What are some signs that a turbo is going bad? Right now when i go high boost 14.7psi it sounds weird its a loud spool but its funny. its still boost fully but its just loud. is my turbo going?

 

Normal turbo sounds should be "ssshhhhhhhhhh" at whatever volume. Any "tinging" or other metalic sounds are definitly bad. My brother's T25 died from bad oil seals (imported that way) caused by very dirty oil. It had no shaft play, but it dropped enough oil to leak from the downpipe gasket. Turbos that are going bad at the bearings will spool noticably slower and not make peak boost as fast or at all. If the bearings are really going, you'll probably hear blades dragging on the housings.

 

Sounds like it's time to tighten up the turbo as it is more than likely coming loose. When this happens the metal gasket will viberate between the manifold and the turbo giving you a sound simular to a supercharger every time you push it into boost. common problem/ easy fix.

 

both people are correct. hahaha.


Take off the inlet and downpipe, and see if you can shake the turbo back and forth. If that's so, then you need to tighten the bolts and probably just take the entire gacket off and replace it.


there is also a good chance that if you've been running 14psi for more than a year that your turbo is finally dead, and even witht hte tight seal it doesn't produce the boost at the same rpm it used to. tha'ts because it's just worn out. little pieces of turbine and compressor are lost and worn away and it takes more power to generate the same shaft speed so more back pressure is required. at the same time on the compressor time it takes more shaft speed to generate the same flow of air.

 

i never thought of a leak. IT boost just fine. it holds boost and it still has the same speed. just sounds funny. ill give it a try tomorrow and let everyone know

 

My turbo was holding boost fine but making a noise a little while ago. Now it won't hold full boost and I'm pretty sure it's on its way to the grave.

 

Are you upgrading?

 

Eventually I'd like to, yes. Right now I'm riding the car on stock boost. I plan to upgrade to a T28, possibly. Not sure. I might just buy a cheap stock turbo to hold me up until I can afford an upgrade.