How does a turbo get its oil?

The turbocharger bearing system is lubricated by oil from the engine. The oil is fed under pressure into the bearing housing, through to the journal bearings and thrust system. The oil also acts as a coolant taking away heat generated by the turbine. The journal bearings are a free floating rotational type.

Is it normal to have oil in your turbo?

When a turbocharger is installed correctly, it should NOT leak oil, however, there can be cases where oil leaks occur. The following highlights some of the main causes and signs of oil leaks.

Do turbos pump their own oil?

Engine oil's so important that some high-end turbo systems have a dedicated oil reservoir which circulates oil through the turbo. For the best performance from a turbocharger, change the oil at least every 5,000 miles, replacing it with a fully-synthetic oil which is the right API for your car's engine type.

What happens if a turbo is starved of oil?

If the supply of engine oil is restricted, even momentarily, during high speed operation the resulting build-up of heat caused by the contact between the shaft and its bearing surface can lead to micro welding or shaft seizure, which can destroy the turbocharger within a matter of seconds.

How long will a turbo run without oil?

Engines can work without oil, but the effect is so damaging they are only capable of running for less than 30 minutes until failing - and in most cases, it's a lot quicker than that.

How turbocharger's oiling works

How long does a turbo last without oil?

If oil is not present at start-up and while the turbo is running, the bearings will fail. Running a turbo without oil for five seconds is as harmful as running an engine without oil for five minutes.

Why is my turbo glowing red?

Turbo chargers are made of iron. When iron gets hot, it glows red. This effect is called red heat - you can see the colours or iron and the effect of red here. Turbo chargers get hot because hot exhaust gases flow through the manifold then the turbo.

How long should you let a turbo car cool down?

Idling the engine cools the turbo because it circulates the oil, yet does not make the turbo "work." The amount of cooling it needs is directly related to the way you just finished driving it. When you drive it gently around town, 15 seconds should be more than adequate.

How do I know if my turbo is leaking oil?

The most common symptoms of a leaking turbo include a lack of power, random misfires, blue or black exhaust smoke, and peculiar noises. The blue and black exhaust smoke is the biggest indicator of an oil leak.

Does oil run through an intercooler?

The intercooler is not meant to have any oil, neither by operational requirements or design. Your turbocharger runs at speed up to 280,000 rpm, and from your engine lubrication system, it is lubricated by oil.

Why does my turbo whine?

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.

Should you let a turbo car idle before turning it off?

Is it necessary to let a turbo engine idle for a few minutes before I switch the ignition off? Turbocharged engines do need to cool down before they are turned off. But in nearly all driving conditions, the engine does not reach temperatures that require a deliberate cooling-down period.

At what RPM is turbo activated?

While your car's engine revs, at cruise, at around 2,000 rpm, a turbo's turbine can reach rotational speeds of more than 280,000 rpm.

What temperature does a turbo run at?

The turbines in most current production turbochargers are suitable for continuous operation at an exhaust gas inlet temperature of 1750°F (950°C).

What causes hot exhaust?

If the exhaust system is dealing with any constrictions, it will cause the temperatures to rise. Additionally, the harder the engine has to work to produce power, the hotter the gases become. If the engine is overheating for any reason, the gases could exceed normal operating temperatures.

What causes glowing exhaust?

The reason the muffler is glowing red is because the exhaust temperature is off the chart. This (highly likely) means that the ignition timing is out, or the fuel mixture is too lean.

How many miles will a turbo last?

Turbos are designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle (or around 150,000 miles); however, it's possible for them to wear out over time depending on how hard you drive the car and the original build quality of the turbo.

Do turbos run better in cold weather?

As air temperature increases the density of the air, and the amount of oxygen it holds, decreases. This means that the turbocharger has to work harder, spin faster and compress more air to produce the same amount of boost it would at lower temperatures.

Do turbos shorten engine life?

Turbochargers, Supercharges, and Nitrous all create higher cylinder pressures. This DOES reduce engine life ... PERIOD. Turbos and Superchargers make more heat, and heat reduces an engine's life ...

Can a turbo get too much oil?

If there is too much oil in the pan or if the turbocharger in your car is relatively lower, then oil can get through the seals and begin to blow out.

What causes a turbo to fail?

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.

What does a dying turbo sound like?

Loud noises: If your vehicle has a bad turbo, you may hear loud noises that sound like whining or screeching. So if your vehicle is running and you hear a loud whining sound that increases in volume as the problem goes unfixed, this is most likely to do a turbo problem.