We’re drawing attention to the critical issue of insufficient lubrication as a leading cause of turbocharger failures. This frequently overlooked problem can result in substantial damage to turbocharged engines, emphasising the need for prompt detection and maintenance, says Tom Wright, our group product manager.

The primary causes of insufficient lubrication range from poor oil filter maintenance, low oil levels in the sump, and incorrect oil inlet gaskets restricting oil supply, to carbon deposits in the oil feed pipe, blockages from silicone on oil gaskets, and sludge build-up due to improper shutdowns.

Additionally, failing to prime the turbo with oil initially, using damaged oil feed pipes, worn oil pumps, and unsuitable oil grades contribute significantly to this issue, warns Wright.

He explains: “The signs of insufficient lubrication, such as excessive wear on thrust bearings and journal bearings, discoloration, and material transfer on thrust parts and journal bearings, as well as turbocharger noise or performance issues, should not be ignored.”

To prevent turbocharger failure due to insufficient lubrication, Wright recommends ensuring correct oil flow to the turbocharger, priming replacement turbochargers with oil before fitting and avoiding the use of silicone on oil gaskets.

Technicians are also advised to clean or replace oil inlet pipes to eliminate carbon deposits or sludge, using fresh oil and new oil filters as recommended by the engine manufacturer, and allowing the engine to warm up and cool down properly at the start and end of each journey.

Wright is emphasising the importance of addressing the root cause of turbocharger failure: “Insufficient lubrication can lead to rapid and catastrophic damage to the bearing systems, often within seconds of operation.

“Proper lubrication is vital for turbocharger health and performance. Adhering to maintenance guidelines and preventive measures can significantly reduce the risk of turbocharger failures.”

If technicians suspect a fault with a turbocharger, our network of highly qualified turbocharger repair specialists can provide a full turbo inspection and diagnosis service to help identify the root cause of failure and prevent further issues.

Turbocharger repair specialists can provide a full turbo inspection and diagnosis service to help identify the root cause of failure and prevent further issues.

Contact us at [email protected] to find your local repair specialist, or see our Turbo Tips for further expert technical advise.

More technical articles:

Loose shaft nuts play a key role in turbocharger failure

Effects of foreign object damage on turbochargers laid bare

We’re reminding technicians of top tips on how to ensure their turbo story has a fairy tale ending this Valentine’s Day. As manufacturers build smaller engines but look to maintain performance with higher power delivery, turbochargers have become essential across the market, especially as emissions requirements become more stringent.

Because of this, more turbo-related issues are arriving with technicians, and our product manager Tom Wright has several top tips for best practice to ensure technicians’ close encounters with turbochargers go without a hitch this coming Valentine’s.

“As over 90 percent of turbocharger failures are consequential of other on-vehicle issues, it is essential that the root cause of the problem is identified before fitting a new turbo. This will save time down the line and will prevent any potential issues with the new turbo,” says Wright.

Oil contamination is one of the top reasons for a turbocharger failure – a number of factors can play a part here, so it is essential that the oil system is serviced correctly when fitting a turbocharger to ensure debris from the previous failure does not remain in the system. If the technician doesn’t carry out this step, the new oil can become contaminated also, causing premature turbo failure within minutes, warns Wright.

To avoid failure through insufficient lubrication or oil contamination, oil inlet pipes should be inspected, cleaned or preferably replaced to remove carbon deposits or sludge that could restrict oil flow and/or contaminate the new oil. In addition, in all installations of a turbocharger, priming the oil feed and oil systems is a must, as this will prevent the turbo from instant failure through a lack of lubrication caused by a delay in the delivery of oil.

Modifying driving style is another way to prolong the life of the turbocharger and other vehicle components. This is as simple as allowing time for the engine and turbocharger to warm up before accelerating hard and cool down before switching off. “Operation temperatures will be significantly higher if a turbo has been worked hard and therefore it needs time to cool, as shutting the engine off immediately after a spirited drive can cause the oil to carbonise within the turbo.” Wright adds.

Driving style can also impact the operation of the diesel particulate filters (DPF), which have been compulsory to fit to diesel vehicles since 2009. In turbocharged, diesel-powered vehicles, technicians should advise drivers to perform regular longer journeys to allow DPF regeneration to occur successfully. This can be achieved via a 10-15 minute journey on a motorway at mid-high revs.

A blocked DPF prevents exhaust gas passing through the exhaust system at the required rate. As a result, back pressure and exhaust gas temperatures increase within the turbine housing of the turbocharger, affecting the turbocharger in a number of ways, including problems with efficiencies, boost levels, oil leaks, carbonisation of oil within the turbo and exhaust gas leaks from the turbo. “It’s therefore important that technicians maintaining, and servicing diesel-engine cars pay attention to the condition of the DPF in the event of turbo failure to prevent premature failure of the new turbocharger,” Wright adds.

Just as with the exhaust system, any blockages, restrictions, leaks or contaminants in the air intake system will impact the turbochargers performance and could lead to failure. Wright recommends replacing the air filter on an annual basis to help minimise dirty air passing through the turbo. Contaminated air with pollutants, dust and debris can lead to poor performance and foreign object damage to the compressor. Blocked or restricted filters can lead to incorrect pressures in the compressor housing and therefore oil leaks, which can lead to failure.

At Melett, we’re renowned for producing OE quality products to help the turbo aftermarket produce the highest quality repairs. With an in-house team of highly qualified mechanical engineers, our turbochargers are subject to rigorous engineering and testing processes to ensure they match OE specifications. All our turbochargers are built, balanced and flow tested in the UK to the strictest quality standards to ensure OE performance during operation.

If a vehicle is suffering from rattling or grinding noises during operation, and drivers experience loss of engine power, this could be due to a loose shaft nut on the turbocharger.

In a turbocharger assembly, the shaft nut, also known as a ‘locknut’ or an ‘impeller locknut’, plays a critical role in holding the compressor wheel and rotor group parts to the shaft. To ensure proper functionality, the shaft nut must be tightened using the correct procedure and setting. If there is any kind of resistance or locking up within the rotor, the centrifugal force will continue, and the shaft nut will come loose.

A loose shaft nut can result in catastrophic damage to the compressor wheel within seconds of the turbocharger commencing operation, says Tom Wright, Group Product Manager at Melett.

In the majority of cases, a loose shaft nut is not the primary case of turbocharger failure, and being mindful of this can help identify issues and prevent them from worsening, adds Wright.

Overspeeding causes excessive radial expansion of the impeller wheel but shortens its length. This relaxes the tension on the shaft, which in turn results in loosening of the shaft nut.

Foreign object damage to the compressor or turbine wheel can affect the balance of the assembly. This can cause abrasion with the housing and loosen the shaft nut.

A blockage in the oil feed pipe can cause the bearing system to ‘grab’ onto the shaft, preventing it from rotating, this in turn causes the shaft nut to loosen. What’s more, scoring to bearings, potentially caused by oil contamination, allows the impeller wheel to rub and ‘stall’ against the housing, eventually loosening the shaft nut.

It is also important to note that in most turbochargers, the shaft nut thread direction is opposite to the direction of rotation on the shaft. If the compressor wheel rotates clockwise, the shaft nut threads should be left-handed – if this is not the case, the nut has the potential to become loose during operation.

Our UK-based turbocharger production facility adheres to strict guidelines and processes to ensure that shaft nuts are tightened to the correct tolerances, with each turbo model having its own specific torque settings carried out by its assembly team.

“Detecting the signs that indicate a loose shaft nut can help prevent further damage and reduce the risk of total turbocharger failure,” says Wright.

These include noise from the turbo during operation such as rattling or whining. The compressor blades, when checked, may display chipping or other damage if the shaft nut becomes loose and falls into the compressor wheel inducer. Technicians should also be mindful, Wright advises, of pitting around the compressor inlet or on the compressor blades.

“It’s difficult to prevent turbocharger failure from a loose shaft nut but the key symptoms of the issue can be identified to prevent the issue from worsening. The first step to avoiding loose shaft nut related turbo failure is to keep the engine in good condition and ensure the turbocharger is installed correctly.

“It’s critical that the root cause of a turbo failure is identified, as it can lead to the instant failure of another newly fitted turbo if the incorrect parts aren’t checked and changed. It’s also good practice to always change the oil and oil filter when fitting a turbocharger, using the correct grade as specified by the vehicle manufacturer,” Wright adds.

Click below to view our Loose Shaft Nut failure guide:

For further information on our turbocharger systems, part fitment, technical guides and troubleshooting, explore our website here.

More technical articles:

Effects of foreign object damage on turbochargers laid bare

Expert advice on turbocharger overheating

If a vehicle is suffering from rattling or grinding noises during operation and drivers experience loss of engine power, this could be due to foreign object damage on the turbocharger.

A foreign object refers to anything that enters the turbocharger through the air or exhaust inlets. When a foreign object enters the turbocharger, its performance will be affected, potentially resulting in considerable damage. Tom Wright, our Product Manager, explains various reasons why this can happen, as well as offering signs to look out for and ways to prevent it.

“It’s critical that technicians pay special attention to the condition of other components within the vehicle to mitigate the risks posed to the turbocharger,” says Wright.

“There are various scenarios that can result in contaminants in the turbocharger air supply, all of which can have devastating effects on the system’s longevity. This includes previous turbocharger failures leaving remnants in the system, debris from engine components or objects left within intakes during regular servicing.”

Causes of foreign object intake can also include faulty or damaged turbo hoses, which inadvertently cause small particles to enter through any gaps in the system.

A turbocharger repair specialist will be able to diagnose foreign object damage if there are visible marks on the compressor or turbine blade, or pitting marks around the compressor inlet and nozzle ring assembly vanes.

If the turbine or compressor blade is found to be damaged, the turbocharger should stop being used immediately, as the rotor balance will be affected, and this could impact its service life.

“To prevent turbo failure from foreign object damage, we recommend that technicians always replace or fully clean intake pipes and check for debris before fitting a replacement turbo,” says Tom Wright. All air hoses should be free from contaminants and blockages. Hoses should also be checked regularly as part of routine turbocharger servicing.

“Technicians should always use the correct air filter suitable for the specific vehicle model, and regularly replace it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. As with intake pipes and air hoses, following a turbocharger failure, the filter and surrounding intakes should be cleaned to eliminate any debris or fragments that could harm the new turbocharger,” Wright says.

For more information on Melett, including more technical resources, please check out our Turbo Tips

Other technical articles;

Expert advice on turbocharger overheating

How a blocked diesel particulate filter can damage a turbocharger