Can a turbo spin backwards?

There is a common belief that compressor surge can cause the turbo to “stall” (i.e. stop spinning), or even spin backwards. It's worth clearing the air and saying that this is incorrect – the turbo will never stop dead or reverse direction because of compressor surge.

Is turbo flutter bad for engine?

Turbo Flutter is Harmless

In short, flutter is the sound of a turbocharger trying to push air. However, failing due to closed throttle. Therefore, it dramatically increases the load on the bearings of the turbo. If it occurs at higher engine loads or boost levels, it can cause premature wear to your turbo.

How do you know if you blew your turbo?

The most common signals that you may have a blown turbo are: The car has noticeable power loss. The acceleration of the car seems slow and noisy. The car doesn't easily maintain high speeds.

Do turbo cars backfire?

The reason for backfiring being common on a turbo vehicle is the fact that for all that extra air a turbo pushes into the engine it must also get more fuel. When your foot lets off the gas there is more raw unburnt fuel coming out of the cylinder head and flash igniting which causes the sound of a backfire.

What makes a turbo pop?

“Pops and bangs” are created by unburned fuel in the exhaust system. When excess fuel enters the exhaust system it increases in temperature and ignites inside the exhaust instead of the combustion chamber. The noise can be exaggerated by fitting a decat or full decat exhaust system.

The Truth About Compressor Surge

Why do turbo engines pop?

These last efforts of adding fuel and dropping spark will place unburned fuel in the exhaust which will ignite in the pipes causing the violent popping sounds.

Is it OK to drive with a blown turbo?

Can I drive my car with a damaged or blown turbo? The short answer is that you can still drive your car with a blown or damaged turbo. However, the longer you drive it in this state, the more damage the engine will have and the more expensive repair bill you will get.

What does a failed turbo sound like?

5) Siren noise

A faulty turbo may result in a loud, siren sound coming from the engine. The louder the sound, the worse the problem could be. Here's the siren noise that typically results from a failing turbo. If you hear this noise, you should consult your mechanic as soon as possible to get your vehicle checked.

What destroys a turbo?

Oil contamination is the biggest killer of turbochargers. Irregular oil changes can cause carbon deposits to form in the oil, these then block the tiny oil ways in the turbocharger and starve it of sufficient lubrication.

What should you not do with a turbo?

What makes a turbo go stututu?

When there is vacuum (no boost) in the intake manifold relative to the rest of the intake system, the BOV opens. It's the BOV that makes the signature turbo sound ("pssst"; "sutututu"), not the wastegate.

What happens if a turbo spins too fast?

Overspeeding can push the turbo beyond its safe operating parameters, causing it to fail by damaging the turbine or compressor wheels and bearings. If the turbo continues to overspeed, it can overboost the engine, resulting in serious damage to the internal components and potentially complete engine failure.

Why can't turbos rev as high?

It is simply much more expensive to make high reving Turbo petrols. Need much better balanced rotating components, lighter & stronger internals. NA engines may rev to much higher rpms but they aren't making much torque at those RPMs, high horsepower is simply coming from more revs( hence more bangs per minute).

Does turbo only kick in at high RPM?

Yes it does. You see the turbo is a "passive" device. It just turns when exhaust gases pass through & as the rpm increases, so does the compression. Thus the turbo works regardless of gear.

What is the most common turbo failure?

Most failures are caused by the three 'turbo killers' of oil starvation, oil contamination and foreign object damage. More than 90% of turbocharger failures are caused oil related either by oil starvation or oil contamination. Blocked or leaking pipes or lack of priming on fitting usually causes oil starvation.

How do I know if my turbo is OK?

How long do turbos last?

Ideally, your turbocharger should last roughly the same time as your vehicle. Specifically, most turbochargers need replacement between 100,000 to 150,000 miles. If you stay on top of car maintenance and scheduled oil changes, your turbocharger can potentially last beyond that.

How much does it cost to fix a turbo?

In general, you should expect to spend a few hundred dollars to fix the turbo. If the turbo isn't repairable, a replacement will likely cost $1,000 to $2,000, but some owners have reported prices as low as $500 while others report prices were closer to $4000.

How many miles do you have to break in a turbo?

After idling the car as prescribed above, you may then begin to drive the car. Make every attempt to limit boost for the first 100-200 miles.

How long can I drive with a failing turbo?

Go easy on the throttle as the wastegate won't be able to handle the full pressure of the exhaust. Be sure to keep an eye on your oil level if you do decide to drive on a blown turbo, and don't go more than around 100 miles.

What is a turbo blowout?

A blowoff valve (also called dump valve or compressor bypass valve) is a pressure release system present in most petrol turbocharged engines. Blowoff valves are used to reduce pressure in the intake system as the throttle is closed, thus preventing compressor surge.

Do pops and bangs damage turbo?

The short answer is yes! The excess fuel added to cause the anti-lag and pops is not at all good for the longevity of an engine. Race cars regularly have oil changes, pretty much after every use, and you really do expect engine and turbo damage when running under extreme conditions and vehicle set-up in motorsport.

Is anti-lag bad for your turbo?

Anti lag is actually quite brutal. All of that backfiring can cause extra wear and damage to the rally car engine and turbo. Turbochargers are manufactured to extremely fine tolerances and not designed for explosive pressure waves.