Noises from my turbo?

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MikeT
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Noises from my turbo?

Post by MikeT »

Since owning my xantia (several weeks now) I've always heard a subtle turbine noise as it spins up (like an aircraft) and was concerned when I read on this forum that they should be silent, thinking I may have a leak or worse
But recently, following an italian tune-up, on accelerating I now also hear another noise that sounds like the vanes (maybe) are ever-so gently kissing against something. It's not a collision sound, more a brushing sound - does that make sense?
Having read the turbo spins on a thin film of oil I immediately changed the oil and filter but the noise hasn't gone away.
Does anyone have any suggestions or pointers as I've never owned a diesel or a turbo engined car? Thanks, Mike
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mooseshaver
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Re: Noises from my turbo?

Post by mooseshaver »

It might jsut be normal oepration. Every turbo car I've driven has some kind of whistle, whine or rushing of air that sounds a bit like brushing.
My C5's Vanes apparently stick, and that causes to much boost pressure and that causes a fault to be triggered.
Perhaps you would have the same if your vanes were sticking?
I don't know about the different noise since you tuned it up. Perhaps you dislodged something and now its working properly? They do get dirty.
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Post by Kowalski »

A 1.9TD won't have any vanes that can stick, the turbo on a 1.9TD is a much simpler beast than the one on a 16 valve HDI

One cause of a noisy (but healthy) turbo is a hole in your exahaust....
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Post by Peter.N. »

...or a leak from the pipe to the intercooler where it leaves the turbo, usually because the clip is loose.
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Post by MikeT »

Thanks for the replies. I know I have an exhaust leak at the rear silencer and I'm pretty sure under the bonnet as fumes get drawn into the cabin by the climate control at standstill or very slow speeds.
One of the first repairs I made was to tighten all jubilee clips after finding the oil breather connection weeping. What bothered me was just how tight I had to make it before it stopped leaking! The mechanic that recently did some work left the intercooler-to-inlet-manifold-pipe loose enough to leak oily fluid (is that normal?) over the rocker box cover. I had to overtighten it to stop the weeping. That can't be normal surely?. I'll take some photos tomorrow if anyone would like to see.
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Post by Peter.N. »

Oil leaking from the air intake joints is quite normal as all of them seem to suffer from oil mist condensation from the breather system and it can even leak out when they are quite tight. If you have a leak in your exhaust system this would certainly increase turbo noise, but to do so appreciably it would have to be fairly near the front.
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Post by AndersDK »

Mike please have the exhaust system repaired ASAP.
With exhaust fumes in the cabin you KNOW there is also carbon-mono-oxide gas there !
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MikeT
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Post by MikeT »

Peter.N. wrote:... it can even leak out when they are quite tight...
I was wondering if jubilee clips are the best choice due to the ease of leakage but if it's usual behaviour I'm not so bothered.
As for the possible exhaust leak, I'll ask the local exhaust centre to take look for me. Would such a leak lead to poor performance & fuel consumption too?
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Post by MikeT »

AndersDK wrote:Mike please have the exhaust system repaired ASAP.
With exhaust fumes in the cabin you KNOW there is also carbon-mono-oxide gas there !
Thanks for the warning AndersDK, I generally shut off the vents and blower when I slow or stop now but will be getting the exhaust looked at soon.
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Post by AndersDK »

MikeT wrote:Would such a leak lead to poor performance & fuel consumption too?
No -
But its lethal as you adapt to the exhaust fume, and then the CO poisoning sneaks in on you - with absolutely no other warnings but the exhaust fume :shock:

You are going down like a shot deer - in your drivers seat :roll:

Thats why MOT fails your car on weak or leaking exhaust systems.
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MikeT
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Post by MikeT »

AndersDK wrote:
MikeT wrote:Would such a leak lead to poor performance & fuel consumption too?
...Thats why MOT fails your car on weak or leaking exhaust systems.
Noted, thanks again
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