I have a mitsu. 14b turbo that I have, but I think it has more than desired shaft play. Will this hurt anything if I decide to use it inorder to get my project on the road, and then maybe over the winter remove it and have it rebuilt or get another one? I would like to use it to make sure that everything on the car runs ok and things aren't leaking and the like. I know it's not the ideal turbo to use, but can shaft play cause problems with boost, thus damaging/hurting the motor, or is it just merely an efficiency problem?

 

all bushing turbos are gonna have shaft play up and down because they float on oil witch is not in their unless the car is running. If it moves back and forth than it probley dosent have much life left in it. Yes you can run till it gose out the worst that can happen is you're charge pipes and exhaust will be fillled with oil.

 

So when I look into the turbo from either side and it moves towards and away from me it's shot, but a little up/down/left/right movement is normal?

 

a little bit up and down is okey, if it moves back and forth it is getting twards the end of its life.