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03-03-2013, 12:13 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
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Join Date: Dec 2011
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Help- '04FXT Eating Turbos
Hey all- Looking for thoughts on this. My 155K '04 FXT is about to be on it's 4th TD04 in less than a year. Seems to be a lubrication issue- keeps eating the center bearings.
Car is stone stock, save for a Samco inlet I swapped with the last turbo, since the stock one broke during the swap. It is not driven hard- it's my GF's ride, and she drives it pretty infrequently. The original TD04 went at about 145K, and I swapped with a fairly low mile used one. That lasted about 7k, and then ate itself. I wrote it off as being a not perfect used turbo. Bought a quality reman TD04, and swapped it. 3K later, here we go again. Each time, I checked all the oil lines are clear, and any chunks it threw are cleaned out. The filter screens have all been removed, and I used a quality synthetic oil, and made sure it was never low. Gave it plenty of gentle driving to break in. I've never gotten any low oil pressure indications, and the rest of the motor is still tight, no smoke, no oil consumption, etc. Any other thoughts on what other oiling issues I might have, or why these keep eating themselves? I'm stumped. Thanks
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03-03-2013, 03:56 PM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 142029
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Tri-State
Location: Lehigh Valley, PA
Vehicle:2013 Forester 2008 350z, 1991 Miata BRG |
Is the banjo bolt the correct one and is it completely clean?
How do you know that the feed line is clear? |
03-03-2013, 06:13 PM | #3 | |
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Join Date: Dec 2011
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Quote:
The filter screens are all out, and I both chased the feed lines with a piece of cable, and blew them out with an air compressor @ 150psi. It does seem to be getting good oil pressure to the turbo, I cracked the banjo fitting loose at idle this morn, and it spewed oil. Others have suggested maybe the cat in the up pipe is blowing chunks. Could be I spose, but I haven't heard anything that would suggest that. ??? |
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03-03-2013, 06:17 PM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
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MWSOC
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Vehicle:2013 BRZ ltd ISM |
Yeah you need to get rid of that up pipe. it is most certainly blowing out bits of cat material and eating your turbos. This is very common and should be replaced.
Edit: Replaced with a catless up-pipe. |
03-04-2013, 12:47 AM | #5 |
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Vehicle:2007 WRX TR R.I.P Paul! :( |
Replace up pipe with cat less one.
Did you make sure you got oil to the turbo before running the car? You should be pulling the ECM fuse and cranking the car over for about 15 seconds before you start the car. If your not doing this after you install the new turbo then your oil starving it on first start up. That will shorten its life a lot. Make sure the drain tube is clear as well. If the oil has no where to go it will back up in the turbo and coach the bearings, and that will cause it to fail. If the up pipe cat is bad you will see it in the turbine wheel. It will be chewed up from ingesting cat bits. Replace it ether way. At this point its a time bomb. |
03-07-2013, 10:28 PM | #6 |
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Yes, I did pre-oil both of the last two turbos. I believe the drain side is clear, but will try to verify again when/if I pull this one off.
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03-07-2013, 11:40 PM | #7 |
Former Vendor
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MWSOC
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Vehicle:2004 Forester XT Aspen White |
That's an expensive meal!
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03-08-2013, 01:11 PM | #8 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 151448
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Reno
Vehicle:2008 OBXT 5spd Grey |
My friend had the same thing happen with 2 used TD04s. One of turbos only had 40k and looked brand new, but still took a dump. Both were under stock tune and had proper priming. The third turbo was brand new and has never had an issue in 10k miles.
Lesson: used turbos are used If there is any way you can measure your oil pressure, check that too. Even though you may be getting pressure to the line, it may not be enough to keep the center bearing happy. A small clog or leak somewhere in the system (oil pickup tube) could cause low pressure, but not enough to do damage an a stock car driven easily. Chunks of old center bearing can make their way deep into the engine. Last edited by donkey_cart; 03-08-2013 at 01:19 PM. |
03-13-2013, 02:11 AM | #9 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 304288
Join Date: Dec 2011
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It's certainly getting that way!
I hate to say it, but I'm half tempted to trade this one in on a newer one with less mi. LOVE this FXT, and it is really in great shape, but between turbos, the cold wx fuel leak prob, timing belt replacement probs, and oil leaks, this thing has cost me about half what I paid for it over the last year and a half... |
03-13-2013, 02:14 AM | #10 | |
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Quote:
Grrrrr. |
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03-13-2013, 09:22 AM | #11 | |
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Quote:
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04-20-2013, 01:32 PM | #12 |
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Ok.... I got the current dead turbo off, and the up pipe looks fine. Oiling problem. Looks like I missed the banjo filter in the one at the back of the head. it is pretty full of metal chunks, on the upstream side of the screen.
So, for one, I doubt that the rebuilder will warranty the turbo, as this is pretty much my fault. That was a nice $600 in the toilet. But, more concerning to me are the metal chunks in the oiling system. I haven't dropped the oil pan (yet) but the dipstick is clear, no obvious big chunks, nor metallic-paint look to the oil. Should I just slap the cheapest used TD04 back on this, and sell/trade it in before the motor goes boom? I can't say I'm real excited about dropping the pan (kinda afraid of what I will find) but will if need be. But, if experience from other folks says it's a time bomb no matter what I do, then I guess there is no point in bothering. Thoughts? Thanks |
04-20-2013, 01:46 PM | #13 |
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04-20-2013, 02:10 PM | #14 |
Scooby Newbie
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Well, pulled the pan, and it is full of shiny bits. Guess that answers that ques.
Last edited by mntnresq; 04-20-2013 at 04:06 PM. |
04-21-2013, 08:47 PM | #15 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 354167
Join Date: Apr 2013
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need a turbo
Have an 05 forester xt that the turbo went out on this afternoon. Where is the best place to buy an OEM turbo new, used, or rebuilt?
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04-22-2013, 02:11 AM | #16 |
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lol nacoffee. I'm chasing you forum to forum.
OP.. no knocking from the engine? Your main + rod bearings are probably not very happy with the oil they have been getting. |
04-22-2013, 08:21 PM | #17 |
Scooby Newbie
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Location: mauston wisconsin
Vehicle:04 forester xt 5mt jbp |
Should I just slap the cheapest used TD04 back on this, and sell/trade it in before the motor goes boom?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!! Dont just f someone bc you're tired of it. i own a 04 fxt 5mt with 191k on it and its just awsome.. dont sour someone else's taste with you're mess. |
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