INITIAL INSPECTION AND GENERAL CARE
- Carefully inspect the air cleaner, air cleaner duct, and the exhaust manifold for any foreign material. Objects left in these areas can severely damage the turbocharger immediately on engine startup.
- Remove old gaskets and left-over material from the exhaust manifold, the oil supply line and oil drain line flanges. Inspect these surfaces for cracks, flatness, or erosion.
- Inspect the oil supply and drain lines for degradation and cracking.
- Make sure that there are no kinks or any other type of restriction or clogging in either line.
FINAL INSTALLATION
- Install the turbocharger, taking care to ensure that no dirt or foreign material enters the turbocharger openings. Always, use new gaskets and O-rings (where applicable). Do not connect the oil supply line or the air cleaner duct yet, see later steps.
- Pre-lube the turbocharger by pouring clean engine oil into the oil inlet hole of the turbo.
- With your fingers, spin the compressor wheel several times to coat the turbocharger bearings with oil.
- Pour more oil into the oil inlet hole to top it off. There may be some drainage, but this is of no concern.
- Connect the oil supply line and the air cleaner duct.
- Check for proper crankcase oil level.
- With the fuel shut off to prevent engine start, crank the engine for 10-15 seconds, or until the gauge shows an oil pressure build up.
- Start the engine and let it idle for 5-10 minutes. Do not rev the engine during this time.
- Check the installation for any oil leaks.
The installation tips listed here are general guidelines that apply to all turbos and do not include vehicle-specific details. Please refer to the authorized original equipment service manual for detailed installation instructions. If you do not have the experience, proper tools or manuals, please seek the services of a qualified technician.
6 Ways to Protect Your Turbo Engine
1. Regular Oil Maintenance
For the best performance from a turbocharger, change the oil at least every 5,000 miles.
2. Warm Up the Engine
For the first 10 minutes of driving a cold car, go easy on the accelerator pedal to limit the strain on the oil pump and prevent unnecessary wear and tear on the turbo system. Wait at least 10 minutes before going full throttle, or watch the oil gauge for when it’s reached its optimum temperature.
3. Don’t Overstep the Limits of the Turbo when Cruising
When cruising around town or on the motorway, try not to jab the accelerator. Instead, ease the power on slowly to give the turbo a chance to start spinning freely, and use the accelerator sparingly to maintain your speed. While turbos are rigorously stress-tested, and should last the lifetime of the engine, regular bouts of aggressive driving could take their toll, and cause costly issues.
And remember – not only will gentle cruising spare your turbo, it’ll give you great fuel economy, too.
4. Use Your Gears to Overtake
Whether you’re driving up a long hill, overtaking on an A road or accelerating into the fast lane on the motorway, downshifting into a lower gear is a safer long-term option than relying purely on the turbocharger. Gears were built for aiding performance up and down the rev range, so using a combination of gear changes and turbo boost will help to limit the wear and tear suffered through the turbo system.
5. Let the Engine Cool After Driving
Turbos produce a lot of heat while driving, and if you turn off the engine straight away, this residual heat will boil the oil in the turbo system, leading to a build-up of carbon particles that can cause corrosion and premature engine wear.
After driving, get in the habit of leaving the engine running for a couple of minutes at idle, which will cool the turbo enough to switch off the engine without cooking the engine oil.
6. Don’t Blip the Throttle Before Turning the Engine Off
Whether you’re parking or simply want to hear the whizz of the turbo charger, don’t blip the throttle right before turning the ignition off. Pressing the accelerator causes the rotating turbines in the turbo to spin; when the engine is switched off, the flow of oil lubricating these moving parts will stop, but the turbines won’t stop spinning. This puts strain on the bearings, causing friction and a build-up of heat which can lead to a failure in the turbo system.
You can reduce this risk by following the advice in point five – leaving the engine to cool before switching off the ignition.
