Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) What happened to turbo????

[Bart]

I almost finished a 3200 vacation though a bunch of national parks in the NW when my turbo went south. I had to limp home (300 miles) not boosting more than 5 P. S. I or suffer the pain of a screaming turbo. The truck has 115K on the odometer. I pulled the turbo apart myself and everything looked great inside, but I had a professional company rebuild it. I thought turbos lasted more the that. I got the truck with 61 K on it. At about 75,000 I installed full gauges and started cooling down the turbo (to 400 degrees behind turbo temp). Any quesses as to what happened?

On the great side Dodge and new ATS transmission scaled the mountains like a mountain goat. Trans temp never went over 165 degrees. I now have the ability to lock the torque converter up at 20 mph. Lock up means no more heat. I love it!!!!

One expensive transmission but worth every cent.



On another note. I talked to Banks about the problem and one guy said that the problem could be that with the #6 plate I was putting too much air and fuel in and needed to upgrade the exhaust system. New turbo housing (16 cm) and 4" exhaust pipe.

Catalic converter is hanging on the wall so that shouldn't be a problem.

Any ideas on this gentlemen?????????????????

 

[BV]

turbo

I'm no expert on the compressor part and what RPM those bearing can handle but I can say that if in the first 61k the previous owner was not nice to it by shutting down hot that the bearings can coke (hard coating of cooked oil) which can cause premature failure.



Glad you enjoyed the Pacific NW.

 

[Bart]

Thanks again BV. That was my only guess was that no one cooled down turbo. No gauge, no cool down. I've tried to convince some diesel owning friends but they think the gauges are just toys. "What do I need them for I have a warranty". I hope your warranty last longer than your engine and accessories. Mine didn't. Heck, I'm not sure that the turbo is covered under the 100K warranty anyway.

As for the N. W. we loved traveling up there. We thought it would be cooler. NOT!!! Not this year anyway. We went to a Lula at son's house outside of Portland in a little town name Cornielius. He's got a great job, wife, house (and my old 77 short bed F100). O'well, I can't have 'em all. So the wife says. Wanna BET!

While, traveling up there we stopped for dinner in a little town called "Supreme". I'm not sure if it was in Washington or Idaho but the food was great and the prices... ... I thought their addition most have been off. Two people, two dinners, two beers, and Ice Tea for $8. ???????

All the way though the trip wife was videoing the vacation, only to find out somewhere in Nevada that it wasn't working. Oh Heck that means we'll have to do it again. Darn the luck.

Well, gotta go. Thanks again.

 

[Extreme1]

Was the shaft loose? Usually the first indication of a failed turbo is the compressor rubbing the housing. I recommend cooling to 300 before shutdown, coking can occur just under 400.



Isspro makes a thermo shut down unit that runs off an EGT probe, then you can add one to the manifold and keep better track of what the EGT's are like. The turbo is a big damper and the real temp raises much quicker that indicated post turbo. I know, mine was set up like yours initially.