Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Leaking turbo, worried.

[CumminsPower98]

Lately I have noticed a slight bit of oil around the exhaust side joint on my stock turbo. There is enough that is has run down to the waist gate actuator but don't see any sign of a drip. I know this is a very bad sign but would like to know how much chance there might be of blowing the seal and having the engine run away. I can't afford a turbo right now but might have too if it comes to that. The truck has 95k+ on it now and I can get a max boost of about 35-36, which I hardly ever see since the EGT's are out of hand up there. I'm leaning toward a PDR HX35 16cm for an upgrade. Any advice would be welcome.



Thanks,

Mark



On edit. I guess I wouldn't have a run away from the exhaust side leaking but still not a good thing.

 

[Tom C]

Mark, I have a '95 that I bought about a month ago and Ive noted the same thing. No drips, no big mess, just damp/oily area around the bottum of the turbo. Mine has 135K miles. Pumps been timed and there might have been other mods that I was not told about (Just seems to run to strong for just a timing job). I dont have gauges right now so I dont know what boost im getting. I dont think the seal will just blow out. It will most likely leak alot more first. Thats what happened on a Yamaha 650 Turbo Seca I used to own.



Has any one else had a weaping turbo blow into a messy problem? Can these turbos be rebuilt??



Regards,



Tom

 

[illflem]

I've never done it but others here have reported that the turbo seals and bearings are available separately and are easy to replace.

 

[SOOT]

Has the truck done a lot of idleing? If so then it could just be "slobber" or the fuel that did not get burned from low combustion temps. Cats are notorious for this if not idled up.

 

[CumminsPower98]

I don't let it idle much at all. I have owned since about 67k so I don't know how it was treated before that. It was all stock when I got it. Maybe I will call up my local Holset distributor and see what a kit would cost.

 

[stick]

I don't remember how much the rebuild kit was, but you can get it from a local distributor( look on their web site). The rebuild is fairly easy, and the instructions that come with it are fairly good.



Stick

 

[C. Harlan]

When I installed my big boy, I had problems with a leaking return line... a tube of Copper Gasket Sealant, rated for high temp applications did the trick! I would recommend doing that. . My downpipe needs a good scrubdown, so I can get all the caked oil off of it.





-Chris-