How long should a modern turbo last?

[RooflessVW]

You're not going to have an issue with that turbocharger ever unless you decided to tune the engine, which I would reccomend.

With a tune, maxing that sucker out, you might only get 300,000-500,000 miles.

 

[wemay]

...and she lives in Phoenix, AZ. Yeah, that Volvo was a tank, and super reliable, slow-ish.

 

[sprite1741]

The turbo will last as long as the engine. It's really nothing special. Use the maintenance schedule in the manual and it will be fine. I suspect most of the posters saying 150k mile don't own one and are clueless. Coking up a turbo is from the 1960's with obsolete API SA, SB oils. I have to laugh sometimes at the fear mongers in the oil industry. Trying to sell you special oils and additives. It's just like the news industry trying to scare people to keep them interested. FWIW my turbo is at 300k miles and I only use cheap oil. Been used at air temps of -25 to +105. Take care of the engine and the cooling system and the turbo will not be a problem.

 

[nyumski]

i thought it should never fail. just make sure there is no leak in the oil line and water line for cooling the turbo. turbo now in my opinion tends to fail if you boost it up exceed the limit.

 

[Chris142]

What makes automotive turbos different that big diesel turbos. I have seen trucks get 1 million+ miles on a turbo.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
What makes automotive turbos different that big diesel turbos. I have seen trucks get 1 million+ miles on a turbo.


I'd imagine stress. Parts going into trucks are expected to last long, and at WOT for long periods of time. Passenger car, not so much. So instead of shaving every ounce and optimizing tolerances for lower assembly costs, they look to see what needs to be done to make it last. Just a different design target.

My VW did 255kmiles on its original turbo before it snapped the shaft. I put in a bigger turbo & tune -- I was actually happy that it went. The car was much nicer afterward (40% increase in power will do that).

 

[seanf]

Both mine and my wifes 2002 Audi A4 1.8t had to have the turbos replaced just shy of 200k km (120k miles) hers was a bad thrust bearing 2k after we got the car due to PO using junk oil and abusing the car, mine was due to failed cat causing high EGTs distorting the exhaust housing and the distortion grinding down the exhaust wheel.

Our 2001 S4 2.7t however made it to 296k km (180k miles) PO used good oil and took care of the car before I blew one up doing a WOT pull merging, the car is also chipped which didn't help.

Our 97 A4 1.8t which also has 296k km (180k miles) on it is on the original turbo still and has zero shaft play, car is bone stock and was maintained meticulously by the previous owners and myself.

Bottom line as long as you keep up with regular oil changes and don't rag on the car and make sure the cat isn't plugged the turbo should last a long time.

 

[chrly919]

1987 Porsche 944 Turbo (951) 214,000 miles on original engine and turbo. It's water cooled on bearings and has an auxiliary water pump that runs for a preset time on shut down. It helps to give the turbo a little cool down period if you've been pushing it hard. Castrol 20W50 HM.

 

[VNTS]

I have owned Turbo cars dating back to 1986. Chrysler used water cooling on the center sections on Garrets and Mistsu units installed on the cars. I have always run synthetic and never had an issue.

only comment I would male is keep an eye on the coolant feed and return lines and the oil feed and return lines on the turbo, if they fail you could potentially have an issue, especially the oil feed.

 

[antonmnster]

170,000 on my BMW 335 sequential turbos. They still sound fine when I have the windows down. It's interesting to hear one spool up, then the other one after more load. I'd imagine that if one goes, it will be the smaller one in front blown by 1-3, since it's boosting way more of the time than the big fatty in the rear blown by 4-6.

On this car, it's the least of my worries.

 

[outoforder]

2003 TDI with 318,000 miles and original turbo. I change the oil more frequently then required due to soot build up in the oil. No idea if this has helped with longevity, but so far so good.