ARE YOU KILLING YOUR TURBO?

Turbos are the magical power adders that put huge smiles on our faces, but treat them badly and they’ll throw a hissy fit of diva-like proportions. However, is it all the turbo’s fault? Or are there other factors at work that are leading to their untimely demise? Speaking to a host of top turbocharging experts it appears that, far from being the prissy prima donnas that many people mistake them for, turbochargers are extremely tough pieces of hardware that endure some of the harshest conditions your engine dishes out. Looked after properly, they can last the lifetime of your car, even when tuned, but they’re not indestructible and they rely on other parts of your engine being in tip top condition too, so read on to see the top 13 reasons you could be killing your turbo and what you can do to prevent it.

1 OIL STARVATION

Without question the most common cause of turbocharger failure is oil starvation. A turbocharger’s turbine shaft runs at speeds of over 150,000rpm and at temperatures exceeding 900°C, and can do so almost endlessly, but only when they are lubricated as they were designed to be. To work effectively, a turbo needs a constant flow and pressure of clean, good quality oil. This not only works to lubricate the thrust and journal bearings, but also helps stabilise the rotating shaft and journal bearings, as well as acting as a coolant. This requirement is intensified as the turbocharger speed and engine load increases. Even a small reduction in oil pressure can be enough to kill your turbo in seconds and can be identified by either blueing on the turbo shaft or seized bearings. The main causes of oil starvation range from oil pump failure,