any turbo experts please have a look and tell me what you think :)

[kewp]

its just cause the sr20 in the BMW is a really a tight fit, especially around the turbo, and the drain line is easily accessed from underneath, whereas the pressure line is a bit of a mongrel to get a spanner on.

its hard enough to get into when the engine is out of the car...

[thechuckster]

ouch - i see you point - that's a shit of place to hide a turbo... next step will be a new turbo manifold?

[kewp]

ouch - i see you point - that's a shit of place to hide a turbo... next step will be a new turbo manifold?

yeah - maybe when I've finally got it through rego, but for now the engine will have to remain stock.

[cambelt]

Yes they check the balance of the whole turbo assembly when finished recoing it but the indvidual parts are balanced before assembly , i have rebuilt a couple of older garetts and never got anything balanced and they never failed.
Dave

[thechuckster]

fwiw: the turbo (t25? from an RB20) in my RA40 project car sat for over a year (attached to the engine) -- ends taped up and a spray of WD40 up the drain hole was all the protection it got.

Before firing it up i checked for oil at the inlet (see previously described technique), minimal axial movement and then ease of rotation following another 30 secs of engine cranking to ensure well-oiled bearing surfaces.

Given that you ran the engine (even at idle) and the turbine shaft eventually stuck does suggest the bearings are shot. The turbine would have been spinning at idle - and the oil supply also helps cool the bearing surfaces and seals. I'd be worried that you've now got matching door stops.

[kewp]

When I first started the engine the turbo wasn't spinning at idle, but span freely as soon as you touched the throttle (I wasn't reving it silly, just up to 1500rpm...) - is that normal? Anyway i'll pull it all apart tomorow to see whats happened. I also just had a look at a vf12 turbo off a RSliberty and it spins 10 times easier than mine did, even when I first got it back from the wrecker, so I'm starting to think its just the turbo that is stuffed.

[Draven]

no, that's not normal... the turbo should be spinning at idle

[Joshstix]

Even my old school TO4S spins freely at idle on a 2L.

[kewp]

Ok. I just went and pulled the oil drain hose off and there is a steady stream of oil coming out, about the same time as the oil idiot light on the dash turns off. I guess that means the turbo bearings are shot. Anyone want to buy a stuffed t25G? ha ha, it will make a cool doorstopper.

[jonra23]

If the guy you got it off won't come to the party probably worth getting a turbo shop to have a look at it, if the blades and housings havent touched may be a cheaper option to get reco-ed than pick up another turbo that you still don't know the history of.

regards
jon

[kewp]

From a visual inspection the blades look to be perfect, and when I first got it there was bugger all play in it (although that could just have been the stuffed bearings holding it still)

[thechuckster]

wilbo dissasembled his dead MTEU turbo and mounted all the parts in a picture frame (in a sort of exploded view) ... looks kind cool.

[kingmick]

Ok. I just went and pulled the oil drain hose off and there is a steady stream of oil coming out, about the same time as the oil idiot light on the dash turns off. I guess that means the turbo bearings are shot. Anyone want to buy a stuffed t25G? ha ha, it will make a cool doorstopper.

Least you know now and the drain is off of the turbo that you had to take off anyway.
GT28 and away you go.

[feral4mr2]

no, that's not normal... the turbo should be spinning at idle

the t25 i have put on my feroza didnt spin at idle a few times when i trial started the engine. a little rev or spin on the comp wheel with my finger got it going. after it had been run for a while (read, flogged up and down the street) it seems fine now.
turbo had been sitting in one of my box of goodies taped up for about 2 or so years.

[EVOSTi]

my turbo has never spun at idle, it still works.