Fault Finder

Fault Finding

We have collated a number of symptoms to help ascertain what might be happening to your vehicle and will allow you to check these areas before removing the turbocharger.

 

Our fault finding page contains suggestions to try and help with your diagnosis. It is highly recommended that you have your vehicle professionally diagnosed to ensure the issue is resolved before taking your turbocharger off. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 


 

Excessive Blue Smoke


Please check the following:

  • Dirty air filter system
  • Excessive flow resistance in exhaust system/big bore exhaust
  • Oil drain pipe clogged
  • Crankcase breather clogged/piping restricted
  • Sludge in turbocharger center housing
  • Valve guide, piston rings, engine or cylinder liners worn/increased blow
  • Dirty compressor or charge air cooler
  • Piston ring sealing defective
  • Excessive turbocharger bearing clearances
  • Engine oil level too high
  • Gasket sealer used on oil drain gasket

 


 

Excessive Black Smoke


Please check the following:

  • Dirty air filter system
  • Suction and pressure line distorted or leaking
  • Excessive flow resistance in exhaust system/ leakage upstream of turbine
  • Fuel system/injection feed system defective or incorrectly adjusted
  • Valve guide, piston rings, engine or cylinder liners worn/increased blow by
  • Dirty compressor or charge air cooler
  • Boost pressure control swing valve/poppet valve does not close
  • Foreign body damage to compressor or turbine wheel
  • Insufficient oil supply to turbocharger

 


 

Boost pressure too high


Please check the following:

  • Fuel system/injection feed system defective or incorrectly adjusted
  • Boost pressure control swing valve/poppet valve seized in closed position
  • Boost pressure sensing pipe split or incorrectly fitted
  • Wastegate actuator diaphragm split
  • Wastegate actuator calibration incorrect

 


Compressor/Turbine Wheel Impact Damage


Please check the following:

  • Turbocharger bearing damage
  • Defective air filter piping/system
  • Foreign body from engine damage entering turbine inlet
  • Excessive boost pressure

 


High Oil Consumption 

Please check the following:
  • Dirty air filter system
  • Excessive flow resistance in exhaust system/big bore exhaust
  • Oil drain pipe clogged
  • Crankcase breather clogged/piping restricted
  • Sludge in turbocharger center housing
  • Valve guide, piston rings, engine or cylinder liners worn/increased blow by
  • Dirty compressor or charge air cooler
  • Piston ring sealing defective
  • Excessive turbocharger bearing clearances
  • Engine oil level too high
  • Gasket sealer used on oil drain gasket

 


Insufficient Power/Boost Pressure Too Low

Please check the following:

  • Dirty air filter system
  • Induction and intercooler pipes collapsing
  • Excessive flow resistance in exhaust system/ leakage upstream of turbine
  • Fuel system/injection feed system defective or incorrectly adjusted
  • Valve guide, piston rings, engine or cylinder liners worn/increased blow by
  • Restricted intercooler or charge air cooler
  • Boost pressure control swing valve/poppet valve seized in the open position
  • Pipes to actuator and boost control valves incorrectly fitted
  • Turbocharger bearing damage
  • Foreign body damage on compressor or turbine
  • Turbine housing/flap damaged
  • Insufficient oil supply to turbocharger
  • Engine valve timing incorrect
  • Accelerator cable maladjusted
  • Insufficient fuel flow/pressure

 


Oil Leaking from Compressor Housing

Please check the following:

  • Dirty air filter system
  • Excessive flow resistance in exhaust system
  • Oil drain lines clogged, leaking or distorted
  • Crankcase ventilation clogged and restricted
  • Coke and sludge in turbocharger center housing
  • Valve guide, piston rings, engine or cylinder liners worn/increased blow by
  • Dirty compressor or charge air cooler
  • Piston ring sealing defective
  • Turbocharger bearing damage
  • Engine oil level high
  • Excessive oil pressure
  • High mileage engine

 


Oil Leaking from Turbine

Please check the following:

  • Excessive flow resistance in exhaust system/big bore exhaust
  • Oil drain lines clogged, leaking or distorted
  • Crankcase ventilation clogged and restricted
  • Coke and sludge in turbocharger center housing
  • Valve guide, piston rings, engine or cylinder liners worn/increased blow by
  • Dirty compressor or charge air cooler
  • Piston ring sealing defective
  • Turbocharger bearing damage
  • Engine oil level high
  • Excessive oil pressure
  • High mileage engine

 


Whistling/Cyclic Noise from Engine Compartment under load

Please check the following:

  • Inlet manifold gasket leaking or incorrectly fitted
  • Intercooler piping split/intercooler damaged
  • Exhaust manifold gasket leaking
  • Exhaust system corroded
  • Turbine housing mounting flange gasket leaking
  • Exhaust gas leakage between turbine outlet and exhaust pipe
  • EGR valve not seating correctly
  • EGR valve piping broken
  • Turbocharger bearings worn
  • Restricted air filter
  • Imbalanced turbocharger rotating assembly
  • Damage to compressor wheel inducer blades
  • Damage to turbine wheel assembly