Yesterday evening my turbo on the 2.0 TDi blew (white smoke everywhere, absolutely stunk etc) when I was near Lands End, about 250 miles from home. We were recovered today to a local garage and they have checked it out and the turbo is indeed kaput. They have also said that the intercooler is full of oil and from their experience it is unlikely that they will be able to clean it. If they then start the car up the residual oil will go through the turbo and possibly damage it. Is this likely?

I have been quoted for the labour, the turbo and intercooler, new oil and gaskets etc £1750:eek:. Is this about right or a bit steep?

Any help gratefully received, including donations:)

Sounds about right, the turbo is just over 1k on its own (just sold a brand new one for £300 this week). I always replace the ic, you never know what bits get stuck in it if it goes cold side and they run on the oil no problems until they burst.

There do seem to be quite a few going of late :(

Bit of a bugger that one mate.

Ask them to put you on fixed intervals next time, as you've found saving a few ££ on servicing can be expensive in the long term.

That's handy, I do like to join in whenever possible!!!

Thanks for the response's, I can sleep a bit easier now.

Let me ask around here, maybe we can get you a turbo for less. I've seen some going for far less than 1000 pounds, which I suppose is in the 1500 euro ballpark.

Bit of a bugger that one mate.

Ask them to put you on fixed intervals next time, as you've found saving a few ££ on servicing can be expensive in the long term.

I know how to drive but not an awful lot else about engines and cars but why is regular servicing going to help. It was serviced about 5k miles ago.

I have just read that bit above again and it reads like I am being a bit arsy. It's not intentional, I am just wondering Stu.

Thanks

Interesting you mention you know little about cars - did you "simmer" your turbo after a long run ?

You should let it run for a couple of minutes to cool the turbo.

Interesting you mention you know little about cars - did you "simmer" your turbo after a long run ?

You should let it run for a couple of minutes to cool the turbo.

I had been down there for a few days but no I didn't do that when I first got there.

The variable servicing means that the oil gets dirtier between changes so i guess more chance of turbo damage.

Might be an idea - and make sure the oil gets changed at least once per year.

SEAT use fixed intervals and I wouldn't be surprised if others follow soon. As Mark says above, the oil really takes a battering when it's in the car for 18k miles or 2 years.

Thanks for that, I'm convinced. I shall discuss with my garage about changing back to fixed period servicing. For the record, I do a hell of a lot of long distance driving and never cool down the turbo after each journey. I will try to remember to do this from now on, now the horse has bolted etc. Bugger.

Maybe someone else will learn from my c*ck up. Also, keep the AA recovery up to date as it is a nightmare if you have let it lapse, like I have. It would have cost me £400 to get my car home.

Thanks again

Diesels used to never have a problem before DPFs and variable servicing intervals as long as you regularly changed the oil&filters and allowed them a cool down period after a spirited drive.

They should go the russian way, if it works, why mess with it?

Radders,

Remember to cool it each time you stop, e.g. if you stop at the services for a pee !

I only do 9k miles per year, but I get my Touran 2.0tdi serviced every 12 months.

Just took a look. You can get any turbo for a VAG car for 500Euros here, and there's a little discount if you trade the old one in. The seller says it's new, 1 year warranty.

SEAT use fixed intervals and I wouldn't be surprised if others follow soon. As Mark says above, the oil really takes a battering when it's in the car for 18k miles or 2 years.

I used to run variable as I ran the service type most suited to it, eg high miles motorway driving at a fairly constant speed.

This time the car in question got a new oil filter and an oil extractor change at about 10k and the change in engine smoothness, reduces noise and generally happier idle has convinced me this is the way forward.

I always used to do my own services back when 5-6k miles was the interval on older cars. Well worth it as the fuel economy went up too.

Hi there,

what is the best procedure for cooling?

BTW a friend of mine, driving an old PD130 got some warning of going away turbo, so any advice on turbo replacement is welcome!

Thank you,

The best way to cool a TD is to just take the last few minutes of the drive easy and try and keep the revs down.

If you can't then just drive slowly to a halt in the services and let the engine idle for a few seconds before turning off. You'd have to be really hammering it to build up a lot of heat in a derv turbo IMHO.

I used to run variable as I ran the service type most suited to it, eg high miles motorway driving at a fairly constant speed.

This time the car in question got a new oil filter and an oil extractor change at about 10k and the change in engine smoothness, reduces noise and generally happier idle has convinced me this is the way forward.

I always used to do my own services back when 5-6k miles was the interval on older cars. Well worth it as the fuel economy went up too.

been thinknig of doing this for mine too as im between variable services at the moment. where'd you get your oil extractor from cheezemonkhai?

pardon my puzzlement but I thought an inter cooler was full of oil and thats what was used to cool it?????

pardon my puzzlement but I thought an inter cooler was full of oil and thats what was used to cool it?????

The turbo spins at around 10 times engine speed so gets very hot. If you suddenly stop all that heat goes through the little oil remaining around the turbo bearings (as the oil pumping has stopped) and this can 'crack' and deposit carbon on the bearings and internals. This then, on further running, causes excessive wear and, obviously, the eventual destruction of the bearings etc.

The intercooler, or charge air cooler is used to cool the air after it was compressed by the turbine.

The reason is that cool air is denser, more molecules per cubic centimeter = more punch. Remember, air, not gas is what makes it tick. The more air, the more HP.

In that case I think the normal town traffic I experience after and when finishing my highway "runs" helps me rest the turbo :P

Thank you,

been thinknig of doing this for mine too as im between variable services at the moment. where'd you get your oil extractor from cheezemonkhai?

Boat supplies company as I have about 5 cars that will get done, however screwfix have a good 6L one for about £30 IIRC.