Hey I got a used turbo with very minimal shaft play. When i spin the compressor wheel it does not touch the housing. However, i can push the wheel enough to the left so that when i spin it then, I"ll hear a ping sound, but thats when im sort of forcing it, if i let it spin naturally then it wont touch. The turbo is not lubricated right now so i heard that there would be more shaft play than usual. Is this ok? thanks

 

Not OK

hope you got it for cheap as a rebuild is needed

 

ah ok. But the compressor fins look brand new and there are absolutely no nicks, chips, or bends on the fins. The guy i bought it from said it has been rebuilt 2000km ago. I think it might still be ok?

Also, just took a closer look inside the housing, there are no scratches in the housing, besides the new ones that i just created by pushing and spinning the wheel against it and its only in that section about less than an inch long.

 

it should be a smooth turbine with no way of touching anything. maybe tighten up the wheel if possible? I put 10k on an ebay turbo it has very minimal shaft play (normal play imo)

 

add a small bit of oil, then rotate it again. If you have to FORCE it to touch, its still usable but has dry bearings. That doesn't mean it necessarily needs a rebuild.

 

Add some oil and use a vaccum/shopvac to blow /suck on the exhaust side. Watch the compressor side.

Note vaccum the exhaust downpipe side, or blow the manifold port.

Done it tons of times to check old turbos. But it should not touch. If it does the bearing has to much play.

 

Ok I'm going to put oil in and see. Thanks for the suggestions. How much oil should i put in? enough so that the oil level is above the shaft?

 

Hmm, good to know..

I figured there was shaft play that would only get worse.. thx for the tech

 

Hello, so I've narrowed it down more, the sound of scraping I'm hearing is coming from the turbine side, not the compressor.