With the first ever Poole Harbour Boat Show taking place this weekend (May 9th & May 10th) at Poole Quay and Britain forecast to receive an unprecedented heat wave over the coming months, Turbo Dynamics based in Christchurch, have put together a quick guide and easy guide on how to spot the signs of Turbo Failure to ensure you make the most out of your purchase this Summer.
A turbocharger is a vital component as it will allow you to get the most power out of your engine whilst reducing fuel expenditure. However, the worst thing to do is ignore your turbo all year round and wait until something goes wrong… Wear and tear, oil problems, over speeding and debris are issues which can occur with any turbocharger, including marine turbochargers. The important thing is to try and catch a problem early in order to avoid a costly repair or complete replacement.
The main sign to look out for with turbo failure is black smoke which is a symptom of unburned fuel escaping from the unit, typically meaning there is a fault with the air system. When unburned fuel is escaping it means the boat is not running efficiently… and it will guzzle fuel!
If you are seeing blue smoke it typically means that the turbo’s seal is failing and allowing engine oil to enter the air intake system. In some extreme cases the seal gap may be large enough for ‘engine runaway’ to take place – but with good quality turbos this is rare, but it is still vital to diagnose the cause of the leak as soon as possible.
Every marine turbocharger received by Dorset’s turbo specialists, Turbo Dynamics, will have a full inspection complete with an Independent Inspection Report FREE of charge in order to determine the fault.
Their experienced engineers will inspect the turbine blades for any damage or imperfections, check the oil seals and shafts for wear and scoring and check the journal bearings and thrust assembly for excessive wear or deterioration. They will even check the actuator and inspect the oil inside the turbo to determine if the failure was caused by another engine component failing to avoid a customer having to pay to get their turbo fixed twice.
When their thorough inspection and failure analysis is complete the customer will be offered a quote for the cost of repair, reconditioning, servicing or supply of a new turbo. If the customer decides they do not want to have the issue remedied by Turbo Dynamics they will deliver the turbo back to you.
At Turbo Dynamics, repairing a turbo when possible will always be their first objective and their reputable cost of repair service starts from only £195 + VAT (depending on condition) for any unit in need of an overhaul. If a turbo is in need of replacing the customer will be safe in the knowledge that Turbo Dynamics will always supply OME brand new parts when necessary, to ensure the very best of quality. Turbo Dynamics also offer a very competitive exchange service* in order to minimise the costs whilst maintaining their first class service, allowing you to make the most out of the warm summer.
Elizabeth Jarrold
