Why do turbos crack?

Over time, carbon may build up on the turbocharger's waste gate, variable vanes, or within the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valve. This can lead to poor engine performance and/or heat spots on the turbo itself. These heat spots may result in cracking of the turbo housing, or failure of the impeller-shaft bearing.

Can you drive with a cracked turbo?

Yes, you'll still be able to drive your car if your turbocharger fails; however, engine failure won't be far behind, so only drive on if you have to. As soon as you spot any of the turbo failure symptoms outlined above, you should get your turbo checked as soon as possible by a qualified technician.

How long can you drive on a cracked turbo?

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.

How do you know if your turbo is cracked?

A smoking exhaust – If the turbo housing has cracked, or the internal seals have blown, oil will start to leak into your exhaust system. As this burns off, it produces a distinctive blue/grey smoke, which will probably become more apparent as the engine revs increase just following an idle situation.

Is a turbo expensive to fix?

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.

8 Signs of turbo going bad

Can a blown turbo destroy engine?

Although the car will move with a blown turbo, it would be far more preferable to stop driving it and have the car taken to the garage to have the turbo repaired or a replacement installed. The longer the blown turbo is left without repair, the more damage can be caused to the car's engine.

Is it bad to leave a turbo car running?

In turn, doing this for a sustained period means one will end up damaging the turbocharger, with the heat getting onto other components. To prevent this, most manufacturers recommend that at start-up, you idle the car for at least two minutes.

Can a turbo engine run without the turbo?

The vehicle can run without an efficiently functioning turbocharger, but it will perform poorly, and your decision could possibly have dramatic repercussions. If the issue is an oil supply or internal component-related problem, complete failure is imminent.

How often do turbos need to be replaced?

Most turbochargers need to be replaced between 100,000 and 150,000 miles. If you are good at maintaining your car and get timely oil changes your turbocharger may last even longer than that.

Can low oil cause turbo failure?

If oil levels are too low, the turbocharger will fail; If the wrong grade of oil is used, the turbocharger will fail; If oil becomes contaminated, the turbocharger will fail.

Why does my turbo whistle when I accelerate?

What causes turbo whistle? Turbo whistle is the sound of the compressor inside the turbocharger speeding up (also known as 'spooling up', which is why it kicks in at the boost threshold (when the turbo starts to kick in) as you accelerate up the rev range.

What a turbo car should not do?

What kills a turbo in a car?

Extreme exhaust heat is what powers the turbine side of the turbocharger, and over time, 2000° temps will take a toll. Prolonged exposure to that kind of heat will eventually kill anything, guaranteed.

What happens if you don't put premium gas in a turbo car?

Using regular gas in an engine that requires premium could void your warranty. That is most likely to happen if using regular causes severe engine knock or pinging (premature ignition of the fuel, also known as detonation) that damages the pistons or other engine parts.

How long should you let a turbo car warm up?

If you don't have an oil temperature gauge, a good time is usually a few minutes after your car has reached normal operating temperatures. This usually takes 5-10 minutes but depends on oil type and environmental conditions.

Can over revving damage turbo?

Pushing the turbo to ever higher speeds, especially when making modifications to the engine, will take it beyond normal operating speeds and can cause damage. Components will be stressed more than the manufacturer originally intended and the components will fail over time.

How long should a turbo last?

Turbochargers are designed and built to last many years, but like all car components they will eventually fail. You can expect your turbo to last up to around 150,000 miles - or even more if it's seldom used.

Can you rebuild a broken turbo?

Much like aging diesel engines, the turbochargers equipped on them don't have to be thrown away when they need a little freshening up, they can be rebuilt easily, and on the cheap.

What is the loud hissing noise from turbo?

The sound of air hissing on a turbocharged engine is often down to a leak in the intake trunking that takes air from the turbocharger, through the intercooler and into the engine. As this air is under pressure (from the turbo) you're likely to hear it above the rest of the engine noise.

What does a healthy turbo sound like?

As many fans of a turbocharged engine will know, a turbo often makes a whistling sound. This whistle is the sound of the turbo operating effectively, also known as 'spooling up'.

Is a 4 cylinder turbo faster than a V6?

Modern turbocharged four-cylinder engines, when engineered properly, will either beat or match a naturally aspirated V6 in almost every category. Turbo-fours are lighter, more efficient, and can be more powerful than a naturally aspirated V6. The only thing that a V6 will always do better is towing capacity.

Do cars with turbo need premium gas?

Do turbo cars need premium gas? Not all turbocharged cars need premium gas, but it's a more common requirement among turbos than other kinds of engines, thanks to the way these engines work. The name turbo comes from the turbine these engines use to inject more air into the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.

What happens if you don't warm up your turbo?

Warm Up the Engine

Engine oil thickens when it's cold, meaning that it doesn't flow as freely around the engine bay. This means that until the oil has warmed and thinned, moving parts are at an increased risk of wear and tear – and this is especially true of turbos.