If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your small engine, installing a turbocharger is a great option. Turbochargers compress exhaust gas and send it back to the engine. This increased airflow sends more fuel to the engine, giving it that extra boost it needs to accelerate on the road.
Like any auto upgrade, however, a turbocharger can still malfunction and cause problems for your vehicle.
Is It Safe To Drive With a Bad Turbocharger?
No, it isn’t safe to drive with a faulty turbocharger, and it’s best to avoid driving until the issue is fixed. Even if your vehicle can still run, it’s only a matter of time before the blown turbocharger damages your engine, resulting in a bigger repair bill.
Of course, defining “faulty turbocharger” is important here. If the turbocharger is totally locked up so that it doesn’t spin at all, it isn’t likely to shell off any metal particles and send them into the engine. The turbocharger receives lube oil from the engine oil gallery.
That being said, turbochargers rarely fail by completely locking up, but it can happen under certain conditions. The most common causes include oil starvation, oil contamination, or foreign object damage.
These issues can lead to turbocharger shaft bearing failure, which might cause the turbocharger to seize and stop turning. And in the case of oil starvation or contamination, you probably have engine problems that go a lot deeper than a bad turbo to begin with.
But if the bearings have failed and the impeller is rattling around loose in the housing, you’re asking for trouble if you keep driving with a failed turbo.
Why You Should Let the Turbocharger Cool Down Before Shutting It Off
Most modern vehicles come with a cooling system dedicated to lowering the temperature of the turbocharger. However, many drivers still recommend letting it cool down after driving. But almost nobody does this.
Turbochargers typically run at around 100,000 to 150,000 revolutions per minute (RPM), which means they can get hot very fast. By allowing the engine to idle for a few minutes, the turbocharger and its bearings can cool down to mitigate damage to the unit.
How Long Should I Let My Turbocharged Engine Idle?
Waiting for your turbocharger to cool down before turning off the engine can seem like a hassle, especially if you have to do it after every drive. However, it’ll only take a short while. Letting your engine idle for at least 60 seconds should be enough to let the oil temperature cool down. You have to remember to do this every time for maximum benefit.
What Is a Turbo Timer?
A turbo timer is designed to prevent your turbocharger from overheating. After you turn the ignition off, the turbo timer keeps the engine running for a few minutes. This allows the hot oil to keep flowing through the turbocharger until it cools down.
Not all vehicles need a turbo timer, but it’s a worthy investment that can help prolong the life of your turbocharger. It’s also convenient to have, especially if you often forget to let the engine idle before turning it off.
Before getting one, however, it’s best to check if your vehicle already comes with an electronic cooling system that serves the same purpose.
How Do You Know if a Turbocharger Is Bad?
A faulty turbocharger can be hard to diagnose, but you can spot it early on if you know what to look for. Here are the common signs of a bad turbocharger that you should keep an eye out for:
Poor Engine Performance
A loss of power and sluggish acceleration are some of the most telling signs of a faulty turbocharger. Your vehicle will start to feel less responsive, and you might find it hard to drive at higher speeds.
Pro Tip: On a turbocharged vehicle with a boost gauge, you’ll notice a difference in the amount of boost during acceleration events.
Decreased Fuel Efficiency
If you’re stopping by the gas station to refuel more often, then you might be dealing with a malfunctioning turbocharger. Poor fuel efficiency is one of the most common signs of a bad turbo, and it’s because the engine isn’t getting as much air.
Engine Failure
A damaged turbocharger can lead to all sorts of issues, such as carbon build-up from the turbocharger seals leaking oil into the intake. Carbon buildup isn’t very likely to destroy the engine, but it may cause an increase in compression as it builds up on the head and piston, taking up room in the combustion chamber and causing detonation, which can damage the engine.
If the impeller is rattling around loose in the turbo housing it will begin to send shards of metal from the housing and the turbo blades into the engine. This would be worse than driving with no air filter. If left unchecked for too long, this can damage various parts of the engine and even lead to complete engine failure.
Will a Bad Turbo Cause Overheating?
Since the turbocharger forces air into the engine rather than letting the engine naturally “draw” air into the cylinders, an engine with a locked up turbo will simply work like a naturally aspirated engine, so a failed turbo is very unlikely to cause engine overheating. Less air and more fuel typically causes the engine to run cooler rather than hotter, only with less power.
Will a Bad Turbo Lead to Catalytic Converter Damage? Not at all likely
It might seem that a faulty turbocharger would negatively affect air-to-fuel ratio, but the PCM is too smart for that. It measures airflow into the engine and delivers fuel accordingly so catalyst damage isn’t at all likely for that reason.
What To Do When Your Turbo Is Damaged
You have two options to choose from. You can either replace your old turbocharger with a new one or try to repair it. The only workable repairs are replacing leaking seals (you probably won’t be able to do this). But if the bearings are worn and the blades and housing are damaged, replacement is the only viable option, and you can probably handle that if you can afford the cost of a replacement turbo, and you have sufficient DIY knowledge.
How Much Does a Turbocharger Cost?
The exact price of a turbocharger can vary depending on several factors, including your vehicle’s year, make, and model. In general, however, you can expect to spend anywhere from $82 to over $7,000.
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