TD5 - what does blowing a turbo feel like?

[skaufman]

All,

I need some serious help (again). Living remote in the Pilbara there is no where I can get faults diagnosed and no where that is keen to touch a Disco 2 TD5. So I need some advice. We recently fitted a safari snorkel, K+N air filter, roofrack and rear ladder it these could have contributed to the problem.

Today driving normally on the open road at 110km/h we heard a small thud come from the engine and then there was a drop in power. Nothing small, I'm talking serious lack of having a turbo. The gauges were normal, no warning lights. The cruise control turned off by itself.

Pulled over and had a look under the car, no leaks, funny smells or smoke. Opened the bonnet and it sounded and looked fine. Pulled away and the car is very sluggish. It changes gears, cruise control works but when you would expect the turbo to spool up and give some power, it makes some strange noises, like strong wind through trees with lots of leaves and there is no increase in speed etc.

The car drove 40km home at 80km/h with even throttle applied, it slowed up the hills, drove at about 2000rpm, when it dropped a gear it raised to about 2800rpm then settled back to 2000rpm. When we were back in town we were driving at about 40km/h and the engine started to hunt (1600 - 2200rpm) and was totally gutless.

Let it cool down and had another look under the bonnet. All looked fine, started it up, no spoke or funny smells, wife revved it and it sounded normal. Took it up to 3000rpm and it even sounded ok too.

Took it out for a drive and it was gutless, making the same wind in the trees noise as before.

Turbo, MFM, what could it be? Any words of wisdon would be appreciated. I'm not looking forward to getting it freighted to Perth again, It's only done 7000km since the last catastrophic failure. When is it time to call it quits and go back to a Toyota?

Regards

Simon

[Slunnie]

Check that the insides of the intercooler hoses haven't delaminated. This stops the air flow into the engine, but its usually associated with black exhaust smoke amongst all of the things you have stated.

[Blknight.aus]

as previously mentioned its more than likely delaminating intercooler hoses but theres a slight chance that the wastegate actuator may be jambed open.

Start with the easy checks, in a clean workshop drop off both the intercooler hoses and physically check the turbo for ease of rotation and shaft movement. While your at it inspect the hoses for damage and swarf. at this point give the wastegate actuator a couple of gentle taps. If all of thats ok then start it up and eyeball the compressor wheel if its not shaking in any kind of weird way VERY VERY VERY carefully take a ball point pen draw a line on some paper to make sure there is ink at the ball then touch it to the very center of the shaft. IF you manage that and you cant feel any odd vibrations and it doesnt make any unusual noises shut it down, put the hoses back on the turbo side.

grab a glove and cover the output side of the intercooler with a gloved hand, rev it up if it makes more revs than it could before then you're halfway to having found the culprit which is more than likely as mentioned previously the intercooler hoses.

When your checking the intercooler hoses be sure to squeeze them in everyway you can work out how, if you get any feeling of clicking,rubbing urmm its very hard to describe the feeling but trust me you should know it if you feel it then even though the hoses may look ok then they have delaminated.

[Ean Austral]

Have you checked the aircleaner? On the bottom of the turbo there is a hose that does a 90 degree and heads forward to the intercooler , this hose totally collapsed on my dads td5, but yours may have only de laminated worth checking that out.most turbo faults produce alot of smoke , but you asy yours isnt smokey, it wouldnt be a fuel filter starting to block..is you filter very old..or did you just fuel up?
Hope its something simple..cheers Ean

[Shaker]

I had exactly the same symptoms when an intercooler hose blew off!

[skaufman]

Thanks to you all, especially Slunnie, you pointed me in the right direction.

When I took a good look. I saw immediately that the hose had blown off. I checked the hoses for delamination and they did not feel delaminated, they are pretty flexible though.

Took it for a drive and it works a treat again. Crisis averted - the turbo looks in one piece.

Cheers

Simon

[Slunnie]

Thats good news Simon. Its nice when its an easy and cheap fix.

[Graeme]

The hose in your picture is the early version (has a spiral wrap look to it)which is prone to delaminating. Either get the later LR replacement set (turbo to I/C incl pipe as 1 part number) or some silicon hoses.

[Mocky]

If i were you i would seriously consider removing the K&N air filter and replacing it with a genuine air filter as it doesn't take much dust to completely destroy your engine, this is entirely up to you but by the look of the amount of dust inside the intake pipe the damage has already been done.

Mocky

[Shaker]

I fitted silicone hoses, the increase in power & flexibilty was amazing, best money that I have spent on the vehicle so far!

[Rudolf]

I had the same thing vife times in a 100Km trip.
5Ply silicon hoses and wide heavy duty clamp. (Bolt type)
Eventyally replaced the clamps with the narrow "Norma" brand and since then all is fine.

[skaufman]

Just ordered these:
Discovery TD5 - Turbo Hoses - <b> IN STOCK </b> - Detailed item view - SamcoXDB - Xtreme Duty Silicone Hoses (http://samcoxdb.com/shop/article_TCS374XDB/Discovery-TD5---Turbo-Hoses----%3Cb%3E-IN-STOCK-%3C_b%3E.html'shop_param=cid%3D3%26aid%3DTCS374XDB %26)

Will keep you all informed how they work out.

Had to post to my parents in Edinburgh to post to Oz though.

[discomarsh]

When my intercooler hose detached itself, I had those symptoms too, PLUS a helluva lot of black exhaust visible in the mirrors at highway speeds.