[Slick_FThirty]

Hey folks,

Just a follow up post to previous post. If the turbo does fail, will it damage other components? I'm thinking of the engine, cats, exhaust, intercooler etc.
The reason I ask is that I'm wondering if I should follow Indies advice of driving with the turbo until it breaks, or follow dealers advice of replacing before something beaks.

Also, is turbo change DIY? Doesn't seem that bad, but I think the trickiest, or least experience for me, is removing the engine mount and exhaust. Otherwise it seems like just the manifold bolts, some gaskets/seals, and the feed/return lines. Just unscrew and reinstall. Thoughts? Any lurking difficulties in the procedure?

[Billfitz]

What makes you think it needs replacing? There are plenty of DIY videos if you do need to change it.

[Slick_FThirty]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

What makes you think it needs replacing? There are plenty of DIY videos if you do need to change it.

Thanks for your reply.

Well Dealer said so, Indie agreed, and the sound matches other threads that ended up with turbo replacement. I have more info in the previous thread I posted a few days ago.

Which videos? I actually haven't been able to find a complete DIY video, although there are some that show some clips or just talk about it.

[Billfitz]

I can't hear anything unusual in your video.

[Slick_FThirty]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I can't hear anything unusual in your video.

There's a rather low pitched whine/whistle on acceleration in eco. It becomes higher pitched in comfort.

There's one or two other threads that are coincidentally recent that shared a similar sound and experience.

I wish it were not the case, and it shouldn't because I'm only at 80k km. But all suggestions seem to be pointing to turbo failure so far, or at least the start of it.

It's not very loud, at least in the cabin.

I've been driving it 10k km so far with that sound. Hasn't gotten worse seemingly.

[Billfitz]

The main difference between Eco and Comfort is the gear the car is in, which makes the engine run at a higher RPM at a given speed in Comfort, so whatever sound the engine is creating will be at a higher pitch. The most common turbo failure is the oil feed line, which results in oil leakage.

[Slick_FThirty]

So what should I do with the noise then? Is it fine if I have that noise and wait for other elements to surface?
What would you do?

Dealer said change it. Indie said wait for it to go and just drive.

[Slick_FThirty]

I guess another question is what Turbo replacement would be best.

Should I just replace with original OE? Or is there a beefier/better one that will last longer? Not interesting increasing HP, just reliability.

[Billfitz]

Unless and until I was able to definitively identify a problem that required changing it I'd drive it. IMO the dealer saying that if the turbo goes that it will cause more damage is a scare tactic. What's going to happen? Are the fan blades going to disintegrate and get sucked into the cylinders?

[Slick_FThirty]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Unless and until I was able to definitively identify a problem that required changing it I'd drive it. IMO the dealer saying that if the turbo goes that it will cause more damage is a scare tactic. What's going to happen? Are the fan blades going to disintegrate and get sucked into the cylinders?

Ya, well I was told by the dealer that I might need complete engine replacement if I don't change the turbo.

So that's why I'm asking what happens if the turbo fails or what risk am I running by not changing the turbo? That's what I would like to have answered in this post.

[Billfitz]

The main thing that happens with turbo failure is you lose the turbo boost and the engine won't work as it should. In extreme cases the vanes can disintegrate, but they've got to get past the intercooler before they can get into the engine. You might see that happen on a drag strip with extreme tuning, I doubt it would happen under normal conditions.

[Slick_FThirty]

Any good turbos that would be better if the time does come? Or is the stock one fine?

[Billfitz]

I can't say from personal experience, haven't changed mine. Dinan gets a lot of love, and they're less expensive than OEM. I took a look at the replacement procedure in my Bentley manual and it is pretty involved, a lot more than I'd want do if I wasn't absolutely sure it was necessary. I'd say a full day to pull the old one off, another full day to put the new one on. Both the oil and coolant need to be drained.

[Slick_FThirty]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I can't say from personal experience, haven't changed mine. Dinan gets a lot of love, and they're less expensive than OEM. I took a look at the replacement procedure in my Bentley manual and it is pretty involved, a lot more than I'd want do if I wasn't absolutely sure it was necessary. I'd say a full day to pull the old one off, another full day to put the new one on. Both the oil and coolant need to be drained.

Thank you for all your advice.