Thinks I need a new Turbo - Anyone?

arodriguez · 22nd November 2013, 16:49

Hi all,

I have a nasty suspicion my 1.8T Turbo is about to expire. It's been fine up until this morning and ironically has been running really well in this cold weather. I noticed a fair amount of blue smoke out the back on the way to work which seemed to clear up as it warmed through but fairly embarrassing for the first 4 miles as the cars behind were giving me a wide berth.

It's also been missing / stuttering under hard acceleration which has got much worse in the last week and the engine light started flashing on the motorway the other day when I dropped it to 4th to whip past a lorry - then went out again. The solenoid boost hoses have been done with 3mm silicone so its not that. Coolant level fine and no indications of HGF as that was sorted by Derby Dave 2000 miles ago.

Am I right in thinking the turbo seals may have gone? I flipped the bonnet and there were wisps of smoke coming from the exhaust manifold/turbo area but so faint I couldn't tell exactly where from. Any idea how long it will last and will it drive (limp) or should I stop using it?

Does anyone have a recon turbo for sale or suggest where I can source one? They're £600 new on Ebay but I'll try the traders on here too.

Thanks for any advice

DMGRS · 22nd November 2013, 16:51

If you've had a HGF, chances are the oil/coolant mayo has gotten into the turbo bearings and caused them to fail.
Unfortunately it's pretty common to suffer a turbo failure on the 1.8T following a HGF.

GeraintUK · 22nd November 2013, 16:55

there are recon turbos with 12month warranty for £230 on ebay from place in Birmingham.
At £600, you could almost get hybrid GT2056 that i'm looking into at present as i'm sure my seals have gone which is why i only get 3psi boost

arodriguez · 22nd November 2013, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMGRS

If you've had a HGF, chances are the oil/coolant mayo has gotten into the turbo bearings and caused them to fail.
Unfortunately it's pretty common to suffer a turbo failure on the 1.8T following a HGF.

I'd heard that and was a bit worried but when my HG went there was no mayo only external leaks. The coolant was always clear so I hoped I might have escaped turbo damage

. Do these turbo's generally give up at 61k???

DMGRS · 22nd November 2013, 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by arodriguez

I'd heard that and was a bit worried but when my HG went there was no mayo only external leaks. The coolant was always clear so I hoped I might have escaped turbo damage

. Do these turbo's generally give up at 61k???

Was the oil still OK? If you had an external leak and no mayo, you'd be unlucky to have turbo failure, but unfortunately they do sometimes still fail.

arodriguez · 22nd November 2013, 18:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMGRS

Was the oil still OK? If you had an external leak and no mayo, you'd be unlucky to have turbo failure, but unfortunately they do sometimes still fail.

The oil was fine. It just seems to have gone. It smoked badly on the way home this evening. I was getting some filthy looks from other motorists. It cleared up as soon as it was warmed through though it runs a bit lumpy. I can't drive it now though just too Smokey for town traffic. I'll try Midland Turbos as another thread suggested.

arodriguez · 22nd November 2013, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeraintUK

there are recon turbos with 12month warranty for £230 on ebay from place in Birmingham.
At £600, you could almost get hybrid GT2056 that i'm looking into at present as i'm sure my seals have gone which is why i only get 3psi boost

I think that's www.gap-turbos.com

Has anybody used them? 2 yr warranty and a snip at £230. Is there a part number for these units?

GeraintUK · 22nd November 2013, 19:50

might be the same company or associated as prices seem the same and location isn't far off, but it was Samson Services that I saw doing it.

Read customer reviews of them and very highly rated for customer service etc.

This was the ebay ad :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...:X:RTQ:GB:1123

Ours are GT2052. They'll know it as soon as you say it's a 1.8T K-Series.

Just debating if I get a recon now and then do my planned upgrade to a GT2056 in Spring onwards. At the price they quote, it's not the end of the earth to keep it as a spare if I don't flog it onwards for similar money anyway.

SD1too · 22nd November 2013, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by arodriguez

Does anyone have a recon turbo for sale or suggest where I can source one?

www.midlandturbo.com

Simon

rrobson · 22nd November 2013, 20:50

take the bottom intercooler hose off. if its got lots of oil in it your turbo seals have gone.

due to excessive oil consumption and smoke on a turbo engine usually points to turbo failure.

there are lots of reasons why turbo failure occurs.

with these cars hgf is usually the primary cause, but if the oil is in poor condition, or the engines not had a few seconds to tick over on start up / shut down this will shorten the life of the turbo.
even though there are no signs of hgf, it could be an early indication.
could also be due to a previous hgf. if the engine wasn't cleaned properly water could still have remained and subsequently made its way through the turbo.

if you trawl ebay, you will find a few with turbo failure around that mileage. no idea why though?

£230 is very cheap for a recon. my local turbo place charges £350 for a recon on exchange with 2 years warranty

22nd November 2013, 16:49	#1
arodriguez Loves to post Rover 75 Club 1.8T SE Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bristol Posts: 310 Thanks: 28 Thanked 35 Times in 32 Posts	Thinks I need a new Turbo - Anyone? Hi all, I have a nasty suspicion my 1.8T Turbo is about to expire. It's been fine up until this morning and ironically has been running really well in this cold weather. I noticed a fair amount of blue smoke out the back on the way to work which seemed to clear up as it warmed through but fairly embarrassing for the first 4 miles as the cars behind were giving me a wide berth. It's also been missing / stuttering under hard acceleration which has got much worse in the last week and the engine light started flashing on the motorway the other day when I dropped it to 4th to whip past a lorry - then went out again. The solenoid boost hoses have been done with 3mm silicone so its not that. Coolant level fine and no indications of HGF as that was sorted by Derby Dave 2000 miles ago. Am I right in thinking the turbo seals may have gone? I flipped the bonnet and there were wisps of smoke coming from the exhaust manifold/turbo area but so faint I couldn't tell exactly where from. Any idea how long it will last and will it drive (limp) or should I stop using it? Does anyone have a recon turbo for sale or suggest where I can source one? They're £600 new on Ebay but I'll try the traders on here too. Thanks for any advice

22nd November 2013, 16:51	#2
DMGRS Discount MG Rover Spares Rover 75 CDTi, 2x MG ZS180 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hythe, Southampton Posts: 11,370 Thanks: 456 Thanked 3,377 Times in 2,027 Posts	If you've had a HGF, chances are the oil/coolant mayo has gotten into the turbo bearings and caused them to fail. Unfortunately it's pretty common to suffer a turbo failure on the 1.8T following a HGF. __________________ Your trusted MG Rover specialist! Tel: 02380 001133 / Email: [email protected] We now have a 'chat' function on our site for even quicker replies. Give it a try! Remember - discount code FORUM5 for 5% off

22nd November 2013, 20:50	#10
rrobson I really should get out more....... 75 tourer cdti, MG ZS 180, nissan terrano & 1.8t rover 25 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pontefract Posts: 2,648 Thanks: 17 Thanked 295 Times in 218 Posts	take the bottom intercooler hose off. if its got lots of oil in it your turbo seals have gone. due to excessive oil consumption and smoke on a turbo engine usually points to turbo failure. there are lots of reasons why turbo failure occurs. with these cars hgf is usually the primary cause, but if the oil is in poor condition, or the engines not had a few seconds to tick over on start up / shut down this will shorten the life of the turbo. even though there are no signs of hgf, it could be an early indication. could also be due to a previous hgf. if the engine wasn't cleaned properly water could still have remained and subsequently made its way through the turbo. if you trawl ebay, you will find a few with turbo failure around that mileage. no idea why though? £230 is very cheap for a recon. my local turbo place charges £350 for a recon on exchange with 2 years warranty __________________ How to view a car - everything you need to help you inspect a used car VIS motor tester avalible to local members Injector removal tool and auto gearbox pressure tester now available

22nd November 2013, 16:55	#3
GeraintUK Passed Away MG ZT-T 160 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester Posts: 1,307 Thanks: 64 Thanked 222 Times in 145 Posts	there are recon turbos with 12month warranty for £230 on ebay from place in Birmingham. At £600, you could almost get hybrid GT2056 that i'm looking into at present as i'm sure my seals have gone which is why i only get 3psi boost

22nd November 2013, 19:50	#8
GeraintUK Passed Away MG ZT-T 160 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester Posts: 1,307 Thanks: 64 Thanked 222 Times in 145 Posts	might be the same company or associated as prices seem the same and location isn't far off, but it was Samson Services that I saw doing it. Read customer reviews of them and very highly rated for customer service etc. This was the ebay ad : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...:X:RTQ:GB:1123 Ours are GT2052. They'll know it as soon as you say it's a 1.8T K-Series. Just debating if I get a recon now and then do my planned upgrade to a GT2056 in Spring onwards. At the price they quote, it's not the end of the earth to keep it as a spare if I don't flog it onwards for similar money anyway.