When your turbo starts to sing

More power, better efficiency, and improved exhaust performance – turbochargers offer plenty of advantages, usually for many years. But then, out of nowhere, it starts singing a new tune: The turbo begins to whistle loudly. Most of the time, the cause is worn bearings or a blow-off valve that no longer opens properly. Some people might even think the new sound is kind of cool. But if you want to avoid more serious damage, you should have the turbo overhauled right away – or replaced if necessary.

When replacing the unit, it’s crucial to also renew the oil lines. Old feed and return lines often contain deposits, carbon build-up, or metal shavings from the defective turbocharger. These can block the oil flow and could even cause damage to the new turbo. Over time, the lines can also rust from the inside, become brittle, or clog up. That can cause parts to break off and wreak havoc, or prevent the turbo from getting enough lubrication.

AIC offers cost-effective replacement solutions here as well. At present, we stock 25 “oil lines, turbocharger” suitable for 1,011 vehicle applications.