300tdi turbo play

yes when cold with the oil drained down there should be no more than about 1mm play side to side as the shaft floats on a film of oil so there has to be some gap. however if there is a lot of play side to side and in and out then the bearings are getting worn. Lots of play and spinning at 90,000rpm tends to wear them out quicker. Also your oil seals will wear quicker as they are not rubber they are like a tiny piston ring so they will not give as much as a rubber seal may.

Thanks for that I will check it out tomorrow, I have just stripped the inlet manifold and its got a layer of soft oily crud inside and the inlet ports and backs of the inlet valves are thick with it to, so if the seals are going on the turbo have gone will this cause this build up?

do you have an egr valve? if so thats why so bin it.