How Long will our Turbo's last?

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

Well I have been hearing/reading about more and more "bad turbo" posts lately and even a higher (then I remember in the past) about of engine failures! Does anyone know if the turbos are common for causing engine failure?
How many miles should the turbo be good for? Is the only real method of checking the "wiggle the shaft" test? If the turbo is going to cause major engine damage when it fails I would like to take the preventive maintenance route and replace it sooner then, well before it fails! I have a little over 100,000 miles now and I am about to do the timing belt and related work soon. I know GDE sells a upgraded turbo so that would be what I go with after I get the other stuff done!
Also, I know its hard to say because there are so few CRD KJ's around (more across the pond) but what would you estimate the life expectancy of our little sensored word (sensored word used as a technical term ha) engine?
I guess what I'm wondering is it worth doing all this stuff to this vehicle, will it return the investment? Engines like the Cummins in the Dodge and my 7.3L International (Powerstroke ford) in my F250 are known for lasting 500,000 to 1,000,000 miles so you know you at least have a good chance that it will last you!

Sorry for all the questions, I really like the CRD (not right now because of the glow plug issue) and want to keep it around but just wanted to know if I'll get my money out of it! I know for a fact with all its issues the mileage will most likely never make up for the repair and maintenance costs but I still like the idea and torque of the diesels so I'm in for the long run.....

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 6:36 pm

Our Turbo should last the life of the engine. Install an EGT gauge, watch it, don't do anything stupid to overheat the Turbo and it will last. Also the EGT gauge will tell you when it is safe to shut off the engine, no guess work, longer turbo life.
If you want to trash your turbo fast, tow a heavy load up a long grade steep with the cruse control engaged and a stock exhaust system. When I saw what my EGT gauge was telling me, I quit using cruse when towing up a steep hill, same hill, same load, same speed, 200f cooler.
Another way to trash a turbo is not use a good synthetic oil or not change your oil.
Yet another way to trash the turbo is to use a damaged air filter especially K&N.
Dealers often miss diagnose turbo problems and Suckers including Chrysler Warranty pay for it. A common miss diagnosis is oil in the intercooler hose from the crappy CCV puck is called a blown turbo seal. Our turbos don't operate under a vacuum and don't have/need an oil seal, still the Dealers who don't know diesels make good money swapping out parts.

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

warp2diesel wrote:

Our Turbo should last the life of the engine. Install an EGT gauge, watch it, don't do anything stupid to overheat the Turbo and it will last. Also the EGT gauge will tell you when it is safe to shut off the engine, no guess work, longer turbo life.
If you want to trash your turbo fast, tow a heavy load up a long grade steep with the cruse control engaged and a stock exhaust system. When I saw what my EGT gauge was telling me, I quit using cruse when towing up a steep hill, same hill, same load, same speed, 200f cooler.
Another way to trash a turbo is not use a good synthetic oil or not change your oil.
Yet another way to trash the turbo is to use a damaged air filter especially K&N.
Dealers often miss diagnose turbo problems and Suckers including Chrysler Warranty pay for it. A common miss diagnosis is oil in the intercooler hose from the crappy CCV puck is called a blown turbo seal. Our turbos don't operate under a vacuum and don't have/need an oil seal, still the Dealers who don't know diesels make good money swapping out parts.

The SHOULD last the life of the engine... I know that but like I said there has been a few too many posts about turbo failure. The I am going to get some gauges as soon as I find the gauges I like and figure out where to put them! I have some nice ones in my truck!...

I know about air filters and how much crap K&N's are! the guys on the powerstroke forum hate them! I wouldn't even buy a truck with one on it! but my filter has been getting wet on bad storms and I'm not sure if I should do the V6 box swap or just remove the snorkel from the grill.
And you might be right about more being dealer or shop miss diagnosed! maybe I'm worried for nothing!
I do want to open up the exhaust! just not sure if I should leave the cat or not..

here is a nice K&N wheel !

here are my trucks..

Thanks!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:30 pm

warp2diesel wrote:

Our Turbo should last the life of the engine. Install an EGT gauge, watch it, don't do anything stupid to overheat the Turbo and it will last. Also the EGT gauge will tell you when it is safe to shut off the engine, no guess work, longer turbo life.
If you want to trash your turbo fast, tow a heavy load up a long grade steep with the cruse control engaged and a stock exhaust system. When I saw what my EGT gauge was telling me, I quit using cruse when towing up a steep hill, same hill, same load, same speed, 200f cooler.
Another way to trash a turbo is not use a good synthetic oil or not change your oil.
Yet another way to trash the turbo is to use a damaged air filter especially K&N.
Dealers often miss diagnose turbo problems and Suckers including Chrysler Warranty pay for it. A common miss diagnosis is oil in the intercooler hose from the crappy CCV puck is called a blown turbo seal. Our turbos don't operate under a vacuum and don't have/need an oil seal, still the Dealers who don't know diesels make good money swapping out parts.

I've noticed a trend over the last few years with oil burners...................

They just don't last.Top reasons are........................

-Synthetic oil and extended OCI's(beyond 5000miles)
-Small oil sumps
-Higher rpm's
-Varible vane turbo's
-Chips and tuners
-Stop and go driving

Sure they have come along way but with a bad side effect of a shortened life.The more complex they get the more parts will break and wearout sooner.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:41 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

warp2diesel wrote:

Our Turbo should last the life of the engine. Install an EGT gauge, watch it, don't do anything stupid to overheat the Turbo and it will last. Also the EGT gauge will tell you when it is safe to shut off the engine, no guess work, longer turbo life.
If you want to trash your turbo fast, tow a heavy load up a long grade steep with the cruse control engaged and a stock exhaust system. When I saw what my EGT gauge was telling me, I quit using cruse when towing up a steep hill, same hill, same load, same speed, 200f cooler.
Another way to trash a turbo is not use a good synthetic oil or not change your oil.
Yet another way to trash the turbo is to use a damaged air filter especially K&N.
Dealers often miss diagnose turbo problems and Suckers including Chrysler Warranty pay for it. A common miss diagnosis is oil in the intercooler hose from the crappy CCV puck is called a blown turbo seal. Our turbos don't operate under a vacuum and don't have/need an oil seal, still the Dealers who don't know diesels make good money swapping out parts.

I've noticed a trend over the last few years with oil burners...................

They just don't last.Top reasons are........................

-Synthetic oil and extended OCI's(beyond 5000miles)
-Small oil sumps
-Higher rpm's
-Varible vane turbo's
-Chips and tuners
-Stop and go driving

Sure they have come along way but with a bad side effect of a shortened life.The more complex they get the more parts will break and wearout sooner.

Spoken like a true Diesel Hater, what more can I say.

Get rid of the EGR, add a oil separator, the diesel will last a long time.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 9:00 pm

The concern on Turbo cooldown would be clogged oil passages.
is there a maintence procedure to pull / inspect/ clean the oil lines? - it seems simple enough
(but I haven't pulled one)

That and Geordi's - oil pressure measurement after the turbo.

mdalien · **Joined:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 10:22 pm **Posts:** 41

199100 mi so far

Have had a K&N on Dodge pickup-253000 mi and still truckin'

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Jan 14, 2011 1:11 am

mdalien wrote:

199100 mi so far

Have had a K&N on Dodge pickup-253000 mi and still truckin'

Be careful, someone will blame their previous or next flat tire on your K&N. :-)r

MACKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jan 14, 2011 1:15 am

warp2diesel wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

warp2diesel wrote:

Our Turbo should last the life of the engine. Install an EGT gauge, watch it, don't do anything stupid to overheat the Turbo and it will last. Also the EGT gauge will tell you when it is safe to shut off the engine, no guess work, longer turbo life.
If you want to trash your turbo fast, tow a heavy load up a long grade steep with the cruse control engaged and a stock exhaust system. When I saw what my EGT gauge was telling me, I quit using cruse when towing up a steep hill, same hill, same load, same speed, 200f cooler.
Another way to trash a turbo is not use a good synthetic oil or not change your oil.
Yet another way to trash the turbo is to use a damaged air filter especially K&N.
Dealers often miss diagnose turbo problems and Suckers including Chrysler Warranty pay for it. A common miss diagnosis is oil in the intercooler hose from the crappy CCV puck is called a blown turbo seal. Our turbos don't operate under a vacuum and don't have/need an oil seal, still the Dealers who don't know diesels make good money swapping out parts.

I've noticed a trend over the last few years with oil burners...................

They just don't last.Top reasons are........................

-Synthetic oil and extended OCI's(beyond 5000miles)
-Small oil sumps
-Higher rpm's
-Varible vane turbo's
-Chips and tuners
-Stop and go driving

Sure they have come along way but with a bad side effect of a shortened life.The more complex they get the more parts will break and wearout sooner.

Spoken like a true Diesel Hater, what more can I say.

Get rid of the EGR, add a oil separator, the diesel will last a long time.

X 200 to all warp said.

Hydraulic Jack · **Posted:** Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:20 pm

Id love to add those pillar gauges but I use the grab bar getting into my vehicle.........HJ

How Long will our Turbo's last?

Who is online