1G Turbo seized

[TLar]

I just got my 91 Talon back together. I went to drive it and the turbo sounded louder than usual. I kept driving back home when it stopped building boost. When I checked it out, I noticed the vacuum line came off the wastegate actuator. I put it back on and still no boost. Come to find out the turbo is completely seized up.

Does anyone know of a good way to check the oil pressure to the turbo? Or how to make sure the turbo is getting properly lubricated?
Any info would help. I am stumped, and dont want to put on my new turbo if I am having lube issues...

-edit-
I did just replace the head gasket and clutch, so this is the first time since the head gasket blew that the turbo actually had a load put on it.
Think that the bearings could have already been shot, or sat with water/coolant in the bearings and F'd them up?

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

I don't know how to check without tearing it apart to look.

Hmm... then again I've never had a turbo fail.

When you say " a load on it "... How much boost did you build? With that hose disconnected, you would have been able to max the boost on that turbo. Too much could potentialy kill it.

 

[92AWDTalonTSI]

How long did the turbo sit before you started the engine again? If the turbo is dry of oil it would seize up very quickly. I would recommend letting the car sit for a bit to let oil pump through before driving,.. When you get the turbo fixed.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Rule of Thumb : Don't boost until you're car is up to operating temp.

It's like waking up in the morning and immediately taking off at a dead run from your bed and down the street. You'll drop dead....figuratively speaking.

Same with anything else. Start, let it get situated and woken up... and then run it. I never start hitting boost until the engine is warmed up.

 

[LiquidX]

You'll need to pull the turbo from what you are describing.

To check the inlet oil pressure you would need to tap a gauge on the oil feed line at the turbo inlet.


Are you able to move the wheel by hand? Any in out play?

 

[TLar]

Well, I got the car with a blown head gasket. So who knows how long it sat with whatever in the turbo. I started it up and drove it about 3-4 minutes later.

By load on the turbo, I mean that when I got it running after the HG, I took it for a test drive, only to find out that the clutch was about 99% shot, so if it built boost, it would just immediately slip. So now with a new clutch it has a "load" on it for the first time. It probably was pushing around 13ish pounds of boost. I cant really say for sure, because it was only in first and it apparently grenaded when going into second. Whats the safe max boost for a stock turbo?

I did find out the problem. Take a look for yourself. This is the exhaust housing.

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Oh, and I am a Marine, so unfortunately I DO get up and run first thing. Haha. It sucks.

 

[13b Bro]

^ What is that?

 

[HeLzKaos]

looks like something built a nest in there . is that what it is?

 

[TLar]

That, unfortunately, is whats left of the turbine. After the bearing locked up, it sheared off and flew in to a thousand pieces. The largest of which is jammed in to the housing.

 

[LiquidX]

DAMN! Well, look for a new turbo then.

 

[TLar]

I have a new turbo. I got a Hahn Racecraft Super 16g. I just have to get a different turbo header and o2 housing. I want to make sure I dont have an oil problem before I ruin the nicer turbo.

 

[extremeatheist]

ouch.

 

[Blackjet18t]

Man that sucks! I had a friend blow their turbo so bad we found the turbine wheel half way in the exhaust.

 

[TLar]

Im sure there are pieces of mine in my exhaust. It was spinning so fast when it shattered that the little fins cracked the cast iron exhaust side, and embedded themselves in it. Crazy.

I am just going to assume that it sat with a mixture of water/oil in the bearings for several months due to a blown head gasket. That, coupled with pretty much no wastegate made it push too much boost.

Anyone know what the stock turbo is capable of as far as boost goes? Well, as capable as it can be before blowing the hell up?

 

[mikey6981]

ive been told about 25 psi is max

 

[TLar]

Damn, really? That high? Hm, hopefully I dont have an oiling problem.

 

[TLar]

So, I just remembered when I got the car running, I had to empty about a half a quart of oil out of the intercooler. Guess thats a sign that the seals(and bearings) were going out.