Turbo Oil Leak - Any advice?

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31 Oct 2012 20:04 #1 by dandjcr
dandjcr created the topic: Turbo Oil Leak - Any advice?
Forum Home > OKA Maintenance > Turbo Oil Leak - Any advice?

Dandj
Member
Posts: 367
My turbo has developed a small oil leak from what appears to be the air inlet compressor side. It drips on to the starter motor and thence to the ground. Presumably an internal O ring is the cause, or could it be a blocked oil return pipe (pic 2)?





Coincidentally the engine seems to be blowing more whitish smoke when cold but this might be an illusion, it's off the road right now so it hasn't been up to temperature for a while.
Any advice on the way forward? From the pic it looks like an internal leak, so it's probably that oil is being sucked in and burnt, resulting in the smoke.
Is this an easy thing to rectify or the sign of worse to come?
Regards,

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David and Janet Ribbans, Oka 148

July 23, 2011 at 7:16 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Dave and Pauline Gray
Member
Posts: 84
HI David it looks like the internal seal has failed they are a metal ring similar to a piston ring located on the turbine shaft at each end inlet and exhaust not usually an easy fix i.m afraid its turbo off and a rebuild. If you remove the inlet hose you can acess the end of the inlet end of the compressor wheel and shaft and check for lateral movement there shouldnt be any but it should spin freely. I would doubt that the return line has a restriction. It is possible to obtain a seal and bearing kit for most makes of turbo but i think the best course is to take it to a specialist turbo repair workshop.
Cheers Dave
July 23, 2011 at 9:15 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Dandj
Member
Posts: 367
Thanks Dave, I was kind of expecting that was going to be answer.
Getting at the turbo is not that easy, getting the camera in was hard enough. I've taken off the starter motor and rear inside engine cover but I fear there is more stuff to remove first, like the front exhaust pipe, possibly the alternator and/or lift pump and operating lever.



I presume removing it from underneath is the best way? From the top seems to require removal of the inlet manifold.
Regards

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David and Janet Ribbans, Oka 148

July 23, 2011 at 12:08 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Dave and Pauline Gray
Member
Posts: 84
David i have never removed mine so i.m not much help on that score other than to say I recall when i fitted a new lift pump assy a couple of years ago I had a good look at the turbo and decided that it would more than likely have to come out the bottom, good luck with the studs on the manifold mount they may need some heat
Cheers Dave
July 23, 2011 at 1:08 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Dandj
Member
Posts: 367
Manifold mount? I can't even see that yet. I'l dose the nuts liberally with WD40 and wait a while, like overnight. Broken studs or rounded nuts I don't want.
I might cut away part of the horizontal panel behind the drivers seat (above the dual battery switch panel) to improve access.
Removing the right angle elbow on the inlet from the turbo might help too.
Sobering note: No matter how annoying my turbo problem might be, the people of Norway are suffering much worse today.
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David and Janet Ribbans, Oka 148

July 23, 2011 at 1:48 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Dave and Pauline Gray
Member
Posts: 84
Indeed it appears no one is immune to this type of thing these days.
I was referring to the studs and nuts that attaches the turbo to the exhaust manifold. I think you should access them ok once you have removed the right angle inlet small manifold and hose and the oil feed line from the back engine inside cover area. I'm sure there is a member out there who has done this operation but better doing it at home than halfway up the Gary Hwy or like.

cheers Dave
July 23, 2011 at 2:50 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Dandj
Member
Posts: 367
Dave, on your advice I took off the air inlet hose (which was a good learning experience, it's pretty tight in there) and there is no trace of oil in the inlet port, clean as a whistle, and the shaft spins freely and with no lateral movement or end float. Had there been an internal leak there would oil evidence on the port and in the hose and there is none.
Luckily I did this before going too far with the removal process.



So where does the oil come from?
One possibility is a blocked oil drain pipe casuing it to squeeze past the oil inlet gasket. I'll check the drain pipe next.
Another possibility is a faulty gasket on the oil inlet pipe on the turbo body. Now I've cleaned things up I should be able to see that when it's all back together.
Lastly there could be a mechanical problem with the turbo body or pipe (eg hairline crack) but this is most unlikely.
BTW, I did check the manifold mount bolts to ensure they wouldn't be a probem and they loosened quite easily. WD40 did it's job.
Regards,
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David and Janet Ribbans, Oka 148

July 24, 2011 at 4:03 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Aussie Bight Expeditions
Member
Posts: 109
David,
Just reading through some of these old forums. Did you ever find out what was causing the leak, as mine is starting to appear to have a similar oil wet spot in the same place. You might be able to save me the hassle of tracking the problem down, or at least a starting point.
Regards Tony ABE
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March 14, 2012 at 8:20 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Dandj
Member
Posts: 367
Tony, yes and fortunately it wasn't the turbo.
While we were away last year I noticed the drip getting worse and discovered it was actually diesel dripping from a leaking flexible pipe connection above the lift pump. It was collecting grime and somehow getting on to the turbo which gave the impression the turbo was leaking oil.
The lift pump is clean in my early photos, which was misleading, and it was only when the flow got worse that it ran down and off the lift pump.
That was the clue I needed and a couple more hose clips solved both problems and I'm about to replace the pipe as I suspect it's hardened and/or split.
Anyway I learned a lot about turbos during the process.
BTW, as part of this process I cut an inspection hole in the cover behind the drivers seat. That made access to the turbo and lift pump area a lot easier.






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David and Janet Ribbans, Oka 148

March 14, 2012 at 9:10 AM Flag Quote & Reply

Aussie Bight Expeditions
Member
Posts: 109
Hi David.
Thanks for the info. I came back from WA in November from doing the Wild Flower season and had alot of fuel under the bus after 3000km of nearly straight driving. Could not locate the fuel leak as it was from the front to the camper on the back. Degreased everything on the motor and chassis and have only done 400km since. Did look at fuel lift pump but could not see that leaking. I am now assuming it is from the same place as yours, as it is a fuel smell and not oil.
Did put in a new water pump 12 months ago and that came slightly loose and was leaking oil out, and blew everywhere as well. That was easy fix, now I think you have solved the issue, will replace hose and see.
Thank you for the prompt reply.
Now have licence from DSE here in Victoria to do tours as well, so hope to be doing them in 7 -10 days from now.
Regards Tony ABE
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March 14, 2012 at 1:44 PM Flag Quote & Reply

Dandj
Member
Posts: 367
Hope that's all it is Tony.
The fuel pipes from the lift pump to the filter/injector pump are behind the engine and get very dirty. But they're also out of sight so they tend to get overlooked. Mine are a mixture of flexible and steel pipes tied to other cables and breather pipes.
I'm about to tackle a dripping leak from the rear O-ring of the injector pump. That drip gets blown all over the rear and bottom of the engine and clutch housing so you might want to check out that area too as a source of a fuel leak.
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David and Janet Ribbans, Oka 148

March 14, 2012 at 5:07 PM

David and Janet Ribbans - Oka 148
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