Turbo Whinning

[DeathBeast]

My stock 14b turbo is whining under max boost.
-Stock oil pressure gauge reads okay.

*Is this a sign my turbo is dying?
*What are some things that would cause the turbo to whine.

Thanx,
DeathBeast

 

[clownface]

hehe, its normal for you to be able to here the turbo spining

 

[6damian6]

If it sounds something like a firetruck it usually means its dead, just pull of the intake tube and check for shaftplay.

-Damian

 

[pianoman]

boost leak?

 

[Tallen]

Could be a boostleak as stated. DO a pressure test and see.

If the shaft wobbles from side to side enough for the compressor wheel to hit the inside of the compressor housing, it needs rebuilt/removed before it grenades.

 

[Lord Khan]

My turbo made a whistling/whining noise when it died a few weeks back. Diagnosis said that extreme exhaust gas had cooked the oil, and caused a bearing (or something like that) to seize up, and caused the turbo to die. I thought it was a boost leak too, but if you drive the car, and your getting that sound INSTEAD of your usual turbo spool-up sound then most likely its on its way out. Just don't push it too hard or you will cause the bearings to fail completely, and oil will leak terribly and make your car smoke like a freaking barbecue.

 

[Spellmen]

What kind of whining? When I race at the track I usually run around 18-19 lbs. The turbo will spool up normally and around 17 lbs or so just screams. It is also a high pitched sound, but I have no shaft play so I don't see anything wrong with it making a different sound

 

[ronin807]

definetly check for a boost leak, and shaft play as that's easy. I had a leak in my BOV and as the boost came up that thing would howl, sounded pretty cool but was bad for the 'ol get up and go. Do you get some extra visible exhaust under WOT like your running rich? good sign of a leak

 

[set3422]

If it's whining at idle or vac, then yes it's dying.

 

[pianoman]

i have a boost leak and from 0-15(full boost) it whines, or sounds kinda like a siren. so its prolly a boost leak. make sure all your connections are tight and if they are make a boost leak tester.

 

[Talon4ever]

The stock turbo on my dads Starion made that whinning noise. It almost sounds like a supercharger. It only made it when he would see boost. When my dad bought a new 16G for it and when we looked at the old turbo the shaft was all loose. It was nasty. Just check the shaft for play.

 

[pianoman]

mines got shaft play but i don't believe its enough to cause this noise, on my previous dsm's the 14bs had way more shaft play and didn't sound as nearly as loud as this one, but everyones diffrent...

 

[Tallen]

I take it most of you are not very familiar with how turbos work internally. If there is a whirring sound, something is grinding together, likely a worn thrust bearing. Once the thrust bearing goes, the shaft starts to wobble (thats usually the noise) very slightly an wear out the jornal bearings. In the mean time, the turbine side piston ring is wearing out its grooe in the bearing housing, destroying it, with no hope of a rebuild. ABout this time the turbo is leaking oil profusely, if you try to bost it, the compresor wheel may hit the housing and "grenade", throwing friendly chips of aluminum into your formerly running engine. If your really lucky, the intercooler will stop most of them.

 

[Lord Khan]

I take it most of you are not very familiar with how turbos work internally. If there is a whirring sound, something is grinding together, likely a worn thrust bearing. Once the thrust bearing goes, the shaft starts to wobble (thats usually the noise) very slightly an wear out the jornal bearings. In the mean time, the turbine side piston ring is wearing out its grooe in the bearing housing, destroying it, with no hope of a rebuild. ABout this time the turbo is leaking oil profusely, if you try to bost it, the compresor wheel may hit the housing and "grenade", throwing friendly chips of aluminum into your formerly running engine. If your really lucky, the intercooler will stop most of them.

BINGO! This is what happened with my Big T-28 recently. Except it was exhaust wheel that rubbed hard against the sides, and shattered all the fins (thank god it was the exhaust side, and not the compressor side). So hopefully most of my damaged stuff has gone out of the exhaust, and not the engine. It's coming back today repaired (they had to replace the whole center cartridge). Anyway, thats why I said that if your unsure of what the sound is coming from TAKE IT EASY ON YOUR CAR. Mine was at a rebuildable state at first til my friend floored it (we thought it was a boost leak), and that caused the excessive bearing wear, and oil to come out the tailpipe badly.

This isn't a final diagnosis by any means though, could still be a boost leak, but I'm just saying just take it easy on your car til your 100% sure.

 

[JATBarandgrill]

Ive heard of bent fins that cause a supercharger like sound from many people. Most likely this is your problem.