In the 1980s, the first significant wave of automobile turbocharging hit the markets. From high-end Porsche sports cars to grocery-carrying Chrysler K-car station waggons, every vehicle had a turbocharger. The word "TURBO" had to be imprinted somewhere on these turbocharged automobiles in order for them to leave the factory, if not everywhere. The truth is that a turbocharger may provide an engine that prioritises efficiency and more performance when needed. Thus, the car service centre has to adapt to this change and learn how to service turbochargers. As customers seek greater horsepower and better fuel efficiency, turbocharged engines are once again becoming more widespread.
By adding a turbocharger or supercharger to your car, you can boost your car engine by forcing more air into its system, thus creating more power. This is one of the most popular car modifications amongst speed lovers. With that being said, turbochargers and superchargers are suitable only when it is legal and don’t exceed the state’s emissions check or safety inspection. As long as you make sure that it is alright to have them you are good to go.
What is a turbocharger?
The efficiency and power output of an internal combustion engine may be improved by using a turbocharger, often known as a turbo, which is a turbine-driven forced induction device. In comparison to a normally aspirated engine, a turbocharged one produces greater power because the compressor forces more air and, by extension, more fuel, into the combustion chamber. A turbocharger's function is to boost an engine's efficiency by raising the density of the intake gas (often air), which in turn permits more power to be produced per engine cycle. While it's a simple device, it can be expensive to replace and therefore maintenance and servicing is important - you must follow the manufacturer’s motor oil and service recommendations.
Turbo Rebuilding
A normal rebuild does not need the repair or replacement of any internal hard components, such as the compressor wheel, turbine shaft or wheel, or bearing housing. A complete balancing, a full rebuild kit with new thrust components (if necessary), and meticulous part cleaning are all included in a normal rebuild. When we return your turbo to you, it will be in brand-new condition.
A thorough examination is an initial stage in the rebuilding procedure. We would get in touch with you and provide you with a complete price for repairing or replacing the components if any of the hard parts were discovered to be damaged at this time. After receiving an estimate, there is no need for an upfront payment or deposit, and you are not forced to finish the reconstruction (if the rebuild will be much more extensive, or costly, than what you had planned, for example).
Care and lubrication
Although a new turbocharger might be costly, the mechanism itself is a rather basic one. Without including installation and labour, the cost of a new replacement turbocharger may reach the tens of thousands. Following the engine oil and servicing instructions of the manufacturer to the letter can help you prevent premature turbo failure. Motor oil may be severely stressed by turbo engines. The hot side gets its name from the same exhaust that drives the turbine wheel. The housing on the hot side might become red hot. The longevity of the turbocharger depends on using high-quality motor oil since the shaft may spin at speeds up to 100,000 rpm. Turbocharged engines are now more user-friendly than ever thanks to improvements in motor oil and water-cooled turbocharger housings, but skipping oil changes may still lead to a turbocharger failing before its time.
Five-Step Turbocharger Rebuild Process:
Step 1: There will be dismantling of the turbocharger. When oil is heated to high temperatures within a turbocharger, it may fry and release carbon. The carbon then accumulates in oil channels, blocking them off and reducing oil flow. The turbocharger won't fare well with reduced oil flow.
Step 2: Parts are examined and cleaned. Which components may be reused and which need to be replaced will be determined by measuring the interior housing diameters and the outside shaft diameters. Exhaust housings with cracks need to be replaced.
Step 3: It all comes down to balance. Any imbalance, no matter how little, has the potential to disassemble a turbocharger assembly. After separately balancing the compressor and turbine wheels, the complete unit is then balanced.
Step 4: New bearings and seals are used in the assembly of the turbocharger cartridge. The shaft rotates on a thin coating of oil, much to an engine's crankshaft. Excessive shaft play results from worn bearings. The seals might let oil out. Where all that oil is going could be explained by blue smoke clouds coming from the exhaust during boost.
Step 5: The turbocharger cartridge is reinserted between the housings on the hot and cold sides. Once the wastegate actuator has been fully assembled, it is pressure tested to verify whether it opens the internal wastegate at the proper pressure.
Now, you are well-versed with the knowledge of turbocharger rebuild. If you don’t know about engines, don’t start rebuilding them by yourself. Make sure that you take your car to an experienced mechanic and let them work on your car’s engine.
