Introduction

 If you’ve recently had a turbocharger reconditioned for your car, it will greatly improve your vehicle’s performance. However, to ensure your reconditioned turbo keeps producing optimal results, prompt and proper maintenance is vital. Below is a list of steps to take care of your reconditioned turbo.

Regular Oil Changes

 Regular oil changes are one of the most important aspects of proper turbo maintenance, since turbochargers use engine oil as their primary fluid for lubrication and cooling. Dirty, degraded oil can lead to rapid turbocharger failure. Here are some oil maintenance tips:

 Use the Right Oil: Always use the correct grade of oil as recommended by the manufacturer. Check the correct grade on the bottle or in the owner’s manual. Make sure it is the right viscosity for your vehicle.

 Change the Oil Often: Depending on your driving conditions, you may need to change your oil more frequently than the standard intervals. For instance, heavy-duty or high-performance driving can accelerate oil deterioration.

 Check oil levels. Keep an eye on oil, and check the level and top up as needed. Without adequate lubrication and cooling, gritty stuff will make its way into your engine, and the engine can quickly overheat.

Monitor Boost Pressure

 If you have a boost gauge (most modern cars can have one fitted) then it is worth monitoring the boost pressure from your turbo. Any sudden drops or spikes could indicate a leak, a blockage or a component failure.

Allow the Turbo to Warm Up and Cool Down

 To avoid premature turbocharger wear and damage, remember to warm up and cool down your turbo in accordance with the following guidelines:

 Warm-Up: Keep your engine idling for a couple of minutes after firing up, especially in cold weather, to make sure that the oil makes it around to the turbo and other critical components before they’re subjected to friction.

 Cool Down: Let the engine idle for a couple of minutes after a long or aggressive drive before turning it off. This allows the turbo to cool down gradually instead of being shut off abruptly and helps prevent the oil from coking (burning and forming a hard, blackened deposit) on the turbo components.

Use Clean Air Filters

 Make sure your air filter is clean and in good working order. If it is dirty, full of dust and debris, or has developed a hole or crack, this will restrict airflow and cause the turbo to work harder than it has to. This excess stress and strain puts it at increased risk of serious damage. Check your air filters regularly and replace them when necessary.

Avoid Aggressive Driving

 While turbocharged powerplants are built for performance, if the engine is driven in a high aggressive manner it can overstress the turbocharger and the other engine parts. To keep your turbo healthy:

 Do Not Accelerate Sudden ly: Gradual acceleration means that the turbo will build boost pressure smoothly, this is always kinder to the components. 

 Reduced Engine Loads: The longer you run the engine at high loads, the greater the temperatures and pressures will be inside the turbo, and the more accelerated will be the wear.

Check for Leaks

 Check your turbocharger and its associated components for leaks on a regular basis. Both oil and coolant can leak from the turbocharger itself, while air can leak from various parts of the mechanism. Check for leaks on:

 Oil Lines: Make sure oil supply and return lines are not leaking, and the return line is not blocked. 

Air leaks on the intercooler or boost pipes reduce boost pressure and efficiency 

Boost Pipes: A check for air leaks on the intercooler or boost pipes that reduce the boost pressure and efficiency will do the trick.

 Coolant Lines: Check the coolant lines for leaks or blockages, if your turbo is water-cooled. 

Keep an Eye on Exhaust Smoke

 Strange exhaust smoke can be an early warning of turbo problems. Be alert to the colour and amount of exhaust smoke:

 Black smoke: Means too much fuel in the mix, possibly due to a failing turbo.

 Blue smoke: Indicates oil seeping into the combustion chamber, often through worn turbo seals.

 White Smoke: This usually points to a coolant leak and can be a symptom of a broken turbo housing. 

Schedule Regular Inspections

 However, despite professional and proper servicing, it is recommended to partake in regular inspections to ensure your turbo is in good condition. A technician will check for small issues which can grow into bigger problems before they cause damage. A typical check-up will include the following:

 Run Diagnostic Tests: Use dedicated tools to check the performance of the turbo and look for the root cause of problems.

 Inspect Components: Inspect the condition of critical components (the turbine and compressor wheels, the rotor blades, the bearings, and the seals) that could potentially fail in an explosion.

 Suggest Maintenance: Give advice on any maintenance or repairs that should be done to ensure your turbo is in top shape.

Conclusion

 The key to maintaining a reconditioned turbocharger is paying close attention to detail and committing to regular maintenance. Incorporate the expert tips below to ensure your turbo is working efficiently and effectively, and that your reconditioned unit is giving you the most for your money. 1 Perform regular oil changes – Make sure to change the oil in your vehicle as per your manufacturer’s recommendations. Oil is one of the most important fluids for a turbocharged engine as it prevents overheating and ensures gear lubrication. 2 Monitor your boost pressure – Due to the high boost that your engine is producing, a turbo will require more airflow compared to a naturally aspirated engine. The boost pressure is the amount of pressure the air exits the turbo while moving into the engine. This pressure helps the engine generate more power, however, if it exceeds the maximum limit, problems can occur. 3 Proper warm-up and cool-down – Just like any other engine, it is essential to warm up and cool down your turbocharged engine properly. It is recommended that turbo engines should run for 15 seconds after starting before accelerating to avoid strain on the turbo. Once you have finished your drive, consider driving slowly for a few minutes before shutting off your engine and allowing it to cool down. 4 Clean air filters – Maintaining a clean air filter is extremely important for the proper functioning of a turbocharged engine. A clogged air filter can lead to significant damage to your engine, so it is important to check and replace your air filter regularly. 5 Avoid aggressive driving behaviours – Lastly, it is highly advisable to avoid aggressive driving behaviours, such as sudden accelerations and stops, as well as racing your engine.