Turbo Death?

[Gros Ventre]

I had to replace an impeller wheel in a furnace awhile ago. Turned out that what I thought was really minor damage to the fins made a big difference in the airflow and pressure produced. So, I infer that the comment above about some debris may well have gotten into the system is on the mark. Any damage to the intake wheel fins would likely so reduce output as to trigger something in the software. This might show up as an imbalance between the two engine banks turbo output that then triggers a software protective feature.

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[ShadowFox]

Hey all,

Thanks for the inputs and discussion. I eloped to Colorado to try and forget about the truck for a few days but I caught the flu instead…. Back home now putting the stock IC back on, detuned already. Just fell off the truck and twisted my ankle so taking a little break ?

I think I found where the magic that Jeremy Clarkson speaks of in regards to turbos was.

 

[Sneezy]

Hey all,

Thanks for the inputs and discussion. I eloped to Colorado to try and forget about the truck for a few days but I caught the flu instead…. Back home now putting the stock IC back on, detuned already. Just fell off the truck and twisted my ankle so taking a little break ?

I think I found where the magic that Jeremy Clarkson speaks of in regards to turbos was.

Yikes hopefully you have a speedy recovery!

That looks like a lot of debris in the intercooler hoses. Can you tell what type of material it is? Is it metallic? It almost looks like sawdust ?

Side question: does anyone know if these use ceramic bearings? I know early 6.7 PowerStroke’s had ceramic turbo bearings that would turn to dust, but the mothership caught it quickly and it was a single model year issue (if memory serves me correctly)

 

[ShadowFox]

It was metallic, perhaps turbo dust.

 

[diambo4life]

What does the turbo compressor side look like? Look at the condition of the compressor wheel. That should tell you if it ate something. Outside of complete lack of oil, or oil contamination, #1 cause of turbo failures is ingestion of foreign material.

 

[ShadowFox]

Update: Turbo definitely died, and took out the cats too, probably due to the mucho amounts of oil it spit out. Cats on backorder until mid feb so this will be a long wait sadly. This was just the preliminary feedback from the dealer.

 

[22Platinum]

Update: Turbo definitely died, and took out the cats too, probably due to the mucho amounts of oil it spit out. Cats on backorder until mid feb so this will be a long wait sadly. This was just the preliminary feedback from the dealer.

Who did the tune?

 

[12Lariat21]

Did you flush the new intercooler out before installing it? There could have been a lot of debris left in it from manufacturing....which would quickly kill your turbo.

 

[amschind]

I vote that the turbo bearing failed and is now spewing oil into your exhaust. Some burns, some collects inside the exhaust pipe and drips out. I doubt that the intercooler was involved; I am FAR more suspicious that elevated EGT from the tune burned up the turbo (which means the bearing in this case or the impeller tips melting). Banks has a great article on monitoring EGT; its in the context of diesels hauling big stuff, but it applies to anyone with a turbo. They contend that your cruise RPM while towing should be dictated by EGT, which is a big deal with a modified tune.

 

[ShadowFox]

Who did the tune?

5star, but I have no evidence to say it’s their fault. Aside from a dead turbo.

Did you flush the new intercooler out before installing it? There could have been a lot of debris left in it from manufacturing....which would quickly kill your turbo.

No flush, nothing said to flush. Plus I’ve looked over mishimoto, afe, titan IC instructions nothing mentions a flush and there would surely be lots of failures if they all needed a flush upon delivery?

I vote that the turbo bearing failed and is now spewing oil into your exhaust. Some burns, some collects inside the exhaust pipe and drips out. I doubt that the intercooler was involved; I am FAR more suspicious that elevated EGT from the tune burned up the turbo (which means the bearing in this case or the impeller tips melting). Banks has a great article on monitoring EGT; its in the context of diesels hauling big stuff, but it applies to anyone with a turbo. They contend that your cruise RPM while towing should be dictated by EGT, which is a big deal with a modified tune.

Unfortunately I don’t have an EGT probe, the engine only had 12K miles on it though and the tune went on around 5-6K miles—I had a 6.0 power stroke tuned and had to monitor the EGTs like it was a full time job.

None of the other guys with tunes have had issues so I’m wondering if I had a defect and the tune just accelerated the failure. Not sure, will probably talk to the technician next time I’m at the dealer.

 

[AHenry014]

Did you flush the new intercooler out before installing it? There could have been a lot of debris left in it from manufacturing....which would quickly kill your turbo.

The intercooler is "post" turbo, so the debris would be entering the engine, not the turbo (aside from the bypass when the EBOV actuates).

 

[Gros Ventre]

Keep in mind that the turbos can spin at 100,000 rpm. So any debris left in the piping could cause some serious damage. As I mentioned above from an experience with what is by any measure a far slower fan/compressor it doesn't take much to seriously damage those blades...

 

[ShadowFox]

Got a surprise call yesterday saying the truck was done. “Right” side turbo replaced, unsure if that means driver or passenger side but I think driver. All covered under warranty thankfully, looked to be about $4500 for the work if not.

Apprehensive to reinstall the aftermarket intercooler and retune it. Probably just gonna let it be for a bit lol.

 

[JExpedition07]

Happy to see the good outcome

 

[zx6roclet]

Go buy a lotto ticket asap!!! Congrats

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