I recently purchased a used small 16G turbo and am overall pleased with my purchase. The question I have is that the compressor wheel and inside the compressor housing there is some rust. I am wanting to know if this is something I can clean myself with something like brake cleaner and some steel wool? Or is it something I would have to send it off for? Thanks for any help!

I'm still new to the whole turbo aspect of the DSMs so don't take my opinion as gospel.

Personally I wouldn't use steel wool to clean it out, I wouldn't even try to do it myself unless I had full knowledge of taking a turbo apart unless i had done it before. There could definitely be rust where the moving parts are and it should be professionally cleaned. I would send it in to a reputable shop to get cleaned and checked for a rebuild.

Is there any shift play? Does it spin? I would just be very careful with it due to the fact you can't just order another brand new anymore.

EDIT: Well technically you can buy a small 16g but it isn't cheap and they are limited in supply I believe.

I don't know... I personally wouldn't feel comfortable trying to clean up rust on the wheel with a DIY method. Balance is everything in a CHRA, if cleaning the rust off knocks it out of balance in the slightest bit, it could grenade and take out your motor. I'd send it off to @JusMX141 so it can be torn down, cleaned properly, and most importantly... balanced.

It needs to be torn down and at least cleaned and checked. Moisture was sitting on it for a long period of time, and the CHRA or other parts could be damaged.

If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, send it to Justin, he does great work!

If the wheel is that rusted, I wonder what does the shaft look like?

There is no shaft play and it does spin freely with no issues that I can tell. I am definitely not comfortable doing anything with a turbo myself. I have reached out to a few people to see about getting it rebuilt. Thanks for the advice everyone!

Compressor wheels are aluminum. That rust is from something, somewhere else.

Mello said:

Compressor wheels are aluminum. That rust is from something, somewhere else.

Click to expand...

See I had thought that initially but I’m new to the turbo game and figured I must have been wrong. The turbine side of the turbo looks great and has not rust other than the typical surface rust. So I’m not exactly sure what the deal is with the compressor side

That thing's been sitting in water at some point...I wouldn't attempt to use this without rebuilding it first. If any of that moisture made it's way inside the bearing housing the shaft is likely ruined and the journals will need honed.