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Re: if turbo "craps-out" is car still driveable? Posted by Ari [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: if turbo "craps-out" is car still driveable?, cdr, Thu, 27 Jun 2002 09:07:51 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
To echo Ryan's comment, turbos are very reliable. I've put a little over 300K miles on three different Saab turbos, and I have never had any turbo problems. And these are high mileage cars - anywhere from 120K - 160K. The key is to change the oil regularly and often. 3k-5k miles.
That said, most turbo failures are pretty gentle. It's very rarely that 'the turbo just stopped!' The usual problem is that the bearing seals wear, and you start to burn more oil. Since seals usually don't fix themselves, you just burn more oil as time goes on. But you can do that for months, depending on how fast the seals are wearing, and how much you don't mind laying down smoke.
The other failure is of turbo bearings, but again, abrupt failures are rare. The turbo is usually making lots of noise for days or weeks before they finally bind up.
If the turbo does stop spinning, the car is drivable, but only to limp it to a shop. It doesn't drive like a non-turbo car; it'll drive like a non-turbo car with about half power.
Don't worry about the turbo - take care of them, and it's probably one of the most reliable parts of the car. I think your worries about the turbo date back to the 1980's when many manufacturers (GM comes to mind) stuck turbos on underdesigned and unsuspecting engines, and would blow them up after 30K miles. That's not Saab engines. But it says Turbo, so people worry. Most cars have many single point failures. My neighbor's run of the mill Ford sedan popped an ignition module. Not only did the car stop with zero warning in the middle of the road, but he was out over $250 to get it fixed. I'll take worn turbo seals over having the engine quit in the middle of a busy intersection.
Good luck!
posted by 140.157.4...
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