Can anyone tell me if they have had any problems with their turbo? Mine seized while I was towing my trailer. The only hint of a sign that something was bad, just before it seized, was an odd winding sound that did not relate to the engines rpm's.
The mechanic could not find a cause for the turbo seizing, but he did say that my truck had one of the first generation turbo's, and Ford knew there were problems (just not enough for a recall I quess).

 

That's the first one I've heard of. But if they are out there, the folks on this forum will know.

 

First totally seized turbo I have seen and/or heard of.

How many miles were on the truck, and what brand oil are/were you running?

 

And what were you pulling )weight wise) and how high of EGT's did you see, and for how long...

 

PSD you could always sell him one of your "used" turbos.

 

Would YOU want it after I was done with it?

 

maybe to look at but not to actually use, could make it into a coffee table though. like that show where they take air plane parts and make them into different things.
mikatoki what year was your truck and did the mechanic say anything else. see if you can get the turbo. they might want it though to see what went wrong. did you have a chip in your truck or tuner? or guages.

 

I have a 2003 F250 FX4. The oil is 15w40 (changed every 5k miles). I was towing a 26 ft. toy hauler trailer with minimal cargo (out going camping) to the Yosemite, CA. I was going up Sherwin grade (just past Bishop, CA.) when it happened. The elevation is around 6500 ft.

The mechanic had no idea why it would happen, other than telling me that I had one of the first generation turbo's for that motor.

 

I had close to 22k miles on the truck when it happened.


I'm sorry, but whats an EGT? (still kind of a novice with diesel's)

 

EGT=Exhaust Gas Temperature.

Do you have any modifications on your truck?

 

I have no modifications to my truck. I am looking at getting an "A" pillar gauge set that will include EGT, Turbo Pirometer, and whatever is popular as the third gauge.

Now the mechanic did say that my EGR was stuck do to carbon build-up. And this was the third time my EGR has been changed. I normally drive the truck to and from work about 35 miles one-way at freeway speeds, but I also try to max out my MPG (tell me why diesel is more expensive than low grade gasoline?), so I really don't "Drive it like I stole it" every day. But, I do stand on it at least once a day....haha.

 

Did you allow the turbo to cool a bit before shutting the motor? Would a coked bearing seize a turbo?

 

Yes.....30-60 seconds at or near idle. I think you hit it....was a cooked bearing (if that is what seized the impellar)caused by my driving style ,or a poor design of the turbo?

 

The Garrett turbos have been around forever especially in the aviation turbo's. Yes shutting down with the turbo too hot will coke up (burned oil) on the impeller shaft. If you are running on the highway, especially if pulling a load, you should let it cool down for a few minutes.

 

One of the great reasons to leave your truck running while traveling when you stop for fuel.

I work offshore as gas engine mechanic, most times when a turbo goes out is after an abrupt shutdown. (engine management or platform panel alarm or shutdown, or emergency shut down) All of the turbo charged engines have warm up and cool down cycles in the panel logic just for that reason. The one I wish we could add to our trucks is pre/post lube for the engine and turbo. As well as a micro spin oil filter.

Ryan