Turbo sucks oil; need rebuild kit or other suggestions

[Axekicker]

With 180K+ miles on the engine, The Cummins is leaking oil past the turbo journal bearings and into the motor and I'm burning about a quart every 3-4 days. I've got a local shop in Vegas that's going to pull and rebuild the turbo, so I need to find a 'good' rebuild kit. Geno's doesn't carry such a kit so any recommendations would be appreciated, from members who have 'been-there... . done-that'... Also, if you have rebuilt yours and later discovered it would have been better to just buy 'new'... please let me know how you would have done it 'different' now that you know what you know. My motor block is stock and the only alterations are better air-filtration, a set of Cat-batteries and a Quad-box. I only run Rotella T6 synthetic and Stratapore filter with 10K changes... and I don't shut the motor down until it's under 350 degrees/F @ the turbo. Suggestions? Thanks... .

 

[AH64ID]

This site should have everything. http://baeturbosystems.com/chracartridge.aspx



Your turbo is a HE351CW. If the shop has the ability to machine the turbine I highly recommend the larger turbine wheel, the 70x60 would be perfect for a stock tuned truck.



What is your "better air filtration"? I haven't seen a better filter than the OEM 4" pleat for the OEM box, and below 500rwhp you don't gain anything with a CAI.

 

[Axekicker]

This site should have everything. http://baeturbosystems.com/chracartridge.aspx

Your turbo is a HE351CW. If the shop has the ability to machine the turbine I highly recommend the larger turbine wheel, the 70x60 would be perfect for a stock tuned truck.

What is your "better air filtration"? I haven't seen a better filter than the OEM 4" pleat for the OEM box, and below 500rwhp you don't gain anything with a CAI.

It's the 'Volant' kit with the snorkel. Bigger filter with the pre-filter cover.
I drive a lot of construction sites and the pre-filter bag really helps... as does the more-surface-area HD cone filter.

Thanks for the info and the baeturbosystems link.
Gotta run off to work but I'll check it out when I get back

 

[Axekicker]

Wow! BAE Turbo Systems has an impressive resume'. Rather than have my local shop do the rebuild... . I'm going to call BAE and talk to them about building one for my truck with an eye to the modifications that you suggested. I'm sure turbo-technology has come a long way in the 10 years since my stock turbo was built and some up-2-date SOTA components would be welcome. Thanks for the help AH64ID... .

 

[jelag]

axekicker---- please share your results... . I'm in the same boat as you... and need to do mine...

 

[JJPage]

axekicker---- please share your results... . I'm in the same boat as you... and need to do mine...

Jelag

Another option you have...
(I am in the process of moving and most of my tools are in my new location and my garage is packed with my daughters "stuff". )

I lost a seal in my S474, Jason/Northwest Customs removed and had Advanced Diesel on Sprague(across from kmart) rebuild. They machined the bearing housing for larger bearings and new seals, one day turn around for about $300. I had no idea we had a resource that close to us.

Jess

 

[jelag]

OK so I wrote the people at BAE in Ca... . they have an upgraded version of our HE351CW cartridge that requires that the fresh air and exhaust sides of the housing be opened up... to allow the larger diameter wheels/vanes to pass through the housing... . their comment is that with a little added fuel pressure its an easy 100 HP... . I'm not really looking for more HP but do have a very mild chip for towing in the truck... . I'm assuming that a little more air... might help... . Like what was said above... they have an impressive group of customers... and have been building turbos/modifying them for years... any change anyone else has tired this... .

 

[AH64ID]

I wouldn't spend the money for the compressor side. The stock compressor is capable of a lot more airflow than the turbine side is, if you up them both you are not improving the drive pressure ratio at high boost.

Opening up the turbine will really improve the turbo.

 

[Axekicker]

I called BAE and the guy who answered the phone sounded 'hurried' so our conversation and his 'answers' to my questions, were not helpful. Sounded like he could send me a re-build kit or sell me half-a-turbo (turbine side?). Either way, I'd need someone here in Vegas to pull the turbo out... . machine the housings... . install a new re-build kit or a new turbine-side... . put it all back together and reinstall it. I've called everyone from J&S Diesel to Rocky Mountain Cummins and I can't find anyone who can do this work. Most everyone I talked to just wanted to reinstall a remanufactured turbo or a new one... . (parts-swappers)... they didn't want to fuss with 'rebuilding'. So... . I'm still looking. I may have to plan a trip to a real turbo-shop and have them pull my turbo and put in a new/reman unit while I wait... . and then drive back home to Vegas. Hard to believe there's no one in this whole valley who can work on turbo's. Where's Joe Donelley when I need him. Oh yeah... . he left Vegas for New Mexico.

 

[AH64ID]

Have you considered having it rebuilt thru mail?

 

[jelag]

The people at BAE sold me a cartridge (NEW) $369 with a larger turbine wheel... I've installed a lot of exhaust brakes over the years so I feel that I can easily do this work... I just installed new ball joints and tie rod ends. . When I owned a business I had a machine shop that would modify flywheels and other specific work for me... I'll take the turbo housing to them for the machine work...

I had 3 email's to and from BAE before I called... Robert remembered our emails and answered all my questions... remember he's from the part of the country full of fruits and nuts... life is just different in CA...

I'm looking forward to this upgrade... .

 

[Axekicker]

Have you considered having it rebuilt thru mail?

Yes... but it's my only vehicle and it can't be down for more than 24 hours. It's also my work-truck as well as my daily-driver (self-employed).
The shop I originally planned to use here in town, said he could do the work in a single day if I dropped it off early... but the problem is that he can't machine the turbo. He can only parts-swap so I'm probably going to have to find a replacement turbo and get it drop-shipped to my door.

I just sent Robert (BAE) an email to see if he can drop-ship a ready-2-install turbo with the 'turbine' mods AH64ID mentioned and we'll see what he says. I'll keep ya'll in the loop.

 

[Axekicker]

Today is 6/24 and I still have not heard back from BAE turbo's... . regarding the email I sent them on 6/11.
I guess they're too busy for a new customer.

 

[Axekicker]

axekicker---- please share your results... . I'm in the same boat as you... and need to do mine...

Jelag... . here's what I did (quoted from another post in this section... cut-and-pasted to save type-time)...



My turbo shaft-seals are also leaking... . drinks about a quart of oil a week. I checked with lots of turbo-shops via the internet and with follow-up phone calls before I found one I liked. If you go with a new aftermarket turbo, plan on spending $1,500+. If you go with a rebuilt unit, there are several shops that will rebuild yours if you send it to them... . or they'll send you a remanufactured unit and you'll need to pay a core charge (usually around $200) which will be refunded after you send your old one back to them.



Here's a list of possibles:

NEW:

BD Power @ www.dieselperformance.com

Diesel Specialists @ www.shopdieselspecialists.com

Diesel Power Products @ www.dieselpowerproducts.com

Xtreme Diesel @ www.xtremediesel.com

Industrial Injection @ www.industrialinjection.com

Jegs Auto Parts @ www.jegs.com



REBUILT AND/OR NEW:

XSboost Turbochargers LLC in North Lawrence Ohio @ www.xsboostturbochargers.com talk to Dave @ 330-830-4075

Midwest Turbo Center in St. Louis MO @ www.midwestturbocenter.com

G-Pop Shop in Springdale Arkansas @ www.gpopshop.com talk to Jim or Gerry @ 479-751-7966

Pure Turbo's @ www.pureturbos.com



EBAY:

Central Turbo's has a web-presence on ebay and they sell factory-direct 'new' turbo's to fit every truck... in their original 'Cummins' box.

There are other shops that sell their turbo's on ebay as well... but you know the old 'Caveat Emptor'... buyer-beware!



OTHER OPTIONS:

If your so inclined, some of the shops above, will sell you a rebuild-kit and you can do it yourself.



Anyway... that gives you a starting point.

Do you homework.

Review their websites... then give the one's your interested in a call and talk to a warm-body and get the straight-scoop on the product your interested in. I had one all picked-out based on a TDR referral, but they were hard to reach on the phone... . then they were curt, abrupt and less than helpful when I finally got through... so I figured they were too busy to take my money and began my search elsewhere.



Ok... next you're going to ask what I did.

I followed my own advice and after reviewing my options... . their 'representations' and the price-ranges... and I settled in on a rebuilt HE351CW (standard for my 04. 5 truck) with a billet shaft and up-rated turbine & compressor wheels (ie: 60 X 70) for a little more air-flow. The shop I chose??? XSboost in Ohio. The cost? $895 for the turbo plus shipping... and I also sent an additional $200 core charge which they'll refund back to me after I send back 'my' old turbo. I worked with Dave on the phone and was happy with his attentive customer-service. He shipped the turbo to me within a week and my local shop (Underground Diesel) will install it later this week along with a new BD exhaust manifold (mine had 3 cracks in it). I also ordered new silicone hoses (4) for my pre-cooler along with new spring-clamps.



I trust that will get you started.



Glenn in La$ Vega$... .....

 

[Axekicker]

UPDATE: I had Underground Diesel Performance (Las Vegas) install the reman-turbo from XSboost Turbos LLC (see post above) yesterday and have been driving around town today in 114 degree temps with no problems. The guys at Underground Diesel liked the XSboost Turbo... and said the shop did a good job on the rebuild... and they put it on a new BD exhaust manifold (my old one was cracked in 3 places). Driving around town today I saw it hit 40 psi max... . seemed to run about 50-75 degrees cooler (according to my exhaust-temp gauge) at steady cruise speeds. The turbo 'lag' is gone along with most of the smoke (motor oil from the leaking journal seals). I like the somewhat 'throatier' sound of the BD exhaust manifold. Anyway... . I'm very happy with 1) XSboost Turbo's LLC in Ohio... . 2) the 2-piece BD Exhaust Manifold and 3) the installation by the guys from Underground Diesel Performance in Las Vegas. They had me in-and-out in 6 hours and if I told you the pittance they charged me you'd think me a liar. If you need any kind of turbo-diesel truck-work done in Las Vegas... . go see the guys at Underground Diesel and talk to Mike Meyer. Tell him I sent you. :-laf