Trashed turbo opinions

[Texas gst]

I will explain in detail what was going on when this happened, but I need some unbiased opinions first please. I will add a picture here so you can see it. I just need some opinions on what could or would have caused this. Short version for now, driving down the road and engine pretty much quit running and this is what I found.

 

[JusMX141]

What did you suck into the intake or forget to tighten?

 

[Texas gst]

everything was tight, solid air intake, air filter has no damage, completely sealed going into the turbo

 

[ktgurl87]

wow. that's fairly impressive. Justin couldn't that be replaced? or fixed?

 

[Texas gst]

I really, really need some opinions and what could have caused this. Any reasons that this might have happened at all, please.

 

[ktgurl87]

it looks like something hard got into your intake some how and had a festival with your fins. not a good thing nuh uh. did you hear any clanking before your car shut off?

 

[Texas gst]

Bought this used about 1 week ago. Whole story is, I stopped at a light, took off (driving normal, not hard at all) and shift to 2nd, shift to 3rd, and it that's it. It shut off, I pulled to a side street, tried to start it, would not run. Got it back to work and found that. NOTHING at all inside, nothing at all in intake, air filter, nothing? Bad thing is, I put this on less than 100 miles ago, no problems whatsoever. Running stock boost 9-10 psi, no noises, no smoke, no signs of anything. Until today and wham. That's it. I even cleaned the IC and pipes before I installed it. There was nothing in the pipes, nothing in the IC. And like I said, air filter has no damage, metal air intake pipe, with no open areas or problems etc. What are ANY causes of something like this? Should I try to get some kind of refund for this happening? Less than 100 miles since installed and everything is clean.

 

[91mitsuman]

Is it possible that something in you maf came apart, or did you have your intake off prior to this happening. If that is the case perhaps a rock or nut wound up going through the turbo. Did you take it all the way off is the turbine wheel damaged aswell? If the turbine wheel is not damaged the part causing it would have to be in or around the compressor wheel still.

 

[91tizzy]

dude as much as it seems like you dont want to face this fact....something obviously got sucked into the compressor and probably proceded on into your motor....sorry dude

 

[Texas gst]

Facts are facts and that's what I'm trying to figure out. There was nothing by the wheel when I pulled it off and why I'm asking so much us because before o saw the turbo itself, I actually drove it about 2.5 miles and it made no noise. It just ran like shit, black smoke and extremely rich. Then I got to work and found this. That's why I'm asking. I thought if something got in there, I would have found at least a piece of something and if went in the motor, surely I would have heard something. Checked the oil to and clean as a whistle.

 

[JusMX141]

I thought if something got in there, I would have found at least a piece of something and if went in the motor, surely I would have heard something. Checked the oil to and clean as a whistle.

Exploded compressor wheels rarely make it to the throttle body. You'll find the pieces in your hot-side intercooler tank.

You can check the oil all you want, there's no way pieces of the compressor wheel will get in there, either.


If I sold you this turbo and this happened, there's no way I could be held responsible for a refund unless it never made boost from the get-go. If you buy a used turbo and it works for more than 5 minutes, it's done it's job....the previous owner is no longer at fault if something happens. Sad, but true....a lot of garbage is passed on this way.

I say something had to pass through the turbo to cause the damage unless there's a ton of shaft play.

 

[ktgurl87]

does it have any play at all? it seriously looks like something ran into to it, but maybe it hit from side to side? or something? i dunno... i would see if jusmx can rebuild it. i dunno if it's rebuildable... he would be the one to ask

 

[Texas gst]

Ok, I'm going to do some more in depth checking at work tomorrow. On a side note, I did notice about 10 minutes before that happened something odd. I've been researching and I believe what was compressor surge? I was going down the highway and when I shifted to 5th, I noticed by boost gauge "flutter", I let off the throttle completely. When i accelerated again, it did not do it again.

 

[Chaosweaver]

What did you suck into the intake or forget to tighten?

I was thinking a small bird or something of that sort...

 

[JusMX141]

I don't see how you could have surged it bad enough to cause wheel damage unless the turbo had excessive shaft play from the get-go. In that case, yes- the surge on the shaft could have forced the wheel to spike the housing at one point, chipping the wheel. From there, the wheel continued to eat itself.

 

[91mitsuman]

Well you have jusmx on here right watching these posts. I have never heard of compressor surge doing that to the blades. The way they are chewed up something was in there like jusmx said check the intercooler see what you can find.

 

[Texas gst]

No shaft play, so I guess I'm screwed. Anyone looking for a 95 gst that needs a turbo?

 

[pboglio]

I doubt it was shaft play. Usually that will just burnish or wear down the blades evenly. What you have is a high speed impact strike. Damage is done, time for a new turbo.

 

[91mitsuman]

If all you need is a turbo don't give up. Get a new turbo clean out all your ic piping and intercooler and continue enjoying the dsm lifestyle. Just my opinion.

 

[ktgurl87]

i've got a T25 that needs new seals and such

 

[Texas gst]

me too! that's why I got this one last week



Anyone looking for a 95 gst that needs a turbo?

Just venting

 

[ktgurl87]

. tow it up here and i'll take it off your hands to add to my driveway collection i'll trade you a '96 with a 420a that needs the transmission replaced. and i even have a spare transmission

 

[dantej]

When I first got my talon the stock turbo looked exactly like that. I found a bolt the side mount intercooler

 

[Texas gst]

Thorough inspection of air intake pipe just done for 30 minutes. The only thing in there are sone real small pieces of the compressor wheel. Nothing got past the air filter, the maf has the honeycomb still in tact, no openings to let anything in the pipe itself and no pieces of the pipe chuncked off. I guess something magically went through a hole that's not there and tore it to hell. Amazing

 

[ktgurl87]

did you check your intercooler piping and intercooler? start shaking everything . i'd hate to believe that something magical killed your turbo which in turn killed your car.