Sometimes with the very best of intentions somethings just seem destined to go wrong.

 

Case in point, a very smokey zed we saw a year ago returned with a very unhappy owner. With the help of a mechanic mate he had removed the engine and removed and replaced the turbo`s with newly refurbished items.

 

During the change over the oil lines were replaced as was the oil and filter, the turbo`s were pre-oiled and the oil lines filled as per the turbo companies instructions, also when all refitted the engine was turned over with the fuel pump fuse removed to prevent starting, this done until oil came out of the turbo oil returns.

 

So all good and now running, however the smoke still persisted, but as the exhaust had been filled ( literally) by the previous failed turbo it was concluded by the owner that it was old oil that needed burning off.

 

300 miles later and the smoke had briefly reduced but now was bad as ever!!! sadly as often happens the owner parked it up out of frustration and disapointment.

 

Fast forward to now the owner decided to get it done, so whilst we tested it the smoke would have made James Bond proud!! we knew something was very wrong.

 

So engine out!

 

 

Passenger side turbo looks a bit sooty but fine.......

 

 

 

But the drivers side turbo was wrecked, difficult to see in the picture but the shaft was wobbling all over the place and as can be seen the oil seal had let go!

 

 

 

The front of the turbo implellor had suffered damage from the excess shaft movement and basically is in need of a full rebuild....again

 

 

 

So a detailed investigation by the tubo company has revealed the shaft journel to be completely coated in metal transfer, it transpires that under closer inspection they could say 100% the failure was due to low oil pressure not no oil pressure as is often the case.

 

So looking back, the original failed turbo was on the same side of the engine, and with the passenger side turbo in good order we checked the oil feed on the drivers side not the pipe but the block casting, nothing to be seen but when we tried to blow compressed air through it was clearly restricted.

 

So no one to blame really, the owner did his best and really the same as most garages would have done, but all along there was a hidden issue that as I said at the begining was fated to cause this failure.

 

Good news is the turbo is repaired and back on its way to us so will update again when complete.

 

Be carefull when checking oil supplies

 

Jeff TT

Edited January 19, 201214 yr by JeffTT

good post ... i;m going to be changing mine and i think a few others on here ..

 

i will be checking mine just incase .

How did you go about clearing the blockage Jeff?

How did you go about clearing the blockage Jeff?

 

Ah now thats a secret!! ...................no not really the engine is been changed also due to low compression on a cylinder, and rebuilt at a later time.

 

Jeff