This question had to be posted before but I was having trouble with the search terms, my apologies

anyway, are there any indicators to look out for that show stock twin's lifetime wearing down?

I ask because often under prolonged/often boosting i start to smell oil in the cabin..

also, the other day i noticed one of my intercooler couplers was slightly loose. the very slight gap that formed between the coupler and the pipe showed a spray of oil along the pipe--about an inch and a half long, fanned out (if you know what i mean, it was a spray). I know a little oil in the tubes is OK but this spray occured after a normal/not-so-spirited drive---is that something to worry about?

unfortunately i have a front mount, so I can't exactly check for oil pooling easily.

any input appreciated, thanks

 

Anyone? I'm sure there are certain things to look for when judging turbo life, short of removing and inspecting them..but what are they?

 

black smoke

 

You can take off the y -pipe and measure the shaft play of the turbos and compare that to the service manual numbers.

Tim

 

Remove the intake filter/pipe assembly and feel for end play and up/down play. If excessive then replace or overhaul. Lots of oil in the intake is another sign. Oil into the exhaust is another.


LAter

 

Well....aside from obvious things like oil seals and coolant seals failing, a turbocharger is actually pretty damned robust. They will make 'normal' boost pretty much up to the day they fail totally via shaft failure. We've all seen some turbos that were loose enough in shaft play they were having some minor 'rubbing' on the housings and still, they make good boost.

It seems a lot of people go looking for "turbo trouble" when they shouldn't be.