Turbo whine

Alexis27

Active Member
Dec 20, 2009
2,095
451
Manchester
I'm getting a whine at low speeds, which I thought was the gearbox so I did the shim mod it made no difference. Now I'm getting a really loud whine from the turbo when I boot it as well.

Here's the noise:

Does it sound like it's on it's way out? Can't find any split hoses
 

Reggie Cupra TDi

Active Member
Jan 14, 2016
103
71
does sound like a turbo spooling up/whistling, i would check make sure all the pipes are connected properly
 

Gokiwi64

Geriatric Member
Apr 26, 2014
1,380
722
Hockley, Essex
Yup the oil seals are failing , if you check the boost hoses you will find them coated with sticky black oil.

New turbo needed /CHRA if you are very mechanically minded - Word of warning do NOT buy cheap or ebay and watch out for the so called turbo reconditioners they almost ALL use chinesium parts/crooks.
 

Alexis27

Active Member
Dec 20, 2009
2,095
451
Manchester
Still stuck with a car going nowhere because every sodding turbo company relies on you getting the turbo off the car to deliver to them.

Of the two turbo specialists I found 1 doesn't do garage services anymore (ever thought of updating your website?) and the other just goes straight to voicemail every time I ring and doesn't answer emails (even though they have Google reviews of customers from just 2 weeks ago!)

I can go to any old garage but they'll only sell me a brand new one for £800. And my mobile mechanic won't leave a job unfinished to come back to.

Anyone know of anywhere in the north west that offers the novel service of removing a turbo, remanufacturing it properly without Christmas cracker parts and putting it back?
 

Gokiwi64

Geriatric Member
Apr 26, 2014
1,380
722
Hockley, Essex
Welcome to my world !! - None of them are any good - promise the world deliver nothing.
You will need a healthy budget though which ever way you choose to go - Who have you tried so far ?
 

Alexis27

Active Member
Dec 20, 2009
2,095
451
Manchester
Lol. Turbo Clinic in Leeds quoted £375 to refurb one off the car, which compares well with Telford Turbos who have a remanufactured one on eBay for £510. But obviously no good to me.

I'm going to give the specialist in Liverpool one last ring on Monday hoping they answer.

Otherwise I'll have to go through a garage, but need a decent one. VAG Technik in Eccles get rave reviews so i'll get in touch with them.

No idea how these turbo companies get any custom because you'd think it was more profitable, quicker and more reliable for generic garages to fit new every time instead of sending it off, waiting and then having the customer come with a fault and then having to deal with another company on warranties.
 

Gokiwi64

Geriatric Member
Apr 26, 2014
1,380
722
Hockley, Essex
Im in a slightly different position in that my plan/plans is/was to replace my own turbo.
However I also found that most either didn't respond or didnt have prices on their websites and when you called them wouldn't give you a price or were very vague.
Then there was the surcharge anything from £100 - £250, and you had 14 days to return your old unit , looking at some reviews some people had lost their surcharge because the company they used then stated things like the exhaust housing was cracked or otherwise damaged.
I could have gone brand new for around £800 and I also ruled out anything that looked too good or cheap.
I wanted a Mamba hybrid as they had very good reviews and their pricing was spot on - they never replied to my emails.
So in the end I seemingly foolishly went with Venom - they have no time frame for returning the old unit, so I paid up in full on the 14th of the month, and had an order confirmation within hours, but have heard nothing since.
 

Nam-uk

Active Member
May 11, 2011
1,105
289
lancashire.
sounds normal its just the high pitch noise so could be bearing on turbo not getting oil, trust bearing just go as well, heard lots of cars with same issue on road but they just drive them, madness as car can be written off if they blow
 

Rich.T

Active Member
Feb 15, 2020
1,609
932
Yup the oil seals are failing , if you check the boost hoses you will find them coated with sticky black oil.
I found something similar in the flexi elbow pipe that comes out of the top of the turbo.
Dabbed my finger in it but got nothing on my finger (like a black tar).
Wasnt enough to get any into the boost pipe though.
Sound like the stuff?
Is it normal to get a small amount?
Turbo seems fine with no symptoms mentioned above.
Fingers crossed and touching wood as i type.

Rich
 
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iammooks

Active Member
Nov 27, 2018
1,733
1,124
I found something similar in the flexi elbow pipe that comes out of the top of the turbo.
Dabbed my finger in it but got nothing on my finger (like a black tar).
Wasnt enough to get any into the boost pipe though.
Sound like the stuff?
Is it normal to get a small amount?
Turbo seems fine with no symptoms mentioned above.
Fingers crossed and touching wood as i type.

Rich
This worries me too, because I cleaned a fair bit of oil from around my boost pipes when I cleaned the turbo a while back - both on the join for the pancake pipe and on the other side of the intercooler. It's worth saying that I hadn't ever cleaned the pipes, so it could just be fifteen years' worth of gradual oil build-up, but I'll be sure to check when I'm next under the car to see if it's come back quickly.

If it is the oil seals, what's the best way of fixing that? Looking at the Garrett website (https://www.garrettmotion.com/news/newsroom/article/the-turbocharger-oil-and-gas-sealing-system/) it sounds like a new turbo, but that even this might not fix the issue.

I've not lost a lot of oil since I last serviced the car, so it doesn't seem too bad, but obviously I'd rather not have the turbo blow up on me.
 

Rich.T

Active Member
Feb 15, 2020
1,609
932
Mine seems ok at the moment.
Could have been residue from the catch tank debacle.
Mines going in for a full service n belt soon.
Then when its got a few miles behind it, its off to badger5 for a remap.
Im sure they'll be able to tell me if the turbo is ok.
 
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