LB7: Did I blow my turbo?

[Sandracer799]

I think I may have blown my turbo.

Saturday I came home and the truck drove just fine, no issues at all. Go to leave the next morning and I notice something does not seem right. I merge onto the interstate and that is when I look and see the giant smoke cloud behind me and no boost.

I limp the truck back home thinking I popped an intercooler boot. I get home pop the hood and all the connections are good.

Since we have about 12" of snow on the ground I thought maybe the air filter got wet and froze. Checked that all good.

I put it in 4wd and tried to boost it up, to see if I could hear the turbo spinning or any air leaks. I hear nothing.

I don't hear any air leaks, turbo spinning, nothing at all.

Could the turbo be seized up? And if so why did it just happen overnight?

The turbo is not making any funny noises or anything, maybe I am just looking in the wrong places.

Any advice that can offered would be greatly appreciated.

THANKS

 

[dmaxfireman]

is there any play in the wheel?

 

[Sandracer799]

I honestly have not checked anything on the turbo yet. I had somewhere I had to be yesterday, I just went back home and got my other truck and left.

I am just trying to do some research at the moment to know what to look for.

 

[dmaxfireman]

might have popped or torn a boot or maybe blew the ic if the turbo was not making any stange noise. but check the compressor for play then maybe a pressure test next.

 

[Sandracer799]

I had about an hour to look at it today before it got dark.

I looked at the IC and did not see any visible holes nor could I hear any leaks.

I removed the intake to where I could see the turbine wheel spinning. I did not have enough time to remove the intake horn to be able to check end play.

I put my hand over the intake of the turbo to not allow any air into the motor. The blue hoses flattened and thus killed the motor. In theory I vacuum tested the motor. Wouldn't you be able to hear a sucking noise if there was a leak?

I am going to remove the intake horn tommorow morning and check end play.

 

[x MadMAX DIESEL]

Check the vane position sensor.. Maybe they are fully opened?

 

[KEVINL]

Check the vane position sensor.. Maybe they are fully opened?

It's a Lb7

 

[x MadMAX DIESEL]

Ohh didnt notice that. hmmm

 

[dmaxfireman]

if you didn't hear anything on the "vac test" i would say the problem is isolated to the turbo itself. are you registering any boost readings at all while driving?

 

[Sandracer799]

I am not getting any boost at all. From what I could see from the intake horn down into the turbo nothing looked scored. I had my brother cut the truck off and I watched the turbo stop spinning. Granted I have never seen the turbo stop spinning. It did not stop abrubtly but it did not look like a free spinning stop. After seeing that it is starting to make me think it is the turbo.

 

[PhilsLB7]

It's a Lb7

Not trying to take over but want to learn something here. I thought all Dmax trucks had the Garrett VGT turbo. Does the LB7 just not have the sensor?

Sandracer799 - hope you get this figured out!

 

[BlkMax]

Not trying to take over but want to learn something here. I thought all Dmax trucks had the Garrett VGT turbo. Does the LB7 just not have the sensor?

Sandracer799 - hope you get this figured out!

The LB7 has a fixed vane IHI turbo with a wastegate. No variable vane for that one.

I believe that the Garrett unit is aftermarket for the other engine models.

 

[PhilsLB7]

The LB7 has a fixed vane IHI turbo with a wastegate. No variable vane for that one.

I believe that the Garrett unit is aftermarket for the other engine models.

Thank you for explaining that to me!

 

[05lly2500hd]

you have efilive, check for any codes that may not be showing a MIL. check play in shaft. Even cuts in boots or a hole in the CAC driver's side pipe could cause a low boost condition. Check your CAC pipe, common for holes to be rubbed in them.

 

[mytmousemalibu]

Check the wastegate! If its stuck open its prolly never going to spool, and lots of smoke, no boost. Dunno how, what or why but its possible. Grab the linkage and see if it moves or pops shut or somthing. Just an idea!

 

[Sandracer799]

I did check the wastegate and it did move and pop back into position. Maybe the flap it self inside the wastegate is somehow gone or damaged?

 

[mytmousemalibu]

I did check the wastegate and it did move and pop back into position. Maybe the flap it self inside the wastegate is somehow gone or damaged?

Well ya never know Stranger things have happened! If you confirm shaft play is good and no boost leaks, id then think about pulling the downpipe off to have a peek in there. As said, make sure theres no codes, i would guess it would throw a low boost code when the MAF, TPS, MAP signals dont jive which they should be screwed up if theres no boost?

 

[LWATSON]

I dont know if this could cause the problem your having, but check the rubber tube that is attached to the wastegate for damage.

 

[Sandracer799]

I finally got time to get the intake horn off to check the turbo. It has ZERO play whatsoever. Could a fin on the exhaust side be broken off?

 

[dmaxfireman]

yes a fin could be broken but that would throw it way out of balance and destroy the bearing REALLY quick imho