I came across a Volvo Garrett Turbo and a Saab turbo this weekend....turbos seem fine...no cracks...no shaft play....what else can i do to verify the quality and condition of a turbo.....

 

pull it apart and look for cracks in the housings.put a little bit of oil in the turbo (bearing housing) so it doesn't seize up fropm spinning the shaft.check of sharft play back and forth and in and out....other then that bolt it up and see how it runs...

 

How major a problem might a small crack be? For example, a 3-4mm one inside the turbine housing? Also, how much play signifies a problem? I've heard that SOME play is actually a good thing, although it also seems to depend whether or not there's oil in the center housing

 

i wouldn't run it if it had a crack, all that it will do is get worse and cause problems down the road.

 

Sounds like time for an upgrade...

 

yup.............

 

All turbos with internal wastegates with any decent amount of miles on them will have cracking in the turbine housing. It is a very common situation and usually will not cause a problem if the cracks aren't too big.

Take a look at DSM turbo...those things crack like crazy around the wastegate flapper.

Sonny