Nissan Turbo Problems

gilbert_and_sullivan

Paradigm wrote: »

I'm the same, drive gently for the last mile or so although I tend to leave it running while I take the belt off & collect up my stuff.

One thing I would add is don't leave a turbo engines oil change to anything like 12000 miles, despite what it might say in the service schedule. At 12000 miles that oil has had a real battering!

To change oil every 6000 miles with a good quality synthetic would add £20-£25 (if done yourself) a year for most drivers, worth every penny in my view.

Quite right Paradigm, regular halfway oil changes with good Diesel specific oil, allow the turbo to warm up before driving hard and cool down before switch off will increase the life of these things no end.

ali-t

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Quite right Paradigm, regular halfway oil changes with good Diesel specific oil, allow the turbo to warm up before driving hard and cool down before switch off will increase the life of these things no end.

As signposted from my extended warranty thread I have now found this thread and am even more confused.

I am now unsure about the turbo thing. What do you mean by 'allow the turbo to warm up'? does it come on automatically or is it triggered by something? Most of my journeys are quite short but I bought the car as it has a solid boot with no carpet in it - no thoughts of turbos whatsoever! You people are freaking me out :eek: - I am a self confessed motophobe if such a thing exists.

gilbert_and_sullivan

ali-t wrote: »

As signposted from my extended warranty thread I have now found this thread and am even more confused.

I am now unsure about the turbo thing. What do you mean by 'allow the turbo to warm up'? does it come on automatically or is it triggered by something? Most of my journeys are quite short but I bought the car as it has a solid boot with no carpet in it - no thoughts of turbos whatsoever! You people are freaking me out :eek: - I am a self confessed motophobe if such a thing exists.

Wikepedia's explanation is reasonably easy to understand.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbocharger



The reason for warm up/cool down periods is that the turbocharger spins at colossal revs and the engine oil being pumped round it's bearings is the only thing stopping those bearings seizing.
Therefore it's common sense to allow the trubo and it's oil to warm up a bit before expecting it to deliver full pressure, and arguably more important to allow the engine to tick over for a couple of minutes to allow the turbo (it's bearings really) to cool a little whilst oil is being pumped round.
If you shut off straight away with a hot (and they do get very hot) turbo repeatedly it can result over time in burnt oil residue eventually blocking the tiny oil galleries which will lead to bearing failure.

As with all things a little tlc and sensible servicing should mean a longer service life, at least we hope so.