Turbo failure

[vrinner]

So are there any common reasons for turbo failure? I've had two turbos fail where the fins on the exhaust side come apart.

Just looking for ways to avoid this in the future.

Thanks!

[SVOeric]

humm -- well usually the #1 reason for turbo failure is going to be kinked oil line-- but that's not going to cause the problem you have had.

the only thing I can think of that would cause that is if chunks of SOMETHING are coming out of the exhaust ????

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Vince, this is happening entirely too often. You hardly have any time on that turbo since the last one did the same thing. If you just hung on a used turbo after the last failure, you're on your own, but if Turbo City sold it to you I'd take it back to them and complain. Now that your exhaust side is more serviceable after the IC relocation, check the radial and axial play on the turbo each weekend in between sessions. The consistent failure such as this ain't normal.

[vrinner]

Turbo

The first turbo that failed was a new (never used) turbo I bought from a buddy of mine for I think $300.00. It was a stock turbo and was balanced by some turbo company. Even though it failed, it only cost my $300.00 so it wasn't too painful.

The second failure (the one this weeked) was my original turbo with about 10K of race miles on it.

I'm looking at getting a NEW ported E6 and turbo. Any recomendations on what turbo to get?

Mods are, cam, green top injectors, ajustable fuel pressure regulator, 3" downpipe, FMIC.

Thanks!

[Gator]

well Vince, before I recommend any "more" air...i would have to recommend picking up some brown-top injectors first...

In all honesty at 55psi at the rail, you are pushing those green top soemthin fierce....

Might wanna hook yerself up with some 85.5 - 86 intakes as well while yer diggin around inside the engine compartment

[svobud]

Yeah - 30lb injectors are NOT an upgrade. Get the 35lbers and a better EEC if you're actually using something that's for the green tops.

I don't suggest getting the later model intakes - and you might ask Ty and Ryan if they do either. My smaller inline intake made more Torque than their box intakes this past weekend.

As for your turbo woes - just stay with a stock one (.63 housing) for now - they're cheaper. I finally spit out some exhaust impellers on my orginal non-watercooled turbo after some 120k miles - I suspect that was due to some wire from the intake VAM hose getting into the front side or maybe the 23psi of boost I had been running at the dyno.

[Ken Potter]

Stupid question(s)...

What are the exhaust side impellers made from? Are they forged or cast? Could excessive heat from constant race conditions be weakening the structural integrity of the blades?

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Re: Stupid question(s)...

Originally posted by Ken Potter
What are the exhaust side impellers made from? Are they forged or cast? Could excessive heat from constant race conditions be weakening the structural integrity of the blades?

I think they're investment cast inconel.

I have run many SCCA and IMSA endurance races (up to 24 hrs in length) with Garrett Turbos over the years. Glowing red exhaust manifolds have cracked and been replaced between events but the turbos have never failed on me. There's some fundamental problem causing this. Is the turbine housing scored in a particular location (from radial load and a failed/worn bearing)?

[Gator]

Originally posted by svobud


I don't suggest getting the later model intakes - and you might ask Ty and Ryan if they do either. My smaller inline intake made more Torque than their box intakes this past weekend.

Not to go off topic, but did you guys compare head flow numbers...?

[vrinner]

Turbo OK

So tonight I go to pull the turbo and what is the first thing that I find, the pipe from the turbo to the inlet of the intercooler is loose (I guess I need those tubes bumped up). I still needed to pull the thing to tighten up some stuff. I'm still thinking about a ported E6 though. Any good sources?