that it helps miles per gallon. I read on here that it is a good idea to flush the intercooler when blamking off the egr valve.

Have you found that come MOT, you are up the creek with regard to emissions though, or does it not emissions off the scale?

does not make any difference to emissions test

 

[jamesgrant]

Cheers

 

[CharlesY]

Just hold on here ..... there may be a LITTLE oil escaping the compressor seals, but if it's dripping out oil you are heading for a disaster.

The turbo unit is fed with engine oil under pressure, and then that oil falls by gravity back to the sump through the turbo oil drain pipe. Don't even think about the drain being blocked. It won't be.

But the oil seals around the shaft of the compressor wheel can wear and allow oil to escape into the air stream, and all of thatoily air is blown towards the intercooler, and the oil will migrate with the inlet air to the inlet manifold, into the engine, and get burned. If it's a little tiny bit it doesn't matter and no-one will notice. If it suddenly becomes a whole lot, the engine may run on the engine oil, and NOTHING you can do will stop it. It will blow up unless you can stall it quick.

If ever this happens, NEVER EVER put the cluch down! Do NOT try to change gear! Just stand on the brakes, head for the side of the road and keep the brakes hard on until the car stops moving STILL WITHOUT DIPPING THE CLUTCH! If you manage to do this - award yourself a medal!

CharlesY

 

[jamesgrant]

Ah ha.

A little more worrying.

It is an auto box by the way.

Looks like I will need to look into this a bit more.

The pipe from the turbo to intercooler has always seeped a bit of the black stuff at the flexi attachment to the intercooler (getting past jubillee clips I guess).

So I guess the question now is:

How much seepage is too much?

And if I've got too much, how difficult is it to replace seals etc on turbo - or is it send it off to garage kind of job?

Yep - a bit worried now - especially as i get a bit of engine surging at 2000rpm when doing over 50mph when engine is warm (after a long journey) - but that could be anything.

I'll be checking my brakes are up to top notch now!

 

[CharlesY]

Ah ha.

A little more worrying.

It is an auto box by the way.

Looks like I will need to look into this a bit more.

The pipe from the turbo to intercooler has always seeped a bit of the black stuff at the flexi attachment to the intercooler (getting past jubillee clips I guess).

OK, that's the main air pipe, and when the turbo is blowing it will be up to about 12 to 15 psi, enough pressure to blow up a tyre! Any leak at the joint will show the oil because the oil moves on the walls of the pipes and tubes and lots of it will leak out. Take the rubber pipes off and they will be oily inside, even in quite a new car. Turbos always leak a little lube.

So I guess the question now is:

How much seepage is too much?

A lot! It needs to be enough as you would need to top up the engine oil more often than hardly ever.

And if I've got too much, how difficult is it to replace seals etc on turbo - or is it send it off to garage kind of job?

Turbo repair kits are about £50 and easy to fit - Haynes 6 spanner job!

Yep - a bit worried now - especially as i get a bit of engine surging at 2000rpm when doing over 50mph when engine is warm (after a long journey) - but that could be anything.

Don't worry. Turbos usually blow up suddenly and swamp the engine with so much oil they stop! Or the exhaust end seal fails and causes enough smoke to block a motorway.


I'll be checking my brakes are up to top notch now!

Wow .... because it is an automatic you cannot stop the engine even by stalling it.

Having said that I think it is practically unheard of for this to happen.

But not entirely impossible.

Cautious pessimism is the way to go here.
But if it isn't USING oil, leave it be.

CharlesY

 

[G-man]

you cannot replace the turbo oil seals yourself unless you happen to have a turbo reconditioning workshop in you shed, a turbo spins at up to 300,000 rpm and require precise balancing if not it will self-distruct, so far i have had 6 diesel engines overspeed on oil from a turbo letting go none have hydraulic'd on the oil all have blown the blocks apart when the con-rods let go at aprox 11000 rpm if there is quite a bit of oil replace the turbo it is cheaper than an engine and turbo

 

[CharlesY]

you cannot replace the turbo oil seals yourself unless you happen to have a turbo reconditioning workshop in you shed, a turbo spins at up to 300,000 rpm and require precise balancing if not it will self-distruct, so far i have had 6 diesel engines overspeed on oil from a turbo letting go none have hydraulic'd on the oil all have blown the blocks apart when the con-rods let go at aprox 11000 rpm if there is quite a bit of oil replace the turbo it is cheaper than an engine and turbo

That is incorrect, and is not sound advice.
Replacing turbo seals and bearings is a piece of cake.

I have ON MY DESK in front of me a Turbo kit.
This one is for the Garrett Model T2/25.
Part Number of kit 709143-0001

If the turbo in question is just old and leaky of oil, and the turbine and impeller are not damaged, then there is NO reason why you cannot refurbish it by fitting a kit. This is why Garrett sell the kits!

I have done lots of turbo refurbs, all with full success.
A turbo is an extremely simple machine, easy to strip down, and as easy to reassemble. Once a kit is fitted it's as good as new.

CharlesY

 

[jamesgrant]

Thanks for that.

I'm no longer worried.

It is not too much oil yet, as I don't have to top up engine too often (getting worse, but nothing to worry about yet).

Great forum (which of course is down to the posters mainly - well organised site aswell of course)- this is the place to learn.

Cheers

 

[CharlesY]

Thanks for that.

I'm no longer worried.

It is not too much oil yet, as I don't have to top up engine too often (getting worse, but nothing to worry about yet).

Great forum (which of course is down to the posters mainly - well organised site aswell of course)- this is the place to learn.

Cheers

Which turbo is it?
It may well be the Garrett T2/25.
Try to find out.

CharlesY