Turbo lifespan

[gords]

Do turbos generally work until they blow up and/or generally fail? Or do/can they gradually lose effectiveness?

I'm currently looking at options to up the power of my Discovery, but it's probably best to check everything is working efficiently first!?

Is it just a case of connecting a boost guage to check it, or is it more complicated than that?

[muddyweb]

Is it just a case of connecting a boost guage to check it, or is it more complicated than that?

That's the best place to start, it will give you an indication of the turbo, actuator and lift pump performance.

[gords]

Is it just a case of connecting a boost guage to check it, or is it more complicated than that?

That's the best place to start, it will give you an indication of the turbo, actuator and lift pump performance.

What's the procedure for testing and what readings would I be looking for?

Anyone got a boost guage handy?

[davidlandy]

Jasons got a boost guage

u just plumb it into the inlet manifold.

I would think carefully prior to making any adjustments - the consequences can be expensive.

[gords]

Jasons got a boost guage

Who/where?

I would think carefully prior to making any adjustments - the consequences can be expensive.

Yes, don't worry!!

I need to do something as it struggles to reach, let alone maintain, 70mph :shock:

While on holiday (France, Alps) I found that 60 - 70 was impossible to maintain where the roads were not flat (or there was a headwind!). Although, 75 - 80 was better but I could only get to that sort of speed downhill. It managed to maintain it on the flat but would drop to 50 -55 going uphill :(

To/from Wales this weekend was a similar story - pretty much impossible to maintain 70mph. 4 hours at full throttle is not good for fuel consumption ... and it makes my leg ache!!!

[davidlandy]

that dont sound right at all - mind you the bigger tyres you have fitted will make little a bit of difference.

I would suspect that its not the turbo being faulty though.

have you tweaked the pump?

Jason lives in northants, if u go onto the yellowstrap website his mobile no.is on there - have a word with him and im sure that he can post it to you - it has piping on it and unions.

[gords]

that dont sound right at all - mind you the bigger tyres you have fitted will make little a bit of difference.

I would suspect that its not the turbo being faulty though.

have you tweaked the pump?

No tweaks to anything!

I took the EGR valve off recently which really helped the low end/slow driving. No effect to the top end unfortunately.

[Thrasher]

What shape are your filters in, both fuel and *air* ;-)

[gords]

What shape are your filters in, both fuel and *air* ;-)

I replaced the Fuel filter about a month (or two?) ago. The filter is K&N and was clean-ish a couple of weeks ago.

I suppose the intercooler is a suspect. It's not been cleaned out since I've had the car.

[muddyweb]

Get a boost guage on it... if you are struggling that much, my guess is that the turbo isn't boosting properly.  Could well be the actuator... that's what was wrong with Daz's 200 Tdi.

[gords]

Get a boost guage on it...

Anyone know of a web site that sells the required gauge/connectors/etc?

What rating (of gauge) do I need?

[TimM]

Your engine should boost at 1bar, so I would recommend gatting on that records more than this, mine guage goes to 2 bar and would sit at one bar nicely vertical, allowing plenty of movement either way for over/underboost.

I got it from a car tuning shop Carnossier, it's made by Tim Guages (which is handy for me having TIM written all over my dials!). I'm afraid I can't find there website though.

Mine would work great if I could work out how to fit it  :oops:

[gords]

I've been Google'ing and came across someone who had performance problems which were solved by cleaning (?) the fuel sedimenter?

What is it? Where is it? How do I clean it?

[NeilWilson]

I've been Google'ing and came across someone who had performance problems which were solved by cleaning (?) the fuel sedimenter?

What is it? Where is it? How do I clean it?

http://www.difflock.com/servicing/tdi-6k-service/tdi-6k-2.shtml

About 2/3rd of the way down.  Cheers.

Neil

[gords]

Ah, so that's what that thing is!

For the 12,000 mile service, they recommend taking it off and cleaning it internally. I assume you can do that without draining the fuel tank?

[Budgie]

If the intercooler hasn't been cleaned then it's worth doing.
I can't remember what size tyres you've got Gord but if it's something like 235x85's then this will drasticly effect the gearing of the vehicle and make your speedo read upto 7mph slower than you are actually going!!

If you've got a GPS then check your actual speed with what the speedo is telling you, it may not be as slow as you think!  

[gords]

I can't remember what size tyres you've got Gord but if it's something like 235x85's then this will drasticly effect the gearing of the vehicle and make your speedo read upto 7mph slower than you are actually going!!

So, you haven't read all the stuff that appears under all of my posts then :roll:    Yes, 235/85's :lol:

I've checked the speedo with a GPS and at 30 it's dead on, by the time the speedo is reading 70, I'm actually doing 75. In my previous posts, I'm talking actual GPS speed readings.

The problem is not so much that it takes a long time to get there (70mph), but the fact that it struggles to get there in the first place and then struggles/fails to maintain it.

[Xtremeteam]

just had my 90 on the boost guage as its fitted with a disco engine & its only doin 7 psi or .5 bar & i lengthened the actuator rod 1 1/2 turns & that didnt make any difference,any sugestions as my 90 strugles to get to 70 mph aswell but itts fitted with 205's & a NA t box

[seph234]

i thought that you shorten the actuater arm i.e wind it in. to gain boost im only refering to my rs turbo days so might be wrong with the landie but i should think its the same as any other turbo. joe

[seph234]

and before anyone mentions it, yes an rs turbo. I am from essex :lol:

[Budgie]

So, you haven't read all the stuff that appears under all of my posts then :roll:    Yes, 235/85's :lol:

 :(bigoops):


Have a go with the turning the diaphram in the injector pump through 60 degrees and see what happens.
I think Seph is right Mikee, you should be shortening the actuator rod so the gate opens more. Not something I've had a play with yet.  

[muddyweb]

Have a go with the turning the diaphram in the injector pump through 60 degrees and see what happens.

But check the turbo first !

No point messing with the fuelling until you know the rest of the system is working properly.

[colintandy]

if you take a look at diaphram inside fuel pump as you stand at wing see where your little mark is try putting at about 3oclock and then try this will increase the rate of fuel flow 3oclock is about full open then just adjust back or forward a little till your happy if your smokin to much under load go to the lock nut under the cap of the top cover to the fuel pump lossen and adjust up or down according to smoke level but always mark stuff befor so you know where to put back if you not happy
be carefull not to overfuel as your engine cant take it for to long without fitting correct exhaust ect to get max gas flow and youl end up stressing your engine and exhaust very quickly also take actuator rod off and turn inwards if not seiezed and be carefull to grip well as you dont want to turn the insides of the actuator turn in about 4 turns at a time and check you might find you run out of rod befor your happy you can shorten but only do about 3mm at time this all should increase performance there are other things you can do but there me secret secrets regards colin hope this helps

[Xtremeteam]

just had my 90 on the boost guage as its fitted with a disco engine & its only doin 7 psi or .5 bar & i lengthened the actuator rod 1 1/2 turns & that didnt make any difference,any sugestions as my 90 strugles to get to 70 mph aswell but itts fitted with 205's & a NA t box

<Bump> im a tit,i actually shortened it 1 1/2 turns ie screwed the bit of the turbo up the thread,will have a go again tommorow if im quiet at college,
seph dont worry bout the rst,was gonna buy 1 but built my 90 instead

[Budgie]

if you take a look at diaphram inside fuel pump as you stand at wing see where your little mark is try putting at about 3oclock and then try this will increase the rate of fuel flow 3oclock is about full open then just adjust back or forward a little till your happy if your smokin to much under load go to the lock nut under the cap of the top cover to the fuel pump lossen and adjust up or down according to smoke level but always mark stuff befor so you know where to put back if you not happy

Be careful cos' not all the popmarks are in the 12 o'clock position on the diaphrams, better to rotate it a maximum of 90 degrees from where you find it.  

[waveydavey]

I've spent years working on big Diesels, the size of busses, I have never seen a turbo loose performance, they are made with too much reserve.
Boost problems are always eleswhere, Intercoolers are teh most common or even air leaks, on the disco it could be the waste gate controlling it.

Your origional guess was right, when a turbo goes it just dies a death, keep changing your oil to give it the best life and when you stop let it spin down before you turn the engine off and stop it's oil supply.

[gords]

Does this look like the right sort of thing (boost gauge)?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7992906599

What's the recommended stuff for cleaning InterCoolers and where do I get it?

[muddyweb]

Looks about right.

and :

http://forums.mud-club.com/viewtopic.php?t=5743&highlight=cleaning+intercooler

[gords]

Looks about right.

and :

http://forums.mud-club.com/viewtopic.php?t=5743&highlight=cleaning+intercooler

Excellent ... now to find the nearest B&Q

[Jimbo]

What about the de-laminating turbo hose problem - the problem where the hose collapses (sp?) down on itself as the engine sucks for air, sure it was mentioned on here not long ago !

Jim