Does the turbo have a finite life?

At what mileage do they usually give up? And how expensive are they to replace?

They do have a finite life, after all there is a spindle in there spinning at many thousands of RPM at very high temperatures.

There really is not a definate failure point though as there are to many variables that could lead to it lasting over 100K or going pop at 20K. Oil starvation is the biggest killer and running with low oil can cause this.

The tubo went on my 130 hp A3 just after 60K miles.

A good judge of when expensive failures are expected to start are the manufactures guarantee ie 60K or 3 years.

Sometime the turbo just goes a bit wrong ie starts giving inconsistant boost/power. Think it might be the variable blades on some of the turbos so the more powerful turbo engines I would expect would be moore prone to failure ie the mild tune on the 90 hp Octavias would be much less likely to go than the 130 hp for instance.

Either get rid of cars at 60K or get an extended warranty which have recently become more reasonable according to What Car unless one is in the trade.

Failure rate, I would guess one in three between 60K and say 150K in my experience.

Which are more reliable - turbo's on petrol or diesel engines?

If that rate is accurate, they should be classed as consumables!!!

( and priced accordingly!)

From everything I have read on this forum and everything I have 1st hand experience of:

Seat Toledo 2001 1.9 TDi 110hp - Turbo fail at about 50k (my car)

Audi A3 2003 2.0 TDI 140hp - Turbo fail at about 70k (my wifes car)

Seat Toledo 2001 1.9 TDI 110hp - Turbo fail at about 70k miles (a good friend and neighbour)

VW Golf 2005 2.0 TDI 140hp - Turbo fail at about 50k (my Dad's car)

Are you spotting a pattern.........yep it's the diesel's !!!

My current car is a 2006 2.0 TFSI 200hp with 53k miles and the turbo still feels perfect (fingers crossed).................

From everything I have read on this forum and everything I have 1st hand experience of:

Seat Toledo 2001 1.9 TDi 110hp - Turbo fail at about 50k (my car)

Audi A3 2003 2.0 TDI 140hp - Turbo fail at about 70k (my wifes car)

Seat Toledo 2001 1.9 TDI 110hp - Turbo fail at about 70k miles (a good friend and neighbour)

VW Golf 2005 2.0 TDI 140hp - Turbo fail at about 50k (my Dad's car)

Are you spotting a pattern.........yep it's the diesel's !!!

My current car is a 2006 2.0 TFSI 200hp with 53k miles and the turbo still feels perfect (fingers crossed).................

If the CR diesels are cleaner engines, r turbo's less likely to fail on them or is it just down to the sooty nature of diesel fuel?

My turbo's never failed on my VW Golf III TDi (110 hp), which I sold after 260.000 km. But I will cross my fingers for my Scout with 53.000 km.

Edited 1 November, 201015 yr by Constant

I believe the use of incorrect oil is a major cause of the early demise of turbos on VAG diesel engines. I personally have not had any problems, but I have heard of a few traced back to this as a contributory factor. Incorrect oil can also contribute to DPF problems, I have been told.

Edited 1 November, 201015 yr by veryRedSkoda

From everything I have read on this forum and everything I have 1st hand experience of:

Seat Toledo 2001 1.9 TDi 110hp - Turbo fail at about 50k (my car)

Audi A3 2003 2.0 TDI 140hp - Turbo fail at about 70k (my wifes car)

Seat Toledo 2001 1.9 TDI 110hp - Turbo fail at about 70k miles (a good friend and neighbour)

VW Golf 2005 2.0 TDI 140hp - Turbo fail at about 50k (my Dad's car)

Are you spotting a pattern.........yep it's the diesel's !!!

My current car is a 2006 2.0 TFSI 200hp with 53k miles and the turbo still feels perfect (fingers crossed).................

My grande punto sporting (1.9 deisel) is now on 101,000 miles from new, mapped at 4,000 miles, and its still going strong, I have simply stuck to the normal 18k service intervals, never boot it when cold, and let it coold down before switch off... so they can last ok

previous car - Octy 2 2005 2.0 TDI 140hp - Turbo fail at about 40k clicky

Edited 1 November, 201015 yr by lozparry

The life of the turbo is almost completely dependant on the care you give it. The best bit of advice is given above by sharkrider

ie

My grande punto sporting (1.9 deisel) is now on 101,000 miles from new, mapped at 4,000 miles, and its still going strong, I have simply stuck to the normal 18k service intervals, never boot it when cold, and let it coold down before switch off... so they can last ok

My previous company car had 159k on it and it was as sweet as a nut, and it was regularly driven hard, but always allowed to warm up before using boost and alwaysdriven like a vicar for the last 2 miles of any journey or left to tickover for 2-3 mins before turning off.

Of course regular oil change using the correct grade is necessary too.

HTH

I've had a 2001 Fiat Punto JTD and a 2005 Volvo V50 2.0D previously from new to 85000 and 68000 miles respectively before part-exing with no bother from the turbo on either. Both serviced at the franchised dealers mind you at enormous expense. But otherwise no particular TLC.

Have had 2 turbo's so far, car has done 29k.

Never had an issue with a turbo on any or my cars and they were all remapped. Octy 1.8T 4x4 was a stage 2 map and the VRS Mk2 was stage 2+ running quite a whack of boost - no issues with either after two years of ownership of both. However, I never push it when cold (waiting for the oil, not just the water to come up to temperature) and I always let it idle for a minute or so after a drive (unless its literally just round to the local shops!)

I also currently run a Fiesta 1.6 TDCI remapped with a BIG whack of additional boost (and the turbo is the size of a snails shell!) and succesfully covered 28,000 miles in two years.

I always change my oil every 6,000 miles/6 months on all my cars also. :yes:

PD140 still on original turbo at 100k miles.

Well I have a Ocy Scout 09 FL and the turbo cuts in at around 2-2.5 tho/rpm so it looks as though mine is faulty so I must book it in for it to be done ! if I put my foot down harder below these revs it just creeps up slowly. cheers - Stuart.

Well I have a Ocy Scout 09 FL and the turbo cuts in at around 2-2.5 tho/rpm so it looks as though mine is faulty so I must book it in for it to be done ! if I put my foot down harder below these revs it just creeps up slowly. cheers - Stuart.

It could be a duff MAS or a pipe off.

The best advice to make your turbo last is after a hard run let the engine tick over for 5 mins giving it time to cool down naturally, change the oil every 10K

Have had 2 turbo's so far, car has done 29k.

WOW think you should check the oil feed to the turbo is not partially blocked. Thats real short life time.

Unles you thrash it from cold and then switch off quickly after some hard driving.

Turbos either run or they don't.....you can be lucky and go for ages with the same turbo or you can virtually have them replaced one after another.....but that is no VW / Skoda problem, heard that with loads of manufacturers.

Edited 7 November, 201015 yr by ArthurDaley

PD140 still on original turbo at 100k miles.

Ditto with my old PD140 2.0 Octavia, the original turbo was still going strong at 100K when I sold it in Feb this year.