Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Turbo help

[Russell45]

I have a question that has been puzzling me for some time now!I have owned my 96 ctd now for almost 3 yrs and love it. But, almost a year ago I noticed quite a drop in power when pulling under a full load. I don't have any air leaks in hoses or intercooler and seem to be getting adequate fueling. I dont have any guages, I know that seems stupid of me, but just not had the extra $$$. My question is, I noticed the turbo on my 96' is different than that of our 94' and 95'. Mine has a large snap ring-type connector on the turbo, where the others use a hose-type connector. We have a 94 manual and it shows a gasket in the turbo. I took mine off and checked it and it doesn't have one!Don

t know if it is supposed have or not?When I took it off, I noticed something was caught in around the exhaust side of the turbo. Around the outside of where the silencer ring is. I also noticed that something had passed through the turbo and slightly damaged one of the blades,just enough to cause a slight surface crack in one of the blades. Turbo doesn't vibrate or make any unusual noises though. seems to spin freely. The material I pulled out of the turbo looked kinda like a spongy type of gasket material, about a 1/8 inch in size. Just wondering if anybody had any helpful ideas on if the turbo is supposed to have a gasket or not and if whatever it was that passed through it could have gone all the way through the intercooler or not?I Know this is alot to try to take in all at once. but I could sure use some help on this one. I love my trucks!!!!!

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

"... . When I took it off, I noticed something was caught in around the exhaust side of the turbo. Around the outside of where the silencer ring is. I also noticed that something had passed through the turbo and slightly damaged one of the blades,just enough to cause a slight surface crack in one of the blades..... "



>Can you clear that part up a bit... . it sounds like you're talking about two different ends of the turbo. The silencer ring is on the compressor side, not the exhaust side. Where is the damaged wheel?? On the intake compressor pinwheel or the exhaust pinwheel???





For what it's worth,, if you have blade damage to the turbine pinwheel(s) you are asking for detonation at the worst possible time.

That in turn will send garbage at extreme speeds into other things like the intercooler, tubing and depending on the sequencing of damage/progressive damage even the downpipe can take hits too... . you should fix it ASAP... and don't crank up any serious boost in the mean time... .



The large 'snap ring' is the method of securing the two ends together. You bring the ends together to "clock" the turbo and make sure the oil inlet/outlet are straight up and down.

Spongy material on the compressor side may be filter material but it's hard to say without seeing it up close. That is not good.

Pull the air inlet off the compressor side. Grab the nut on the shaft and push backward and forward on it, then side to side. It should have virtually zero movement front to back and very little side to side. As long as it is not touching the inside of the air inlet casting it is still usable... . depending on the damage to the pinwheels... . be careful...







Bob.

 

[Russell45]

Sorry about the confusion, that's my fault! I found the material on the compressor side of the turbo,just small pieces of gasket like material, not a thin gasket like what would be used in our turbos but , that is the closest thing I can relate it to. If you look inside where the silencer ring is and remove it, you will notice the outlets around the circumference. That is where I found the material. I checked the play on the wheel and it has little if any?The crack in the blade seems to be more of a surface coating crack,you cant hang your fingernail or a sharp object on it. Is my 96 supposed to have a gasket in it?As far as the material I found in the turbo,yes it does kind of look like some kind of filter material,but I checked my filter as soon as I found the problem and found no defect in it?Is there anything in the intercooler,like a screen or something that would catch any small objects if they were to get by the filter?I apologize for all the misinformation,kinda of new at explaining things on the truck,can pretty well get around on it though. Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

To the best of my knowledge turbo's do not use traditional gasket material. They do have internal seals but not like you describe...



If the pinwheel has a flaw in it, it may well fail on you. Your best to have someone experienced look at it, check it out to be safe.

It amazing how little it takes to make one fail. The balancing of shaft and pinwheel is very precise and any flaw could send it out on ya...



If you can't find anything from the air filter then perhaps it is a bit of "left over" from an old filter or paper towel used to wipe things out, or who knows... anyone have a better idea ?????



If you have little or no play in the shaft that is a good thing. Excess play is one of the first signs it's gonna go pooched on ya.



bob.