Turbo gone???

[Damn Dummy]

I need some help/advice. My 2000 F350 7.3 started having an abnormal whine after 5-7psi boost. This whine started after I changed out to bellowed up pipes a gutted my EBPV. It's been a week or so with occasional white smoke(at deacceleration and idle), low boost and whine. I checked for boost leaks and looked for oil leaks around the pedastal. Yesterday I drove about 40 miles and when I got off the freeway I was dumping white smoke at the off ramp. By the time I got home my EGT temps were high, oil press. and temp normal but a sh*t load of smoke.

I checked coolant for traces of diesel, checked for coolant in oil, and advice from a member of SDD, I checked turbo shaft endplay.

I know this is probablly really bad. I read on here that a member had the same issue and he found turbo shaft endplay to be 1/4 inch. I would guess that my endplay was more than that(maybe 1/2 inch). This is my work truck and I need to get it back out there, so any advice or info would be greatly appreciated. If my turbo needs to be rebuilt, does anyone know a good shop near me(I live in San Diego county). Thanks in advance

 

[BIG JOE]

If you have 1/2" of end play.. yer turbo is toast.

The fastest fix would be to replace yer turbo with a new or rebuilt one.. rather than turn yers in for rebuild. You might wana get one with the early 99 compressor wheel (AKA Wicked Wheel) installed ?

Don't know of a parts place in SD.. but the site sponcors could FEDEX/UPS you one, PDQ.

Joe

 

[DaveBen]

1/4 inch of end play is way too much!!! Oil is getting past the shaft seals and causing the smoke. Get a rebuilt turbo.

Dave

 

[Tail_Gunner]

When I lost a turbo a couple of years ago, It was blowing a LOT of white smoke. The first thing I did was get a good wiff of the smoke. I wanted to see if it smelled like fuel or oil. Oil it was. Then I noticed the end of the exhaust pipe was wet with oil.

I pulled the turbo and checked the end of the "Y" collector (Baby's Butt) where the up-pipes come together. It was dry, no oil. So I knew the oil wasn't coming thru the up pipes from the exhaust manifolds. I looked in the inlet of the exhaust side of the turbo and didn't see anything. Then I looked at the outlet where the downpipe attaches, and it was a black, oily, slimey mess. So it was evident that the oil was coming from the center section turbo bearings.

When you gutted the EBPV, I hope you didn't hook the wire connector back up to the pedestal. With a cold engine, the PCM is still trying to close the EBPV. It is going to close the EBPV actuator which diverts lubricating oil from the turbo bearings to the EBPV actuator piston in the pedestal. Taking oil away from the turbo bearings is not a good thing. If you gutted the EBPV, you definately want to leave that wire disconnected from the pedestal. That way you don't starve the turbo bearings for lubrication.

There are kits available to rebuild the turbo center section yourself. It's not that big of a job. You just need to make sure you replace everything that's worn or shot, like a new compressor wheel. I'm sure there are plenty of places to get the stuff you'll need like Bean's. They have a TURBO REBUILD KIT for do-it-yourselfers.

 

[Damn Dummy]

Thanks for the info guys. I am 95% sure I didn't hook the wire connector back to pedestal. I will check when I start pulling the turbo. Thanks again

 

[Damn Dummy]

TailGunner thanks again and Dave thank you for the info. Obviously buying a rebuild is a drop in, but if I rebuild it myself doesn't it have to be balanced?

 

[Tail_Gunner]

...but if I rebuild it myself doesn't it have to be balanced?

Some folks say yes. Some say no.
But I've NEVER heard of anybody having a turbo wheel balance problem.

 

[klinkzor]

dont know if this helps but i've done afew turbo rebuilds on Chrysler conquests and Mitsubishi starions. unless the bearing has trashed the hosing around it and seals a simple rebuild is do able at home. i've done five turbo's and only 2 have failed but that was because my friend wanted me to rebuild them with guts from another 20 plus year old turbo.

the one on my car with new seals and bearing has out lasted 2 motors both with over 70k miles and alot of 30psi track pass's and it wasn't balanced once. i have heard of turbo rebuilds failing from balance issue's but i think thats more because of bad prep work or junked housing.

now thats just my experience on a Japanese import and the same car imported by Chrysler with a different name .

so really the choice is up to you.

 

[BIG JOE]

On re-balancing a new turbo compressor wheel ?

I've installed a Bunch of turbo wheels and Never concidered re-balancing.. an issue. Never had a call back or a return.

The Wicked Wheel on my 2K has been on for 125,000 of the 145,000 miles on the truck.. pulling a 5r all over the country. No Issues.

But.. as TG sez: Some folks say Yes. Some say No.

 

[Damn Dummy]

I'm going to rebuild it myself. After reading the last 3 post I decided to just order the rebuild kit and do it myself. A question I do have, the Wicked Wheels seem to be out of stock every where I've looked. Is the Banks wheel the same as Wicked Wheel? I don't have alot of time to wait for a Wicked Wheel, so if a Banks was comperable I'd go that route. Thanks for all the help guys, you're saving me a big chunk of money and more importantly TIME.