1G Turbo howl - video

[ErikTande]

I have a fresh install of a small 16g, and it's howling and not building boost very well. I installed it last night, and my first thought was a massive boost leak. So I just did a boost leak test on my lunch break, and it's perfect (no leaks).

No shaft play, wheel spins freely. Here's a vid I just took, it idles and cruises fine (as long as there is no boost). As soon as the turbo starts to spin up it howls loudy. I have never heard howling like this, and it doesn't seem like it's building boost very well (barely gets above 0 to 1 psi).

Any ideas?

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[Twinturbo120]

Have you checked the wastegate? Probably stuck open, thus not building boost.

 

[tmoney20g]

I hate to laugh, but that's the funniest thing I've heard all day. You could respond to fires and other emergencies. Howling, that I've seen other people complain of, usually was a weak bov, allowing air to escape. I did hear yours blow-off during a shift, or so I thought (to atmosphere? sounded like a crushed 1g). I'd verify your bov is operating properly too.

 

[ErikTande]

bov is working properly, not crushed, and it's recirculated. I'll double check the wastegate after work, but I'm pretty sure that was functioning fine as well.

 

[NY 95 TSI AWD]

Did you end up using that turbine housing with the overly ported wastegate hole?

 

[tmoney20g]

Why doesn't your A/F bounce at all ? Did you leave the o2 sensor out of the o2 housing ?

 

[ErikTande]

Yeah, same one. The wastegate hole hadn't been ported though, it was off center from the factory. Here's the pic, it's a tiny sliver of light, it looks bigger in the pic than it really is, and I had to angle it just right in the picture to show it.
http://i59.tinypic.com/15etypx.jpg

Would that cause the howling noise?

 

[tmoney20g]

It's air pushing past some orifice to make the sound. Even with that gap, you should still be able to build more than 1psi... can you unhook the wastegate arm and verify the flapper moves freely ?

 

[NY 95 TSI AWD]

I would think it would build more than that as well. Boost leak would be the obvious suspicion, but you said you already did one. I really don't know if the turbine housing would make that noise or not. A lot of people run with 14bs with all the cracks by the wastegate hole and don't seem to have these issues. I'll assume your not using the 6cm sealing ring, if that's even possible?

 

[serviceguy]

That flapper can be pushed back a little after heating the housing, by the look of it seems like it was pushed out as it always happens. I don't think it's going to seal entirely because of the massive cracks but it should improve a little. How well is everything else sealing? The 2g (or evo III) exhaust manifold (from the video that is what looks like you have installed) will not work with the sealing ring of a 6cm2 housing so I would expect you ditched it anyway.

 

[Greedy Pimp]

You don't half to heat it up but it might help, just get a hammer and hit in the wastegate flapper arm right where it is welded on the outside to knock it in some so it's sentered, always worked for me. Did you use soap and water when you blt and at what psi? When I had a leak on my 16g right out the compressor outlet it sounded like a siren every time I hit boost kinda like your vid. Is the 16g mhi? New/used, rebuilt? Take off the boost controller and run a straight line from the charge side to the wg but tap that wg flapper in first.

 

[ErikTande]

I just wired the wastegate open and took a drive around the block, and the problem is exactly the same. Although it's REALLY hard to build any boost now . I thought it was slow before, but I think the howling was throwing me off, I think it's building boost fine with the wastegate closed.

So yeah, it's not the wastegate making the noise, and even with the wastegate wide open it still howls under boost. Any suggestions?

Obligatory pic of the wastegate wired open to represent my amazing engineering skills.

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So, to recap:

Turbo howls under boost, even just 0 or 1 psi.
Boost builds fine.
No shaft play, wheels spin fine. **EDIT** (double checked shaft play, there is a tiny bit)
Tested for boost leaks, have none.
Still howls when wastegate is wired open.



Any ideas?

I just bought a new td05 20g from the classifieds, but I'd really like to drive my car until that gets here Or is this turbo just bad?

 

[thejollyrancher]

Inspect to see if the actuator is holding shut. Id take the vacuum line off the actuator and take it for a very cautious drive. See if it builds any boost.

 

[ErikTande]

Pics of the wheel.

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[bmxfelon420]

From what you'd describe I'd wonder if the flapper doesnt seat properly or something. Maybe pull the o2 housing, disconnect the actuator and inspect it? Make sure it's not majorly screwed up in some way.

 

[talontd92tsi]

When I read this I hear "BIG OL BOOST LEAK".

What PSI did you BLT to?

 

[biglady112]

Turbo howl/whine is a death whine. The turbo is no good. All of these other posts are speculative. Needs a rebuild or replaced Erik.

 

[ErikTande]

edit delete

 

[ThunderChild]

last time i heard that whine from a dsm turbo, the shaft was bent. ever so slightly, but still bent. personally, id pull that thing off, tear it apart and inspect it. wouldnt be surprised to see a smeared bearing and slightly bent shaft.

was it a brand new turbo, craigslist find or self rebuild?