Poor repair or bad luck?

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

2 weeks ago the turbo seals went on my 18t MAN causing it to chuck oil every where and smoke like a chimney :open_mouth: so my firm duly got it repaired and I got her back on Tuesday afternoon loaded my stuff and deliveries for next day
set out next morning all seemed fine till I hit the hills on A35 west Dorset and she got more and more underpowered then the smoke started
got to Axminster turned of A35 on to A385 bang massive clouds of smoke as turbo went again FFs I’d only done 80 miles so spent the next 8 hours waiting for tow truck
Question is this was it bad luck or was the first repair bodged and the repairers didn’t sort route cause out

2

Who can say without looking at the wreckage and/or asking the repairer what they actually did?

3

Roymondo:
Who can say without looking at the wreckage and/or asking the repairer what they actually did?

To true and it’s a route I use a lot with truck or car so it’s not the way I drive
P/s to add the truck has done 630k kms 8 years old

4

Turbos don’t have ‘seals’, the oil that lubricates the impellar system is contained by the bearings that support the impeller shaft, when they fail oil gets out into both exhaust and induction side…

So when a turbo starts blowing oil, best thing is pull it apart.
Now modern turbos are pigs to get into, you really do need a specialist to repair them proper, so ripping it open an banging in some generic bearings.(seals…)… Is a bad move.
Now wether that’s what’s happened I don’t know, BUT once oil has got into the system, and depending how long an how much is about it can smoke like a dog, esp if intercooler ain’t been cleaned out, and all associated air piping, plugs need cleaning, exhaust system will be full…

Now if all that’s ok, then the actuator pre load should be set/checked…(boost pressure if you like)…if that’s not right then turbo will be done fairly quick.

Turbos are so simple, but they get treated like ■■■■■ by people, when new one is fitted the oil feeds need to be primed, returns checked,as again the turbo will cook in seconds with no oil…(my guess as to why its gone again)…

For 1000km on a truck the turbo really shouldn’t be used…it needs to bed in and be gradually heat cycled so as not too crack anything, or heat it up too much, I bet its being starved of oil and that’s why its dead again, could even be a crack somewhere if its a ‘rebuilt’ over a new un…

Anyway lol I love turbos, my guesses are multiple as to its death but something deffo ain’t good if 80 mile is all ya got hahahaha

5

Alot of damage can be done to the engine when a turbo let’s go. Pieces of the turbo can end up in the cylinders, oil ending up in the exhaust system etc. Is it possible that the repairer hasn’t checked everything 100% for other damage caused by the first blown turbo?

6

damoq:
Alot of damage can be done to the engine when a turbo let’s go. Pieces of the turbo can end up in the cylinders, oil ending up in the exhaust system etc. Is it possible that the repairer hasn’t checked everything 100% for other damage caused by the first blown turbo?

I think that’s why company is doing repair them self’s this time and not subbing it out , The fitter is a proper mechanic no a computer says no jockey it’s just he’s on he’s own but does have an apprentice with him some days a week ,
I will update week after next

7

For it to fail again so soon ,unless I was faulty turbo ,it was more than likely that the air induction side wasn’t cleaned of debri from the failed turbo ,Hence your pootling along ,it ■■■■■ in some debri from the old turbo damages the impellers on the intake side ,and the rest is history…I bet they didn’t even fit a new air filter …When replacing a failed turbo cleanliness is so important …If oil gets in to the engine ,then you should check for bent conrods .

Sometimes due to costs /time to do the job properly ,some operators want it done quickest ,cheapest way ,won’t listen to what they are told ,then kick up hell when it goes wrong again…I am not saying that what your company did …But we have suffered customers who won’t listen then complain when the inevitable happens :unamused:

8

So true Norb :wink:
She’s sitting all forelawn at back of the yard :cry: