Turbo shaft play?

[atcq110]

Just had a quick question. I took off the inlet pipe going from the ait filter to the turbo on my redtop today. There was some oil in there. Not a lot but there was some. I think this means I have shaft play in my turbo and oil is getting through, right? The cars runs and boosts fine though. Does this mean my turbo is on it's way out? If so how much time do you guys think I have if I dont boost it hard? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Hijacker]

did you actually check the turbo shaft for play? some oil vapors will get in the intake from the crank vent tube. Don't assume that you have shaft play without actually checking it. Take the intake elbow off the compressor housing so you can get to the compressor wheel and physically check it for play

[atcq110]

bart, thanks I just did what you said and I am looking at the comp. wheel right now. It moves a very little bit, but I don't think the play is anywhere near excessive. Also it does not seem very wet from oil. There was a lot more oil around the rubber inlet house that I took off first. Does this mean I am ok? What elso shouls i be looking for thanks

[Hijacker]

you're probably fine. blowby is usually indicative of massive amounts of oil in the intake tubes. I should have snapped some shots of my intake setup when my turbo went out on me. That was a mess and a half.

Anyways, if it slightly moves, but feels stiff otherwise, you're in the clear. These turbos are junkers technically speaking, so they won't be brand new, no play at all stiff. Mine's like that only because i rebuilt it.

Another indicator that your turbo is beginning to die is an inability to hold boost. My turbo used to hold 14 PSI really easy, but then slowly I noticed that it would build up to ~13 and then the boost would fall off and stabalize at ~7. Since the rebuild, it holds steady where I set it.

[atcq110]

Thanks, for the help. When I looked a little closer I saw some dryed up oil around the sides. I cleaned it off the best that I could. It looked like it had been there for a while, and there wasn't that much. Is this anything to worry about. Ohh btw nice convertible, My last 240 before the hatch i have now was a red sr convt. I still regret selling it, Thanks

[Hijacker]

you should be fine

[s13sr20chris]

Another indicator that your turbo is beginning to die is an inability to hold boost. My turbo used to hold 14 PSI really easy, but then slowly I noticed that it would build up to ~13 and then the boost would fall off and stabalize at ~7. Since the rebuild, it holds steady where I set it.

sorry to thread jack. what boost controller was that with? i use a simple manual type and sometimes i get boost falloff but it is intermitant.

[atcq110]

no boost controller, All stock.

[Hijacker]

sorry to thread jack. what boost controller was that with? i use a simple manual type and sometimes i get boost falloff but it is intermitant.

I use an HKS wastegate actuator. I have never experienced boost falloff with it, except for when my turbo started to go bad.

[atcq110]

My boost does not fall off at all, It holds steady right where it should

[Hijacker]

which is what? have you upped the boost, or are you running stock boost?

i said it's an indicator, it doesn't always happen

[atcq110]

like i said in a previous post my motor is all stock. 7psi

[Hijacker]

like i said, i doubt your turbo is going out, so you should be ok