Noisy Turbo!?

[MikeHunt79]

Do turbo's get noisier before they bite the dust? I've got a Pug 205 TD, it's got 90K on the clock, and recently above 4000rpm it seems a lot more noisy. Now it's not exactly high tech engine like the one in a BMW 330D, but do most turbo's tend to last around 100k or does it depend more on how they are looked after and what sort of pressure and power it develops?

I do try and let it cool down and warm up, but I do like to put my foot down when I can. I have not done the infamous screw mod tho, it's pretty standard apart from a bit of air intake modification...

You used to be barely able to hear the turbo whistle even when it was revved to the guv'nor, but now it's much more noticable - it's like a really really loud whistley noise, similar to some of those Jap cars you see with silly huge turbos.

I may be able to get a sound recording tomorrow if that would help?

 

[MikeHunt79]

why are you taking a derv up to 4000rpm ?!

Because I was giving it some beans... NSL road and I wanted to get up to speed.

boost leak maybe? that will cause a noisy turbo, check your pipes arent getting loose

Cheers, this car is a K plate so is around 17 years old now, so I imagine the hoses aren't going to be in mint condition. The turbo is a pain to get to however, they've really shoehorned the engine in!

My turbo in my Mk5 golf died at 1yr, 10,000 miles. My turbo was/is still original at 140,000+ miles.

FWIW, it did start getting a bit noisier in my golf before it went, but the main indicator was that it started using a lot of oil about 500 miles prior to failure.

Cheers, I'll check my oil level, I only changed the oil 1000 miles ago so if it's too low I know it's using more oil than it should.

This - thats a bit like bouncing a petrol car off the rev limiter at every gear change - pointless



Also this, plus intake/exhaust mods can increase the turbo noise.

If you can, pull off the intake pipe and see if there's any play in the shaft

I did the intake mod ages ago (I cut a piece of plastic out of the grill), it did increase the turbo whistle a little, but it's definitely got louder since then.

I don't normally take the engine to 4000rpm, only now and then, and the old XUD engines have a more linear delivery of power compared to newer HDI engines, it's more "petrol like" to drive but often it's just as fast to change up early in the higher gears. I was told diesels need a good thrashing to stop the injectors getting blocked, tho they may be an urban myth.

getting to the intake pipe is a real pain, I may have to wait until next week as there is barely any room around the engine.

My one always used to give some turbo whistle and slight flutter

Sounds to me like you've got a boost leak or something dodgy going on with the exhaust though.

If a turbo goes, it goes... or if its on its way out the its likely to burn oil which you'll see

Stick up the sound recording please, I sold my 205 2 years ago, and miss the sound!

I've got a Magic Arm and camera, if it doesn't rain tomorrow, I'll get some videos and put 'em up on youtube. Is it legal to drive with no bonnet?

I know of a scappy with a Rover with the same engine as mine, so I can get another turbo cheaply, but it's an hour drive away and I don't want to drive all that way if I don't have to.

If the turbo does go, I guess it's best not to drive it anywhere, or could I drive it if I kept topping the oil up? I think I'm gonna check I've got breakdown cover to be on the safe side...

if you take it above 4,000 on a regular basis, then i suspect the turbo probably is on its way out

I don't redline it all the time, and if I do I only do it when it's up to temperature.

I'm guessing 90k is a good innings for a turbo after hearing about 530's and 330's blowing turbos at around 100k?

My limiter's at 4600 and it's not exactly a lowly TD - its also a bit pointless revving it past 3500. You might feel like its faster because its noisier but it really isnt.

not every derv is created equal, drive a non-hdi 306 TD ot 205TD (with lucas pump) and rev it to the redline, it keeps pulling up to the limiter.

It really doesn't. If you're sensible about it - I.e. let it warm up and cool down you shouldn't have any problems (I drive my N/A M3 the same way - take it easy until the oil is warm). As mentioned above, my 330d is on over 140,000 miles on the original turbo and I drove it properly.

I do normally take it stady for the first and last 3 miles, I live in a 30 zone and I don't go tearing around my area as it's always busy junctions...

No, 3995.

Its also worth mentioning, that my 205 TD had over 180,000 miles on the clock and to my knowledge was still on its original turbo.

It's a very simple engine, I think the turbo is the most high tech thing on it! That's good to know tho, maybe my exhaust has a hole instead, I think it does infact have the original exhaust and manifold, not bad for a 17 year old car.

My point was if you're not sensible about it - I dont know how the OP drives...

Most of the time, I'm stuck in traffic or on the motorway... but I do live pretty near some NSL roads so I do give it some beans every now and then if I'm not stuck behind someone.

I don't drive flat out all the time, but I don't drive like a Sunday driver either.

This car is no way fast btw, my friends Mi16 makes it look like it's standing still, the book figure is 75BHP after all! Still, in a car that weighs around 800kg, it can be a fun car to drive (believe it or not!).

When a turbo gets worn the shaftmoves around more and can often lead to the compressor wheel touching the casing, causing a screeching sound, the beginning of the end. If it is this and not a leak of some kind, get it changed soon. Otherwise when it does go it will spit its internals right down the intake.

That sounds bad! I'll get a vid asap, hopefully I can get decent sound also, and with any luck it will show if it's screeching or not.

 

[MikeHunt79]

I have changed the oil every 5000 miles, and I've used Chevon oil which I assume is an OK brand?

I'm just about to go and get a video, would it be better to mount the mic near the air intake or on top the bonnet above the exhaust manifold in order to get the best sound or shall i try both?

 

[MikeHunt79]

After playing around with the Magic arm, the only decent mounting point I can use it on the front bumper by the numberplate, so it's going to have to be near the air intake... hopefully it won't just be tractor noises!

 

[MikeHunt79]

Try both, although I think all we're going to get is the tractor noise

I tried recording a problem with my HDi a while back and it didn't pick up the right noises!

Well, the vid is finally uploaded, unfortunately something in my camera mount arm was rattling around, which totally screwed up the sound!

Here's the vid anyway:

It does just sound like a tractor, or cam mount rattling sound, so I couldn't hear any turbo whine at all on the vid, even tho I could hear it plain as day in the car at the time.

I may try and get another recording when I can, next time I'll have the camera in the car instead of on the front bumper, at least the picture came out ok even if the sound is really really poor!

 

[MikeHunt79]

Might want to try a remote mic inside the bay?

I had the camera right by the air intake, but I think a remote mic would be best, I just need to be sure to have it somewhere where it won't melt the mic!