Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Turbo on last leg??

[Amish Elegance]

My brother just picked up a '02 Auto with 68,000 miles. His first Diesel. Last night we took the intake hose off and were about to do the silencer ring "mod" when I started looking closer at the compressor. There was a little oil on the inducer, after cleaning that off I grabbed the shaft nut to check for endplay. Seemed very little if any, however up and down there appeared to be some slop. Upon removing the silencer ring, we found a bit of oil behind it as well. We decided to put the ring back on this time bomb and take it easy. It seems to spool ok, but I dont want him to hook to anything and grenade it. Truck has no mods except a puck that was on it when the Dodge dealer sold it to him. (score!)



Questions... What is the specification for allowable shaft play?



Does it sound like his HY is junk?



With 68 k and no real mods, is this a warranty item?



If not, can you recommend a little bigger turbo he can run now that will give him a little room for bombs but still spool well with his current setup... low buck is good. I pointed him at a City Diesel DZ or PDRHX35?? His pockets are kinda tight as he just put down a chunk on this truck, so if its a warranty item, he'll probably go that route.



Sorry if any of these are duh questions, but the crowd we run with usually replaces turbos because they WANT to not because they HAVE To. :-laf

 

[Nate]

Send that turbo my way if your going to call it junk. I don't see a little oil being a bad thing. Mine get's pretty oily. 157k miles though.

 

[Amish Elegance]

More worried about the shaft play than the oil. The former causing the latter. He's got it off again, in good light (it was gettin dark last night) it looks like the compressor wheel may have rubbed the inducer at one time.



You're at the top of the list if he bombs it though. :-laf :-laf

 

[KKlingbeil]

With 68 thousand, it is a warrenty item under the engine warrenty. I would say if there is visible oil and wear on the comp. wheel where it rubbed, then take it to the dealer and tell them the turbo is shot. They should replace with a whole new unit. The side to side play should be very minimal, the up down can be a little more, because when you are actually measuring that, there isn't any oil between the shaft and bushings... that is what i have been told anyway. I would try the warrenty route.