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Q Do I need to replace my turbo?
I recently removed a spongy hose from the turbo intercooler with a view to change it. Further inspection revealed oil inside the intercooler and in the exit hose.
I removed the intercooler and stood it on its end first to drain it. Only a few drops emerged over several days, but I could trace the oil film back to the turbo outlet.
The âvan runs fine apart from the occasional black smoke from the exhaust, and the oil level is down by around 10mm on the dipstick from March.
I service it every year so all the filters are new since spring, and Iâve only done 1,000 miles this year.
Am I looking at a new or reconditioned turbo? If so, can you recommend a decent product/supplier. There are loads of these things on the internet, but how do I know which is safe to use?
My vehicle is a Rapido 7099, 2007, on a 3-litre Fiat with 50,000 miles on the clock.
Keith Matthewman
A The Euro 4 Ducatos, and particularly the 3-litre versions, are prone to the occasional puff of black smoke when under load. It should not be more than that though and certainly not continuous.
In addition, I am pleased to tell you that a light coating of oil is expected in the intercooler and pipes to and from it. It can look a little alarming but, as you have seen, when left to drain out, it amounts to very little. The fact that the intercooler hose has gone a little soft is no great surprise, either, as they often do over time. They do become more prone to splitting when they are soft like that so changing it was a great idea.
Unless you see more pronounced black, sooty smoke or any white smoke on the overrun (when you have released the throttle), I donât think that you need to worry about the turbocharger.
If you ever do need to replace it, you should buy a new unit or reconditioned one from a reputable source such as one of the bigger motor factors or, better still, pay the extra for a Fiat one. A defective turbo can cause dramatic and serious damage to the engine so I believe it is one of the items that
