Went out to start the car as normal this morning and let it run for a good 15 minutes before attempting to drive it (it was -5 outside and I am a believer of letting the oil/engine warm up). When I started driving down the snowy road at about 10-15mph I could hear a little whine from the turbo when revved. It sounded a little like posts from other people about a very faint siren sound. I am worried this might be the turbo on the way out, or could it be the cold affecting the turbo as it has frozen hard for the last few days?

Any advice/tips appreciated

I'm no expert but letting a car idle for 15 minutes will help it warm up and helps the oil circulate and get into those harder to reach places. But never let it idle too long(and to me 15 minutes seems to long a time) as it can damage things in long term...or at least i'm told. I personally would prefer to idle for a minute then slowly set off (a minute idle will help the oil circulate), keeping below 2500rpm and not increasing speed until after it is fully warmed up to 90 degrees or whatever temp its ment to be.

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by newskoda

Could it be that I left it idle too long?

I'm getting really paranoid about this turbo now. Last thing I want is to buy a new turbo 3 months after buying the car!

Diesel engines are so thermally efficient that if you let it tick over for an hour it would not get up to temperature, they need to be driven (under load) to get up to temperature so you are doing more harm than good.

They recommend starting them and driving them straight away.

Petrol engines are not thermally efficient so would warm up if you leave them ticking over.

Could it be that I left it idle too long?

Quite possibly as the engine would of been running on cold (therefore thicker) oil for the whole time - this cannot be good for anything.

My turbo's getting whiny.. But it doesn't seem linked to the cold, more likely the 70k it's done.

It does shut up once warm but the cold weather makes it take longer.. My temp gauge is only just up to the middle when I pull in at work so no heavy driving unless un avoidable is the key.

I don't let the car idle, -2 temp when I set off this morning.. 2 things I've noticed helping getting going in this weather are... Turn the key the split second the glow plug light goes out, otherwise I think they'll start cooling again. Hold the starter motor on until it's REALLY going.

I got into a bad habit over summer of almost just flicking the key.. in the warm the engine'll go quite happily on this but in winter it'll cough and splutter to life.. I found holding the starter motor on just a half second longer gives a much more positive start.

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by Rob.

Thanks for the info guys. I'm not sure if I can hear it tonight after driving home from work as the engine noise is louder than it. It might now be me being uber paranoid.

Does anyone know how much a new/recon turbo will cost if it turns out to be the turbo? Also what the average labour cost is for this job?

Mines running silly boost and wines when cold. Sounds like a siren in the distance, goes away once the engine warm. Shouldnt worry mate

I don't let the car idle, -2 temp when I set off this morning.. 2 things I've noticed helping getting going in this weather are... Turn the key the split second the glow plug light goes out, otherwise I think they'll start cooling again. Hold the starter motor on until it's REALLY going.

I an not sure that the Glow Plugs will cool as soon as the light goes off, I know that on Peugeot diesels there was power to the glowplugs for a good 10 secs after the light on the dash had gone off. So I dont think that they will cool immediately when the lights goes off. I am not sure of the exact temperature that they reach but its pretty warm.

Lewwy

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by Lewwy