Hi all

Noticed a strang noise coming from one of my turbos. It happens when the boost is rising and when I'm on boost. Imagine the sound when you are swirling a marble in an empty tin can.

I also had a puff of white smoke directly after start up, on the same side. However no more smoke since.

I also have an oil leak somewhere above the turbo, unsure exactly where its leaking from, could this have anything to do with it??

Thanks

Andrew ;)

Hi all

Noticed a strang noise coming from one of my turbos. It happens when the boost is rising and when I'm on boost. Imagine the sound when you are swirling a marble in an empty tin can.

I also had a puff of white smoke directly after start up, on the same side. However no more smoke since.

I also have an oil leak somewhere above the turbo, unsure exactly where its leaking from, could this have anything to do with it??

Thanks

Andrew ;)

 

That sounds like detonation mate.

Is that as bad as it sounds? :confused:

I've done a search for det and I dont think it is detonation. Its not a rattling sound, more of a warble. Its definitly a rotating object that is making the noise. It's rather worrying as I dont want anyhting to go bang!

I had a similer sound to what you described when i boosted up, had puff of blue smoke too, then i lost all boost aventually dont wish to worry you but i ended up with a siezed turbo on the driver side, it maybe that you have an oil leak on the oil surply to the turbo and its running a bit dry, dont wish to worry you but get it checked out asap mate. Cool dials i want em, where can i get em?

 

carl

Crikey! Will investigate that leak.

Got the dials from ebay mate. A bargin at £20!

marbles in a tin/jar sound is detonation no question. Yes, that IS as bad as it sounds. I'd deffo suggest you get it checked out if you are not sure.

Cheers Clarkey

Is there anything that can be done to cure it?

Everything is standard except for a 3" cat back. I'm running on normal Shell, not Optimax. Are there any other definite symptoms, eg. will Conzult pick it up?

Thanks Andrew

Marbles shaking in a tin = detonation

Marbles swirling in a tin = something else

 

Doesn't sound like typical det sound :confused:

 

Steve :)

Yeah thats what I thought after I did a search. I've got the usual ticking for the lifters at start up but there is no rattling or shaking sounds. Whatever it is it sounds expensive! :headvswal

If your not sure you can always take off the lower air pipe at the turbos and spin the fan to see if they spin freely with minimum amount of play and there is no rubbing or grating sounds, they should spin quite freely and smoothly a tiny bit of play is ok as this is taken up with the oil, Its a bit of a pig of a job especially driver side but at least it might help to give you piece of mind. Do you let the engine run for a minute or two before switching it off? this gives the turbo's bearings a chance to cool down other wise they cook in the hot oil and can tarnish which is bad news. Good luck

 

carl

Thanks Carl! Was just about to ask if there was a way to check the turbos with out removing them! :bow:

I mistook swirling marble for rattling, apologies for that .. probably isn't det, more like a fooked turbo, could have been caused by oil starvation or something like that.

 

That is my thoughts anyways :-(

Thats cool! Thanks for everyones input. I wanna try and do as much as possible myself but I can see a trip to ZTech coming up!

Oh yeah Carl, I always let her warm up and then idle for a good few mins after a drive. This is gonna be expensive...... :headvswal

I think i get detonation it seems to happen more when the car or the weather is hot like now......like the dials piesoup i've got the same a bugger to fit but look great when fitted!

Yeah get it checked. My pistons out of my old engine suffered detonation and they've melted!

turbo nailed mate, I guarantee it, ive had the same myself in the past, got oil starvation on one side for some reason and the turbo died within 100 miles, like a clanking rattling sound...took the intake pipe off, about half inch of play in the fooker lol

oh and it didnt burn any oil from that side at all, because it was starved, banjo connector was clogged somehow

To give you an idea of cost i took my car to 2 different workshops that have experience in these cars both quated me more or less the same price (£2,000-£3,000) to replace the turbo's (both) as its false economy to replace just the 1 and this price was not for new turbos either but to have mine reconditiond as long as the outer casings hadnt cracked, £400-£600 to just get the turbos recond. rest was labour, taking engine out and other bits n bobs (engine will have to come out to replace turbo's, much easier as more or less impossible otherwise) I was lucky i got a pair of good turbo's £150 on ebay (ah ebay what would we do without it) while engine was out took advantage of it put new clutch and timing belt on, timing belt another story kit dont come with all the wheels and are £100 odd quid each alone so left em on as they seemed fine. Whole lot in the end gave me a bill of £1,400 including labour for mechanic to do the work, only wish i had had the time to do the job myself then money i would of saved could of gone towards bigger turbos, so there you go mate thats what you got to look forward to unfortunatly :( best of luck

 

carl

Also check out 300zx.org.uk if you havnt already very usefull