I bought two turbos from a local rx3 owner. i want to install one of them because i believe the currently installed turbo is blown. after sitting overnight, when looking from above, i can see a pool of oil collected in the bottom of the compressor. there's lots of smoke coming out of the tailpipe when being driven. the shaft play is very noticeable.







the turbo on the left has a lot more shaft play that the turbo on the right. but the one on the left feels like its easier to spin, also the turbine of the turbo on the right is slightly wet with what looks to be oil. the compressor wheel is almost painted black but not wet. by oil? the exhaust ports of the turbine housing are also blackened! maybe the turbo was burning oil? the exhaust ports of the other turbo are not blackened.







which turbo should i use? i want to use the one with less shaft play but the compressor wheel is slightly harder to spin. also, im not sure if the slightly wet and oily turbine is to be of concern as well as the blackened compressor wheel. maybe it was burning oil and the bearings werent being property oiled so its harder to spin the compressor wheel????

i dont have the time and money to have a turbo rebuilt. id like to get some miles out of either one of these turbos and save up for a reman BNR.

time is critical as im moving to oregon very soon and id like to have the car not smoke anymore.

looking forward to your replies...

 

Is it possible to get a static torque read out for the shafts. If so I would compare those numbers to someones turbine that is knowingly working well. And whichever turbo you have that is closes nominally go with. Hope that helps

 

How much play on the left one? Can it contact the side of the housing if you press it to one side? If there is any in-out play, it should not be used. But a small bit of side-to-side play is normal.

I wouldn't suggest using the one on the right without rebuilding. If the turbine is wet, it's likely been leaking past the rear seal.

 

RotaryRocket88: the turbo on the left has about 1mm side-side play but it does not contact the side housing. the in-out play is minimal! a lot less than the side-side play. is minimal in-out play ok or is any in-out play bad?

the turbo with the wet turbine has no in-out play. do you know what may have caused the blackened compressor fins? or is that normal?

if any in-out play is bad then i may just rebuild the wet turbine turbo

 

A bit of play is normal oil through turbo is not.

 

rotaryrocket88:
i read your great turbo rebuild thread and it answered all my questions!

ive decided to rebuild the turbo on the left (which is late S4} and use my currently installed S5 turbine housing.