somethings wrong

911tas · 08-03-2004, 10:06 AM

hope someone can help with this one.. I was enjoying some spirited driving with my 76 turbo steadyat 4000 rpm on the freeway when I herd this high pitch screech noise come from the back of the engine. all of a sudden, the car looses power but does not stall, I can not get the boost up to increase engine rpm's and when i do the engine runs very rough. Exiting the off-ramp the car stalled and could not start again. A small puddle of oil on the ground, closer inspection revelled that the drain plug from the turbo oil drip tank had fallen out???? I have replaced the plug, the car turns over and starts but runs very rough. then stalls again, is this an indication that the turbo is shot or should I be loking for other problems. I would appricate a reply
Tas

Grady Clay · 08-03-2004, 10:25 AM

Tas,

My first thought was the turbo bearing seized making noise and then failed.

Did the engine still have sufficient oil? Was there signs on the back of the car of extensive oil leak?

I’m surprised the turbo sump plug missing would cause the turbo to fail while the engine still had oil. The turbo is fed oil from the main oil system, the turbo sump simply catches debris and returns the oil to the case.

When you say the engine is “running rough,” describe the condition.

Hope for the best,
Grady

john walker's workshop · 08-03-2004, 12:06 PM

hopefully you didn't loose all of the oil in the system. the sump is under pressure, and it wouldn't take but a minute to blow it all out. drain the remainder (hopefully) from engine and tank, refill with 10 qts and see what happens.

stomachmonkey · 08-03-2004, 01:11 PM

Pull the turbo and inspect it for any broken vanes on the injection side. Better yet bring it to a qualified rebuilder for inspection and repair if neccesary.

When turbos go they can sometimes break apart lodging all manner of various sized particles in your intake system.

Had it happen on an MX6.

Scott

beepbeep · 01:45 PM

Naah. If turbo shaft seized there shouldn't be any broken vanes but it's bearings and shaft are scored/burned/shot beyond repair.

If you were lucky turbo seized and blocked intake/exhaust before you lost all your oil/oil-pressure which prevented engine from breathing before it seized. If you are unlucky, both your engine and turbo are seized. (Big $$$)

From your story (oil.pressure light didn't came on??), it should be just the turbo that bought the farm. OEM 3DLZ is a bad turbo anyway, so it's perfect opportunity to get K27 instead.

Interesting that turbo-sump plug went out...they are usually hammered when you hit something low and thus stuck. I could never get mine out.

911tas · 08-03-2004, 02:10 PM

Thanks for all of the replys.. This is whats happening right now, The engine will turn over and start, it will rev high for a second and then the rpms will come down and stall. it is running very rough,I revoved the turbo outlet duct to check for any signs of damage, nothing there, just a little bit of oil which(i might be wrong) is to help with lubrication, Oddly enough I tried to start the engine with this tube off and it did start-rough of corse, still it would stall. Both pumps are working, there is spark and fuel and the enine is turnning over. No sign of oil leaking from the engine.While I was trying to start the engine, I place a small kleenex in the turbo outlet duct to see if the presure would force the klenex out and it did not,, is this the sign that the turbo has seized.Thanks
Tas

john walker's workshop · 08-04-2004, 08:18 AM

loosen the inlet hose at the turbo, pull it back and stick your finger in there and see if the turbo vane turns without resistance.

911tas · 08-04-2004, 11:43 AM

thanks for the reply JW, the turbo turns with no resistance,this is whats happening now...put everything back on try starting the engine, she took several trys but fired right up and went to 3000 rpm, smoking like a b#%&h. About i minute later she came down to 1200 rpm but still smoke. when i placed the air filter cover on, she went down to900. She is making alot of valve noise and then the noise stops then comes back again. I press on the throtle lever and the revs climd fast, it seems to be very sensetive. When i press on the acelerator pedal, she stalls imediatly. I'm baffidled.
Tas

john walker's workshop · 08-04-2004, 12:24 PM

valve noise only comes and goes when the guides are horribly sloppy. i wonder what your noise is. the turbo could still have failed, bushing/shaft-wise. then they smoke a lot but still can spin free.

drifterjerry · 08-04-2004, 12:30 PM

what kind of shaft play does the turbo have? grab the shaft and pull/push it and move it side to side. shouldnt be excessive. if so the bearings are shot=rebuild turbo.

sounds like you blew the exh. side seal outta the turbo, causing the smoke (if its white in color). if the the turbo compressor seal met the same fate, the rough idle and stalling could be from the large amount of oil entering into the combustion chambers.(check the intake plumbing for excessive oil).

check and recheck all the plumbing from the turbo to the intake...there may be a boost leak.

im willing to bet that turbo is shot.

john walker's workshop · 08-04-2004, 01:17 PM

new turbos have what feels like excessive play, so it's kind of hard to go by what play you feel, unless you have something to compare it to.

911tas · 08-05-2004, 05:53 AM

thanks to all for the responce. The turbo turns freely with no slop what so ever. There is considreable smoke exiting from the muffler. I would have to consider that the valve guides are gone and that the turbo is shot. I will have to tear down this engine later as I am getting married in two weeks, I will inform this board as to the problem and progress. Thank you to All
Tas