Turbocharger - new or remanufactured?

Faulty turbine. It's a diagnosis that gives many drivers goosebumps - it's common knowledge that replacing a turbocharger will hit your pocket hard. However, it is not always necessary to buy a new one - some turbochargers can be revived by regeneration. What you need to remember and what to look for when repairing a turbine? We advise!

What will you learn from this post?

• Is regenerating a turbocharger profitable?
• What is turbine regeneration?

Shortly speaking

If the turbocharger in your car has run out of steam and you plan to replace it with a new one, you have two options. You can choose a replacement from a well-known brand - this is an expensive solution, but at least you will be assured of high quality. You can also choose a cheaper replacement, usually from China, but then there is a risk that such a turbine will start causing problems again after a few months. An alternative solution is to regenerate the old turbocharger.

A new turbocharger is very expensive

Although turbochargers are designed to last as long as engines, failures are not uncommon. And no wonder. A turbine is an element that works in difficult conditions. It is heavily loaded (its rotor rotates at 250 revolutions per minute) and is exposed to enormous temperatures - exhaust gases heated to several hundred degrees Celsius pass through it. If a turbocharged car is not properly cared for and, for example, uses poor quality engine oil or trims the engine when starting, the turbocharger will quickly fail.

If you are thinking of replacing your broken turbine with a brand new one, you have two options. You can choose unbranded goods, mainly Chinese, or models from brands such as Garrett, Mellet or KKK, which supply their turbochargers on the so-called first assembly (OEM). We do not recommend the first solution - the quality of such turbines is highly questionable, and their installation is associated with significant risks. A faulty turbocharger will affect the life of other components. Maybe even cause a so-called engine stopwhich most often ends with its complete destruction.

You can be sure of the quality of turbines of proven brands - their lifespan is comparable to that of new factory-fitted vehicles.... Of course, this comes at a price. You have to pay up to PLN 2 for a new turbocharger from a reputable company.

Is a remanufactured turbocharger better than a new replacement?

If the turbocharger has not been damaged too badly (first of all, its housing is not damaged), it can be regenerated. This process is about replacement of worn-out elements and thorough cleaning of the remaining ones. It has several major benefits. The most important thing from the driver's point of view is the price – the repair of a damaged variable geometry turbocharger costs about PLN XNUMX. The second thousand you will have to spend on buying a new one, so it stays in your pocket.

A rebuilt turbine will also perform better than an imprecise replacement.Because it is installed at the factory - after regeneration, its parameters are saved. In the case of such a precise mechanism, this is of great importance, since each leak negatively affects its service life.

Important diagnostics

Whether you decide to buy a new turbine or refurbish an old one, make sure the mechanic follows detailed diagnostics of the pressurization system in your car... Failure of turbochargers most often occurs not due to mechanical damage, but due to the failure of other elements, for example, dirty intake channels or a faulty oil pump. Before installing a new (or repaired) turbine, you must find the cause of the malfunction. The tasks to be performed include, but are not limited to: flushing the lubrication system, changing the oil and filters, cleaning the oil inlets and passages, checking the oil drain, or replacing the intercooler.

Unfortunately - all this takes time, experience and money. Enough. For a well-done "work" you need to pay up to a thousand zlotys. Avoid workshops that expect very little from the repair or delivery of a new turbine and its installation - such a "repair" does not make sense, because you will soon have to repeat it. Also remember that the mechanic charges the same for his man-hour. no matter if it is a branded or Chinese replacement for your damaged turbocharger... So it is more profitable to invest in spare parts from trusted sources.

Extend the life of your turbine

And the best thing is to just take care of the turbocharged car. The saying “prevention is better than cure” is 100% true here. Key correct lubrication... Change your engine oil and filters regularly and get into the habit of driving properly. Above all do not start the engine when starting - after the drive is started, the oil enters the pressurization system with a delay and only after a while covers all the elements. When you reach your destination after dynamic driving, do not turn off the engine immediatelybut wait 2-3 minutes for the oil to drain back into the pan. If it remains on hot components, it may char.

That's all. Just isn't it? You do not need to take care of the turbine much and save several thousand zlotys. And if you are looking for spare parts for a turbocharger or a decent engine oil, check out avtotachki.com - we will be happy to help!

You can read more about turbocharged cars in our blog:

Problems with the turbocharger - what to do to avoid them?

What is the engine oil for a turbocharged car?

How to drive a turbocharged car?