I was wondering what the most common causes of premature turbo failure were. I've been driving petrol and diesel turbos for years now and have never had a problem.
But is there any particular driving trait that can cause them to fail ?
In the old days of cars like Escort RS Turbos 50,000 miles was seen as good life for a turbo, so what has been done to increase their longevity I wonder ?
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Some manufacturers seem to have trouble - even today.
BMW deisels - turbo / bearing failure seems common. Known fault / weak design - or owner induced failure?
BMW have replaced the turbos (under warranty) - and may have replaced some just out of warranty - seems to be a design fault. Does anyone know if the replacment turbos are modified? Or will they fail later?
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If you are concerned about the cooling down time for the turbos, install a 'turbo-timer' which keeps the engine running at idle for a short time after you remove the key and exit the car. Most good ones have a programmable time delay to allow for different cars' requirements. These are available from car accessory shops and many places on line.
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>>>>BMW deisels - turbo / bearing failure seems common. Known fault / weak design - or owner induced failure?>>>>
This problem is certainly not unique to BMW, as there have also been similar occurences with the much vaunted new Honda Accord 2.2 CDTi and also Nissan with their 2.2 CDTi as fitted to the X Trail.
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"So if I drive along a motorway, pull into a service area, drive slowly into the car park and reverse into a space, surely I've let it 'simmer' sufficiently?"
I tend to do as such and then add another 90 seconds or so.
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"So if I drive along a motorway, pull into a service area, drive slowly into the car park and reverse into a space, surely I've let it 'simmer' sufficiently?" I tend to do as such and then add another 90 seconds or so.
With modern high geared cars I would have thought that driving at motorway speeds would hardly have the turbo fully exercised.
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Gearing can have little to do with it.
My V70 2.4T has what is known as a light pressure turbo and is at full boost by 1800 RPM; the engine has a much higher compression ratio than a high pressure turbo and a small turbine that spins quickly to high RPM.
That I have now software tuned it to 258bhp and 410NM with a resultant turbine heat increase makes proper simmering all the more important. Even cruising at the legal motorway limit in 5th gear (indeed high geared at about 2600RPM) I am sitting on top of huge shove if I need it.
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Article here forum.parkers.co.uk/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14421 which points to EGR valve closure as a cause of turbo failure. Exhaust gas temps rise: turbo gets cooked. Turbo replaced, but often EGR overlooked. Souns feasible, and links with mny reports of dodgy running.
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I believe turbo-timers are illegal in the UK...?
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I got an earful from a bloke at a petrol station when I gently pointed out that the engine was still running on his Plastic Fantastic Boy racer mobile whilst he filled up with fuel.
"That's me turbo timer mate, and I ain't got time to wait for it to switch off. Now bog off".
He wasn't best pleased when the pump attendant realised what was going on and switched his pump off.
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I got an earful from a bloke at a petrol station when I gently pointed out that the engine was still running on his Plastic Fantastic Boy racer mobile whilst he filled up with fuel. "That's me turbo timer mate, and I ain't got time to wait for it to switch off. Now bog off".
Yes its official, we have swapped polite society for chav society !!
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"That's me turbo timer mate, and I ain't got time to wait for it to switch off. Now bog off".
I'm sure that all but the most basic timers have a cancel button that allows an immediate shutdown. I suppose the UK might make them illegal, as it is apparently verboten to leave a vehicle with its engine running unattended. A previous thread mentioned the morning windscreen defrosting being interrupted by a very serious policeman.
When I lived in the UK, I couldn't quite work out why they didn't trust adult motorcylists to sensibly choose whether or not to wear a dark visor at night, but allowed vulnerable cyclists, including children, to ride on very busy roads without a cycle helmet.
Both of these laws are the reverse of New Zealand. No rules on motorcycle helmet visors here, but cycle helmets compulsory, if not universally obeyed.
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Its in the HC somewhere, but you definitely cannot leave an unattended car running on the public road.
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