Turbo Care Basics

If you own a high performance vehicle with a turbocharged engine, you probably understand the importance of keeping your engine well-maintained.  While a turbocharged engine provides additional horsepower and performance, it may come at a cost by having to get more frequent oil and spark plug changes.  Besides the need for oil and spark plugs, how often your turbocharged vehicle is in the shop really depends on a few different factors including your driving habits.

In this blog, we examine the difference between a regular and turbocharged engine, and some of the more common issues you may experience with your turbocharged engine.  Finally, we review preventative measures to avoid costly repairs to your turbocharged engine.

Turbocharger Engine

Your vehicle operates using an internal combustion engine.  In simple terms, an internal combustion engine is when thermal energy is produced by a mixture of air and fuel (i.e. gasoline).  The combustion from the air/fuel mix is then converted into mechanical energy to run your engine.

A turbocharged engine is an internal combustion engine that creates an increased amount of air through a turbine and compressor, forcing more air through the cylinders.  This additional air results in greater power and performance than a regular engine.

Turbocharged Engine Issues

Due to the uniqueness of the turbocharged engine, you may experience some issues more often than with a regular aspirated engine.  These issues may include:

1. Hot Shutdowns: A turbocharged engine produces more heat and requires additional time to cool down when not in use.  Without proper cooling, this heat can seep back into the engine and cause serious damage.  To assist with cool down, keep your engine running in idle before shutting off the ignition.
2. Contaminated oil: Because there is an increased amount of exhaust that is produced in a turbocharged engine, there is more likelihood of carbon deposits getting into the oil. More frequent oil changes are required to ensure that the oil is not contaminated that can lead to serious complications.
3. Foreign Debris Entering the Compressor:  With more forced air in the turbocharged engine, there is a likelihood that foreign debris can enter the compressor and cause damage.

If your turbocharged engine is experiencing these and other issues, there may be obvious signs and symptoms, including:

• Significant oil consumption
• Reduced engine power
• Black or blue exhaust smoke
• Oil leaks
• A noisy turbocharger

Preventative Measures

Despite some of the differences in your turbocharged engine and potential hazards, there are measures you can take to keep the engine from having costly repairs.

These measures include:

1. Scheduling more frequent spark plug and oil changes; using a high quality synthetic oil.
2. Allowing your engine to idle for a minute to cool down the turbo before fully turning off the vehicle. This is especially important if you have pushed your engine hard while driving.
3. Always use the fuel octane level that is recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.

If you want to keep your turbocharged vehicle in tip-top shape, contact us today at Shade Tree Garage to schedule a full inspection of your engine.  Our service professionals will examine your engine and provide recommendations for any necessary maintenance or repair work to keep your turbocharger running smoothly.