Thread: Noise from Turbo and oil pressure loss - HELP!!!

Hi guys, I'm just wondering if the lack of replies is because I've put this in the wrong place on the forum, apologies if that's the case, let me know where best to put it for the right advice.
Would really like to get some help on what to do before I drive back to Sydney on Friday.

May I ask how you know it's dropping oil pressure? Is just the light coming on or do you have a gauge fitted?

I take it you've checked the turbo hoses for delamination too? They get soft & collapse under load/revs after a while. Silicon replacements are readily available.

Hey Scouse, should have mentioned that in the original post. When I bought it there was an oil pressure gauge fitted.
I don't really trust it for accuracy of PSI but I know what the normal operating pressure falls between and when this issue occurs it drops significantly, almost to zero.
I've only inspected the turbo hoses visually, haven't taken them off to check they're free flowing.
Guess I'd love to know what would make the pressure drop so suddenly, could it be as simple as blocked / collapsed hoses or could it be more sinister like the oil pump?

whats the oil level like,
whats the condition of the oil?
what came out with it last time you changed it?

it sounds to me like the pickup for the oil pump is loose and the pump is cavetating when the oil is down the back of the engine.

loss of oil pressure accellerates wear on the bearings increasing the flow required to get engine oil pressure which the pump cant deliver because its sucking air so the turbo gets starved and eats its bearings.

Originally Posted by discodownunder

Hi guys, need your considerable experience and recommendations.

I'm on holidays down the south coast of NSW and want to know the best course of action before driving home this Friday.

See blog for full history and description of previous issues: disco history

300TDI Disco. I have a problem with sudden loss of oil pressure and power and then a sound coming from the turbo which sounds like a loss of oil to the turbo bearing, like a metallic squeal / grinding noise, exactly like the last two times!
Usually happens after heaving revving, up hill and then when back on the flat the tranny kicks down into 4th and lock-up, ie low revs.

As soon as the oil pressure comes back up (usually after throttling off) the noise disappears and power is all good.

At this stage there is also no smoke.

I've checked the oil supply hoses to the turbo, no oil leaks, they both look in good condition, no de-lamination.
I've also checked around the rest of the engine looking for oil leaks and there is a very small leak which I think is coming from the rocker cover, which I didn't think was an issue.

I'm pretty much at my wits end with this same problem and I'm done forking out money on the same issue.
It sounds crazy but I'd actually feel fine paying to fix a new problem that was completely unrelated. Like buying an anniversary gift for my wife, it's a maintenance contract

Could it be crap in the oil blocking one of the supply / return pipes?

I've checked all fluids and they're topped right up: oil, transmission, cooling, steering, all good.

No water in oil or vice versa.

Help!

PS. Would it help if I posted some images of the engine? I might be completely missing something obvious

Whereabouts are you on the South Coast, if you're close enough I will have a look at it for you, Regards Frank.