1998 Turbo DIesel Xantia Turbo Change

docbrown · Unread post by **docbrown** » 19 May 2005, 00:46

I have finally come to the conclusion that the burning smell my car makes under load is coming from oil leaking out of the turbo when it is hot and is being cooked and the smell is then creeping into the cabin.
It always does this when travelling uphill and under load. I had a look under the car and could see the sump and back of the head were bone dry and there was a small trail of oil around the turbocharger. I cannot see exactly where the oil is leaking from.
Does anyone have any idea how much a new turbo will be and how big a job it is?
All suggestions are appreciated.

mrbump · Unread post by **mrbump** » 19 May 2005, 02:07

The answer is:
Turbos are cheap and plentiful, the job is torturous!
Realistically, you need a day to change the turbo. Its difficult due to its location and the fact you have to remove the inlet manifold to get to it. Make sure you take the turbo out on the manifold, and get the new one on th manifold as well as the 3 bolts holding it on are guaranteed to be immovable.
Dont pay more than 50 quid for the turbo and manifold, i've got a spare if you are really stuck. Doesnt matter if its garret or kkk, they both will fit.
Good luck![:D]

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 19 May 2005, 02:09

The turbo has an oil feed and return pipe, these can leak but its more likely that your rocker cover gasket is leaking, this is fairly common.
Clean it up if you can and then you'll be able to see better where the oil is coming from.

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 19 May 2005, 02:17

Are you quite sure its the turbo seals? The reason is that any leak here will be internal and normally will just show up as blue exhaust smoke and if the leak is serious there will be clouds of it. The engine oil will also drop noticeably.
Could your oil trace be coming from a drive shaft oil seal? Another possibility is the oil feed to the turbo.
Shame to do the difficult job of changing the turbo to find the problem is still there!
Jeremy

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 19 May 2005, 03:32

A new turbo is not needed, oil is leaking onto the outside of the turbo i.e. there is a smell in the cabin, not smoke in the exhaust. The turbo is hot and will burn any oil that comes into contact with it, but oil can't get from the inside moving parts to the outside where it can burn off and end up in the cabin as smoke.

AlWilliams · Unread post by **AlWilliams** » 19 May 2005, 15:51

I had an oil leak from the top of my 1.9TD, from which some was finding its way onto a hot turbo. Turned out to be a combination of rocker cover seal, vacume pump seals and a cam shaft seal.

AlWilliams · Unread post by **AlWilliams** » 19 May 2005, 15:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by AlWilliams

I had an oil leak from the top of my 1.9TD, from which some was finding its way onto a hot turbo, it was being blown round the back of the engine block when travelling at speed. Turned out to be a combination of rocker cover seal, vacume pump seals and a cam shaft seal.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Twiss · Unread post by **Twiss** » 19 May 2005, 23:39

Is replacing the rocker cover seal an easy job ?
Like remove cover, clean up seal area and then refit cover with new gasket ?
Thanks
Vaughn

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 20 May 2005, 00:39

It's about that easy, the turbo pipes may need to be moved, and that can be difficult but there isn't a whole lot else in the way.

np · Unread post by np » 20 May 2005, 02:11

See this Docbrown,as i had the same thing.Avery easy fix.
http://www.andyspares.com/discussionfor ... C_ID=13296

mrbump · Unread post by **mrbump** » 20 May 2005, 02:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">the sump and back of the head were bone dry<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
i have seen turbos leaking arond the housings before, but not before they smoke out of the exhaust.
probably is one of the top end seals.
take the inlet manifold off and if there is any oil around that area change the rocker cover first as the guys have said.

Twiss · Unread post by **Twiss** » 21 May 2005, 00:36

Last time i looked ther was a oil deposit on the inley manifold but i nerver thought about the rocker seal. i replace it as a precaution.
Thanks I'll keep you informed on it.

docbrown · Unread post by **docbrown** » 21 May 2005, 01:38

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
I've had the rocker cover gasket changed about 1 month ago and also cleaned the inlet branches so the whole of the back of the engine was clean including the turbo.
However recently when I jacked the car up I could see oil had gathered around the turbo. You're probably right in that if the turbo seals were going then it would smoke out of the exhaust not in the engine bay.
I've tried repeatedly to spot the leak but it's so dark and awkward and I cannot seem to view the oil feed pipes nor the breather pipes.
My guess is that as it does it when under load ie a build up of pressure there must be a leak somewhere in a pipe thats drippping onto the hot turbo and then cooking.
I could probably live with the smell it's just the family keep complaining and I need to cure it.
I will attempt to have a look tomorrow. If anyone has any useful suggestions on getting easy access to the back of the engine and turbo it would be really appreciated.
Short of finding the cure to the problem I'm getting tempted to px it for something else.
Cheers for your help

np · Unread post by np » 21 May 2005, 01:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Twiss

Is replacing the rocker cover seal an easy job ?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Fairly easy.I removed the intercooler cross over pipes.You simply undo the pipe clips by the radiator,the connecting pipe at the rear top of the engine,then off the turbo.If you shine a torch down the rear off the engine to the turbo,you will see 2 10/12mm bolts where the pipe joins the turbo.You need some extensions & a flexy joint on the socket,but you can get them out ok.Then just wriggle/pull the pipe off the turbo.Its a push fit.
Took me about 40 mins to change my gasket.[:)]

mrbump · Unread post by **mrbump** » 22 May 2005, 06:46

Take of the right hand engine mount and put a trolley jack onto the lower engine mount (not in that order[:D]) and you will find you can adjust the angle of the engine to get a good bit more clearance.
There is a magic 'sweet-spot' that gives you loads of access using this method.