The turbocharger is an important part of your CAT engine, because it helps to compress the air that comes to the engine. But nothing works forever, at some point, the turbocharger will break.
How can you troubleshoot the turbocharger for you to know if the turbo is not working properly?
Theres three 3 ways in which you can know when the turbo is bad:
1. You can find some blades in the shaft of the turbo, when you shake that shaft, and it is shaking too much, it means that there is a clearance, which lets you know that the turbo is bad. But if the turbo just shakes a little, then you can still use it. That little clearance is called a working clearance. Note: when the turbo is still very good, then the shaft will not shake at all. You can shake the shaft from any side.
Remember that the turbo has two sides, the turbine side and the compressor side. But it is the same shaft that connects both sides. So even if the turbo has too much clearance when you shake it from any side, then you should know that the turbo is bad.
2. Another method to troubleshoot the turbocharger is to check inside the intercooler. If you see oil inside the intercooler, then you will know the turbo is bad. When the turbo has clearance, it will allow oil to go to the intercooler. But if the turbo is still in good condition, the oil will only enter from the under the turbo and go back to the upper side. The purpose of the oil is to lubricate the turbo, but due to the wear of the turbo, the clearance will allow the oil to escape to the intercooler. So if you see oil in the intercooler, then the Turbocharger is bad.
3. Another way is when you have thick black smoke. A bad turbo will also make the engine create black smoke.
To troubleshoot, you would need to remove the Turbocharger and start the engine, if the smoke clears without the turbo, then the turbo is bad.
Note: Before you can do that you need to block the oil supply and outlet of the turbo to prevent oil from being spilled.
With these three methods you can know if the turbo is in good or bad condition.
Should you replace the Cartridge from your CAT turbocharger?
Click here to find out if you should change the whole turbo or just the cartridge. After you discover that the turbocharger is bad due to the troubleshooting you did, you can remove the casing from both sides; the compressor side and the turbine side so that you can have access to the cartridge. Looking at the cartridge, you can decide to replace only the damaged component from the cartridge or replace the complete cartridge.
However, you need to ensure that you are buying the exact cartridge if not it will not work with the housing.At ProDieselParts we can make sure you receive the correct cartridge for you Turbo.
If your turbocharger is damaged and you’re in need of a new one or replacement parts for it, ProDieselParts is the right place for you. We offer a large selection of turbochargers and components for many CAT engines, ensuring that you can find exactly what you need to keep your engine running smoothly. With our quality products, expert guidance, and commitment to customer satisfaction, ProDieselParts is your supplier partner for all your turbocharger needs. Contact us today so we can help you find your turbos and parts.