Loud roaring but turbo cannot be heard, no changes in horsepower
While driving at average speed, I accelerated but I couldn't hear the turbo. The car started making loud roaring noise. This sounded as if the car has strong horsepower from the outside, but I wasn't able to hear the turbo. I am not sure if the turbo is working as I haven't seen any changes in horsepower. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
If you are not hearing your turbocharger while accelerating but the vehicle still accelerates as normal, I would not consider this an issue to worry about. However, if you don’t hear the turbo and you feel that your vehicle is lacking horsepower, an issue may be present.
I would recommend having your vehicle’s turbo system inspected by a certified technician for loss of power. If it turns out that your turbo is in fact not working, the technician would relay his/her findings over to you to make a repair decision. If the turbo is working fine but you are still not satisfied, you could always have a dynomometer test ran on your vehicle to show what horsepower numbers it is actually putting out. This should give your some piece of mind.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Most failures are caused by the three `turbo killers` of oil starvation, oil contamination and foreign object damage. More than 90% of turbocharger failures are caused oil related either by oil starvation or oil contamination. Blocked or leaking pipes or lack of priming on fitting usually causes oil starvation.
The vehicle can run without an efficiently functioning turbocharger, but it will perform poorly, and your decision could possibly have dramatic repercussions. If the issue is an oil supply or internal component-related problem, complete failure is imminent.
Can you drive with blown turbo? The longer you drive your car with a blown turbo, the more damage the engine will have and therefore the more costly it will be to repair.
Loud noises: If your vehicle has a bad turbo, you may hear loud noises that sound like whining or screeching. So if your vehicle is running and you hear a loud whining sound that increases in volume as the problem goes unfixed, this is most likely to do a turbo problem.
Possible causes of low boost pressure can be broken hoses, contamination build-up within the turbine or compressor areas, leaking seals, damaged shaft bearings, the wastegate sticking open or operating incorrectly, a leak in the intercooler, a blocked air filter, a damaged diesel particle filter, or a damaged catalytic …
A faulty turbo may result in a loud, siren sound coming from the engine. The louder the sound, the worse the problem could be. Here`s the siren noise that typically results from a failing turbo. If you hear this noise, you should consult your mechanic as soon as possible to get your vehicle checked.
To increase the airflow further, an air pump (turbocharger) is fitted and compressed air is blown into the engine. This air mixes with the injected fuel allowing the fuel to burn more efficiently so increasing the power output of the engine.
Can turbo failure cause engine damage? Ignoring blown turbo symptoms can cause further damage to the car`s engine. The more you drive your car with a blown turbo, the more damage the engine will have and therefore will cost more to repair.
A blocked DPF can force exhaust gas through the smallest of gaps, including the clearances in the bearing housing VNT lever arm and turbine housing waste gate mechanisms. If this occurs, carbon build up in these mechanisms can restrict movement of the levers affecting performance of the turbo.
In simple terms, an explosive failure of one or more turbocharger wheels happens when a rapidly spinning compressor or turbine wheel cannot hold itself together against the combined effects of very high temperatures and enormous centrifugal forces.
On some models this sensor is found on the intake tube / charge pipe (N54) while on others (N55) it may be found on either intake manifold or the intake tube/charge pipe.
The MAP sensor in the charge pipe allows the ECU to more accurately measure turbocharger pressure as it exits the FMIC before any losses occur through the throttle body. This makes tuning and reaching the turbocharger target pressure much easier.
A boost controller is a device that helps regulate the amount of boost pressure created by your turbocharger. Boost pressure forces more air into your engine, ultimately creating more power. The more air you can force into your engine, the more power it can produce.
The Symptoms
In the case of a boost leak, your engine will be down on power, there will be extra smoke coming from the exhaust if you have a pre-emissions truck, more frequent regens if you have an emissions-equipped truck, higher than normal EGT, and lazy throttle response.
Boost pressure sensors are sophisticated technological devices that relay minute fluctuations in air pressure and air-fuel ratios to the boost controller in order to regulate performance and efficiency in turbocharged and supercharged engines.
Turbo Charger. Position Sensor. The turbo charger position sensor is used in a pneumatic actuator to precisely detect the actual position of the variable turbo geometry mechanism. This leads to improved performance and reduces the fuel consumption. The sensor / actuator can also be used at bypass valves.
For this reason, almost every turbocharger will come pre-fitted with a wastegate actuator. These actuators are normally controlled by a pressure actuator that`s connected to manifold pressure. They`re simple pieces of equipment that feature a spring and a diaphragm.
The EGR valve is likely to stick and become coked up on some applications. This can have a significant effect on the performance of the turbocharger. A faulty EGR valve can result in excessive carbon/soot at the turbine end. This could cause the VNT mechanism to stick.
When the air filter allows dust or other contaminants to pass through, this can cause wear to the turbo bearing. Also, oil channels can become clogged due to the high temperatures in a turbo, as a result of which the turbo can get stuck in its bearings. Damage to a turbo reduces the power of the engine.
Yes! In the right hands, almost all problems of turbochargers can be repaired. What is more important is to identify the problem with the turbocharger and how to repair it. To understand how to diagnose turbocharger repairs, here are a couple of significant repair tips to remember.
2) Catalytic converter
An overly-blocked catalytic convertor will slow down the turbocharger`s ability to “breathe”. This is commonly known as “buffering”, a problem that refers to increased backpressure within the exhaust system.
Symptoms. The signs of a leaking turbocharger system start with a lack of power or random misfires.
Pushing the turbo to ever higher speeds, especially when making modifications to the engine, will take it beyond normal operating speeds and can cause damage. Components will be stressed more than the manufacturer originally intended and the components will fail over time.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Loud roaring but turbo cannot be heard, no changes in horsepower
ANSWER : If you are not hearing your turbocharger while accelerating but the vehicle still accelerates as normal, I would not consider this an issue to worry about. However, if you don’t hear the turbo and you feel that your vehicle is lacking horsepower, an issue may be present.
I would recommend having your vehicle’s turbo system inspected by a certified technician for loss of power. If it turns out that your turbo is in fact not working, the technician would relay his/her findings over to you to make a repair decision. If the turbo is working fine but you are still not satisfied, you could always have a dynomometer test ran on your vehicle to show what horsepower numbers it is actually putting out. This should give your some piece of mind.
Read Full Q/A … : Loud roaring but turbo cannot be heard, no changes in horsepower
Turbo VS. Non-Turbo Valve Cover Gasket
ANSWER : Hi there. Looks like the gaskets are the same for the turbo and non turbo engines. I recommend asking the local parts store for to see a valve cover gasket for the non turbo engine and a gasket for a turbo engine and compare the two gaskets. If the gaskets are the same material and have the same design, the go for the valve cover gasket that will fit your budget. If you need further assistance with the valve cover gasket, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Loud roaring but turbo cannot be heard, no changes in horsepower
Oil changed from 10w-30 to 5w-20 and there were loud clunking sounds in the engine
ANSWER : No, this is not because they put the wrong weight oil in – it sounds like they forgot to put oil in at all! Or possibly they left the drain plug loose and the oil dumped out as you drove away. Regardless, if there was no oil on the dipstick right after you had your oil changed, they did something wrong and should be held accountable. Next time, I suggest you have your oil changed by someone else. The team at YourMechanic is an excellent option and can perform this service at your home or office.
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Car vibrate when in "D" or "R" although I have changed the 4 engine mounts. Changed 4 sparks and air filter and throttle cleanse
ANSWER : It seems you have covered the basics and changed the most common culprits for engine vibrations. I will recommend you have an experienced technician inspect the work done and the drivetrain for other problems. In some cases, an improperly installed new engine mount can cause a vibration to stay. Hire one of our experts here at Your Mechanic to inspect the previous work done and diagnose the source of the vibrations.
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Do I need to get the transfer case fluid and transmission fluid changed?
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. I looked at your maintenance schedule for your vehicle and found that for up to 150,000 miles, it only says to inspect the fluid level and not change it. The fluids are special fluids and if you did need any work done (i.e. if there is a leak present or other mechanical problem) then make sure the correct Ford certified fluid is used.
When it is time for you to have your transmission fluid serviced, consider having a certified automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to perform the service for you.
Hope this helps and best of luck!
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My 99 bmw 328i has a jerk, it was jerking really bad before my fiance changed the sparks and did an oil change. I
ANSWER : The windows can be repaired if you request a window regulator/track inspection. For door lock issues, please request door locking system diagnostic/repair. The engine operating condition problem you are having should be diagnosed as a possible misfire although the mechanic would consider a fuller slate of possibilities in order to get to a resolution (i.e., pinpoint the fault). For example, you could have an issue with one or more ignition coils, a sticky fuel injector, the throttle position sensor, a vacuum leak, faulty oxygen sensor, and so forth. If you request the misfire diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Loud roaring but turbo cannot be heard, no changes in horsepower
Car started making loud noise, oil changed prior to this
ANSWER : Hey there, thanks for writing in about your 2000 Saturn LS2. This can happen at times when the car has been sitting for a period of time. Hydraulic lifters help to operate the camshaft, which opens and closes the valves in your engine.
When your car sits for an extended period of time, the oil drains down to the bottom of the motor to the oil pan. When started up again, it takes sometimes a minute or two for the internal engine pressure to build up and circulate this oil to the top of the motor where the lifters operate.
The ticking sound is often times dry lifters that do not yet have enough oil running to them at start up. Depending on how pervasive this problem is, it could be more than this. I recommend having an expert, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect the noise in person in order to make the correct repair.
Read Full Q/A … : Loud roaring but turbo cannot be heard, no changes in horsepower
there is a loud noise coming from engine.
ANSWER : Hi there. Either the flex plate is broken and making the noise as the transmission is loaded under pressure from the engine or the transmission is slipping and the whining noise could be the clutches slipping within the transmission. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you diagnose your transmission for the loud noises.
Read Full Q/A … : Loud roaring but turbo cannot be heard, no changes in horsepower
