OFF TOPIC - Chevy Diesel Turbo

[Hotwired]

Got my starter replaced with Mark's help.  Thanks Mark!  I have yet to get the glow plugs installed but the with the new starter it starts like a new truck again.  But. now the turbo seems to be making a low pitched THUMP at idle.  Does disappear once  a little throttle is added but I think the turbo is going south now. Has anyone rebuilt a turbo?  The little reading I have done to date makes it sound fairly easy to rebuild with a kit that is less than $50.00 or I also found a rebuilt for about $525.00 with a $300 core return making it $225.00 for a rebuilt ready-to-install turbo.  That is not near as bad as I had expected but all in all ... $50 VS $225 ... not a hard decision to make if the kit is indeed a good way to go.

I just ordered a Chilton's manual for it.

[Jerry]

Did you ever get the other truck fixed?

[Hotwired]

Nope, still has a messed up door.  I straightened it out enough so it closes but that is about all.  Put new hinges on it.  I think I will need a new door panel. It runs good aside from the fuel filter gathering crap from the old tank.  Seems like everything is needy these days.

[Jason]

what year is the chevy. I've done Turbo's before on VW's and Volovo's but never dicked around with rebuilding them. Just installed a low mile used one.

www.car-part.com

[Jason]

Never heard of a Turbo going THUMP either. usually when they go bad the bearing go out. Causing either squealing noices, burning oil or seizing up.

[Hotwired]

It's a 1998.  Noise sure seems to be coming from the turbo.

[Jason]

Does it still run fine?

Found this on my mechanic website:
"Rough run at idle. The engine has a "thumping" noise in the air filter when at idle."
"Confirmed Fix 1 -  Turbocharger Heat Shield.  Repaired Turbocharger Heat Shield. Had a tick noise on passenger side found turbo heat sheild at fault"
"Confirmed fix 2 - Replaced Valve Roller Lifter(s) ? The exhaust lifter had collapsed.  Valve Roller Lifter(s) 
 
I guess look at the heat shield. See if it's loose. If it is a sticky valve, some seafoam in the oil might help with that.

[Hotwired]

Thanks Jason ... the thumping does sound just like what they are describing.  And it does sound like it is coming from the exhaust.  Could be the lifter to.  I'll dump change the oil and dump in some sea foam.

[MarkS]

You're more than welcome, glad I could help.  I hope it is the heat shield or a lifter making the noise Chris.  If it is the turbo making ANY noise like that, chances are good a rebuild kit isn't going to fix it.  The compressor and turbine wheels run at a very tight tolerance inside the housings, if the bearing is loose (worn) enough to make noise it's probably going to need extensive rebuilding. 

[Rosscoe]

When did you get that beast? I thought that floater needed a couple of new engines. Just draggin it around for fun?

[V153]

It is probably not the turbo thumping. From my experience turbos don't "thump". It's usually the oil seals that go first, or a bearing.

[Hotwired]

When did you get that beast? I thought that floater needed a couple of new engines. Just draggin it around for fun?

Unfortunately that is a old picture.  "The Ship" as I have come to call it has not been on the water in about 3 years.  I have had the truck for about the same amount of time.

[Jason]

Let us know how it turns out Chris! Hopefully it's something stupid like a heat shield.

[Hotwired]

The heat shield is secure.  I noticed today as I drove it to the office that the oil pressure is next to zero at idle.  Is that normal???  As soon as it is throttled up even a little it goes to 40lb.  I just found a diesel forum and joined that.  I like this truck and would sure hate to loose it doe to a spun bearing or something. 

I am going to have to wait to do much with it as I am leaving for a week for a long planned snowmobile trim up to Idaho.  Finances are tight to say the least.    I should have canceled the snowmobile trip but feel it is really a chance of a lifetime.  We are going to be sledding in a group of college buddies, my brother and a hunting buddy, a group of of 12, in the Yellowstone area in Idaho in massive amounts of powder on new sleds provided by a friend of a friend through an outdoor adventure planner.

[Jerry]

Please tell me you're not driving that truck. Any lack of lubrication to the turbo can be fatal.

[Hotwired]

Nope, the truck is parked until I can figure out what that noise is and fix it.  Going to be doing a lot of reading when ever I can.  Got my manual coming and have already got 2 forums to read through.

Thanks DAD!   

[V153]

Bleve I'd investigate that oil pressure 'issue' before I did anything else Chris. Dunno much about em but I'll assume diesel motors have oil pumps? That might could be the place to start. Might not be a bad OP gauge ...

Granpappy Jack hated gauges, of any kind. Radios too. Believe he disliked clocks as well. Or maybe that was clowns. It was one or the other, I can never remember which ...  Anyway he preferred to operate his vehicles by sight, sound & memory. Said all that other crap distracted the driver.

[Jerry]

It was probably Manatees and other poor creatures.

[Rosscoe]

My bet is on clowns. Many people dont like them. I think most are child molesters or some other person of deviant nature. Hope I dont offend any clowns here.