How to deal with some frequent failures

Turbochargers are very reliable. When they fail.

At BTN Turbo they use feedback from workshops and warranty claims to produce Critical Instructions for certain turbos. You can check them before fitting a replacement turbo, to help prevent the same problem recurring. Here are some of the latest examples.

Restricted breathing
A clogged engine breather system on some BMW and Land Rover diesel engines can restrict oil flow and increase sump pressure. Oil is forced into the turbo and the customer suddenly notices blue engine smoke. This can show up after a new turbo is fitted, but might not have been apparent before. We recommend fitting a new breather filter when you replace the turbocharger.

Stuck EGR
The EGR valve on the Vauxhall Astra, Corsa, Combo and Meriva 1.7D is prone to carbon/exhaust soot deposits which make it stick, rapidly causing turbocharger damage. They advise removing the exhaust manifold, checking for carbon/soot build up, and cleaning or replacing the EGR valve.

Debris damage
The VAG 1.9TD seems particularly prone to small items falling into the turbo and damaging the vanes. BTN critical instructions recommend checking the air intake and engine breather pipework for debris or dirt before cleaning or replacing.

Oil problems – the biggest turbo killers
The Ford Transit 2.5LD can suffer from oil feed blockages and abrasive contaminants in the sump, damaging the turbo through oil starvation and scored bearings. BTN recommend removing and cleaning the sump, and replacing the oil strainer and feed pipe before you change the turbo. Oil problems are responsible for the vast majority of turbo failures. So even if the vehicle you’re working on isn’t covered by one of our critical instructions, checking the oil supply is vital to help avoid a repeat of the turbo failure.

BTN Turbo – turbocharger expertise
Established in the turbocharger business for over 40 years and acknowledged as the turbo experts, BTN Turbo is the UK’s largest independent turbo distributor. Their Critical Instructions are available free at www.btnturbo.com