Turbo replacement

[cookin86]

A couple weeks ago I was driving the SVO. I started seeing some smoke coming from the hood at a stop light. I pulled over and noticed some oil around the front of the engine. Initially I thought it was a valve cover gasket because I could see a crack in the front of it. When I got it home I started removing parts in preparation for replacing the gasket. When I removed the intercooler I got at least a cup of oil. Took off the VAM to turbo flex hose. More oil there. Checked the PCV and it looked fine. Checked for play in the turbo. Some side to side. So I think it's seals an bearings in the turbo.

So my car is pretty much bone stock with 62k miles. All I have done is a cone air filter and boost controller. I want to make bigger power later, upgrade fuel, intake, intercooler etc.

I want a turbo that will bolt on without any major modifications.

Any recommendations? Don't want to spend more than about $800.

[MikeFleming]

Use brake cleaner and clean all of the intake track, the charge cooler, VAM, assorted tubing, etc. Then put it back together. Lather, rinse ,repeat every six months.

And replace the PCV valve.

Nothing indicates any issue with the turbo.

[Chuck]

I want a turbo that will bolt on without any major modifications.


A T3/T4 hybrid is pretty easy to do and cost-effective as well. I bought a T4 conversion kit for $125 a couple years back and put it in myself.

[cookin86]

Use brake cleaner and clean all of the intake track, the charge cooler, VAM, assorted tubing, etc. Then put it back together. Lather, rinse ,repeat every six months.

And replace the PCV valve.

Nothing indicates any issue with the turbo.

Mike,

As you are the SVO master I trust your opinion. But can you elaborate? I've had the intercooler off a bazillion times and have never seen a drop of oil in there. This was sudden and dramatic. PCV valve rattles.

Ryan

[Lanes84s]

My turbo has never done this, is there a general maintenance that I should be doing to my turbo?

[MikeFleming]

Any severe oiling on the exhaust side of the turbo? Reach inside the front of the turbo and see if you can wiggle that compressor wheel up and down. If not, the turbo is probably fine.

Liquid oil condensing inside the intake track has been a very common problem on these engines since day one due to the crankcase venting system not being capable of handing the large amount of airflow needed. And it pushed oil-vapor-soaked air into the turbo inlet, which covers all the way form the VAM inlet to the intake valves in most cases. Periodic maintenance is needed to clean that oil out.

It's entirely possible that your turbo intake side compressor seal has failed, while it's quite common for oil to be seen in the intake track. Sounds like this particluar case requires more inspection.

[cookin86]

Thanks Mike. I do have some play up and down on the compressor wheel which is what caused me to conclude it's a turbo seal issue. Like I said i've had this thing apart many times (The last time a couple weeks before the issue) and never a drop. Only other thing I could figure, but haven't checked is the oil drain line which i'll check further before I go and buy a new turbo.

So Mike what do you think about the t3/t4 50 trim that bo-port sells? Is that a direct bolt on? Or do you know?

That's what i'm looking at or is there another one that's same or better specs for the same price that you know of?

Thanks
Ryan

[MikeFleming]

Unfortunately I don't know what Bo has to offer as I've not studied his recent offerings.

On the subject of turbo replacements, let me start with the fact that the TO3/4 are 30 year old technologies. There's LOTS of newer, more better stuff but they may not be so easy to install onto our old engines.

For example the newer GT series are MUCH faster in spool-up and need much less oil. The mounting flanges are very similar and can be had with the traditional Ford 5-bolt outlet. But the oil feed/drain and coolant connections would need some new fabrication skills. So "easy", "bolt-on" & "same price" would no longer apply. On the plus side, they spool much faster, are much more efficient with a larger airflow range - for a higher cost.

I've got a GT3076 on my To Do list for that Someday.

[cookin86]

Thanks Mike. As always very good information.

[Ford Builder]

http://www.cherryturbos.com/ Here is Canadian re builder that redone my turbo highly recommended , for a good price.