22 replies to this topic

[Figawi]

What is the lifespan of a turbo in an 850?

[pfeener]

Many of them go for the life of the car, especially the LPT's. I have a 98 S70 GLT (LPT) with 89K miles on it and the original turbo. I don't beat on it and I use Mobil 1 changed every 5K.

[maiku]

forever

[WhiteT5]

I wouldn't quite say forever. A turbo is a moving part under tons of mechanical stress. I'd say that if maintenance is followed to a T, the turbo might be good to 200k miles depending on the type of driving you do, whether or not you let the turbo cool down, type of oil used, etc.. My car has 114k miles and the intercooler pipes are being loaded with oil due to a turbo that is, while still functional, leaking a good bit of oil.

[Figawi]

well my turbo has 204k miles on it. i dont know whether i should replace it now or wait.

[bryan g]

I wouldn't quite say forever. A turbo is a moving part under tons of mechanical stress. I'd say that if maintenance is followed to a T, the turbo might be good to 200k miles depending on the type of driving you do, whether or not you let the turbo cool down, type of oil used, etc.. My car has 114k miles and the intercooler pipes are being loaded with oil due to a turbo that is, while still functional, leaking a good bit of oil.

I have a 1994 850 with 222,000 miles, the turbo is still alive and kicking with very little oil going into the intercooler piping. I believe that maintenance is the key to a long lived turbo... the previous owner had the oil changed every 5000 religiously.

Bryan

[WhiteT5]

well my turbo has 204k miles on it. i dont know whether i should replace it now or wait.

Well, like they say here, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Is there something wrong with it?

[Figawi]

no no nothing is wrong with it. it works like a champ still. volvo service has maintained it well. i should check my service records to see if it's been replaced already. i know there has been some service on the turbo in the past.

all of my 850's with turbos work like champs.

[robert213]

Steps to make a turbo last forever...

1) First thing in the morning, allow engine to warm up before leaving driveway.

2) Drive car for 3-5 miles, before going into boost.

3) As you approach your destination, drive car easy, without going into boost.

4) Idle engine near 1,000 rpms for 20-30 seconds, before turning off ignition. This allows oil to cycle thru oil cooler. Idle engine for over 1 minute, after driving on long trips or long periods of boost.

[maiku]

Steps to make a turbo last forever...

1) First thing in the morning, allow engine to warm up before leaving driveway.

2) Drive car for 3-5 miles, before going into boost.

3) As you approach your destination, drive car easy, without going into boost.

4) Idle engine near 1,000 rpms for 20-30 seconds, before turning off ignition. This allows oil to cycle thru oil cooler. Idle engine for over 1 minute, after driving on long trips or long periods of boost.

5) don't boost. period.

[kenhoeve]

Steps to make a turbo last forever...

1) First thing in the morning, allow engine to warm up before leaving driveway.

2) Drive car for 3-5 miles, before going into boost.

3) As you approach your destination, drive car easy, without going into boost.

4) Idle engine near 1,000 rpms for 20-30 seconds, before turning off ignition. This allows oil to cycle thru oil cooler. Idle engine for over 1 minute, after driving on long trips or long periods of boost.

bingo.

i would never change a turbo until it is problematic. the mitsu's don't self destruct quickly like KKK's can. they just wear out slowly. so why change it?

[calgary850awd]

I have 200,000 km on my engine and the turbo is not bad for the 13g. Its a bit whiny (bearings starting to wear) and there is a bit of oil getting into the intercooler piping. So turbo upgrade in the near future for me. But in general if you change your oil every 5000 km, use synthetic, and let the engine warm up and cool down you should be fine. If your really worried buy a turbo timer and that will ensure that everything cools down properly and you do not coke the oil in the turbo.

Corey

[bloc]

if you have the coolant lines running to your turbo (i havent seen a single volvo with these absent, but practicly every DSM out there has them removed) the coolant system is designed to cycle coolant through the bearing cartridge even after the car is shut off, effectively doing the same thing that a turbotimer would.

"yeah yeah, but it's fresh/cooled OIL."

the water flowing through there will remove more heat than the oil will in the same amount of time, and if you are using quality oils and not ragging the piss out of the car just before you beat it off major coking wont be an issue.



my 85 cents

[ericutexas]

92K here and the turbo is on its way out. It consumes a quart about every 1500-1750 mi., and the only source for this leak that I could pinpoint is the turbo seals ... but the turbo will still hold 16psi of boost. Sometimes blue smoke on start, but no since I started using 15W-40. Previous owner (I bought the car at 85K) adhered to every single factory recommended service item, but that also meant oil changes every 5K with dino oil, and I don't think a whole lot of people out there that aren't car nuts like us think to let the turbo spin down before shutting the car off.

Speaking of which, I found that there are some cars out there that have a feature built in where the oil pump (electric, I suppose) will continue to run for a predetermined amount of time after shutdown to help preserve engine parts, turbos, etc. And there was a device marketed back in the 80's that was bolt-on auxiliary oil pump that would pump oil before you started the engine (to get it up to the lifters and such) and run for a few minutes after shut-down to preserve your turbo.

[bill d cat]

I'm at 167,000 miles and still have the original turbo.

The car still uses "no" oil between routine oil changes, although I have noticed some dampness around the intercooler weep hole for about the past 100,000 miles. But not enough to take the oil level down to the point where it's worthwhile to bother to add something.

I've used Mobil-1 10W30 since the car was new.

[NGB]

When you guys talk about oil going into the IC lines, would you be able to see the oiliness on the outside of the line right around the fitting?

[MadeInJapan]

If so, it will most likely be at the lowest large hose that has a 90degree bend to it, coming out of the bottom of the intercooler on the driver's side. Take the plastic air Darn off with a 10mm screw on each side and you'll be able to see it. If you don't see some oil seaping here that's a good sign. If you take it loose, this will be the dirtiest part of the intercooler piping. I tend to take mine loose and clean it several times a year.

[jnet]

150k+ here and turbo is still going strong on my '97 t5. I add a quart between oil changes, which is every 5,000.

[h2oiamwater]

5) don't boost. period.

Then why get a turbo model????

hopefully this summer i can get enough money to have the engine cleaned and tuned (shave piston heads, new gaskets stuff like that) is there anything i can do with the turbo, maintence wise????? since im gonna have the engine torn apart (proffessionally) then i can ask them to do the turbo to but besides new blow off valves (maybe im not 100% sure yet) i dont know what to ask them to do with the turbo????

and for some reason my turbo isnt a 100% this is what my gauge looks like ((((|).))) and the dot would be where the needle goes to. there use to be a hole in the turbo hose and it went about the same then i had that replaced and it went all the way to the right of the gauge into the white part now it doesnt even go halfway again into the white again so i checked all the tubes and everything again just a quick check but i dont know whats up wit it.