How to make your turbo last longer
A well-looked-after turbo can last as long as the engine. Most failures aren’t down to a defect, though, but to the conditions the turbo works in. Here’s what’s in your hands.
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01
Go easy on a cold engine
In the first few minutes the oil is thick and doesn’t reach the turbo bearings quickly enough. Drive gently and avoid high revs until the engine is warm – usually 5–10 minutes of driving.
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02
Let the turbo cool before switching off
After a long, hard drive (motorway, climbing, towing) let the engine idle for 30–60 seconds. The oil carries heat away from the bearings and doesn’t coke inside the turbo.
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03
Change the oil on time – or sooner
The turbo is the first component to suffer from old or dirty oil. Use the manufacturer’s specification (viscosity and approval) and don’t stretch the interval – with city driving and short trips, more frequent changes make sense.
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04
Keep an eye on the air filter
A torn or badly seated filter lets in grit that literally eats the compressor blades. A clogged filter creates a vacuum that pulls oil past the seals.
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05
Look after the DPF and EGR
A blocked particulate filter raises exhaust back-pressure. The turbo overheats and oil is pushed past the seals. Give it a chance to regenerate with longer out-of-town drives.
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06
Avoid only short trips
If the car is mainly used for short city journeys, the oil never warms up, condensation and fuel build up in it, and the turbo geometry gets dirty. A regular longer drive benefits the whole engine.
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07
Use the whole rev range
On variable geometry turbos, constant low-rev driving lets soot build up and seize the vanes. Occasionally revving higher (with a warm engine) keeps the mechanism moving freely.
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08
Be careful with chip tuning
Raising boost above the factory level pushes the turbo beyond its design limits and shortens its life. If you do tune, it has to match what the specific turbo can handle.
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09
When replacing a turbo – fix the cause
A new or rebuilt turbo fitted without an oil and filter change, without cleaning the oil feed and intercooler, can fail within days. Always find out why the old turbo failed.
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10
Listen to your car
A new noise, smoke, power loss or rising oil consumption are signals to get it checked. Acting early often means just cleaning and adjustment instead of an expensive repair.
Is your turbo giving you trouble?
Call us – we’ll tell you what the problem is likely to be and what the most sensible fix is, before you spend money you don’t need to.