Turbo Failure

TURBO FAILURE

Turbo failure is quite often due to four main reasons:

1)     Not allowing an engine to warm up fully

2)     Switching off before a turbo has begun to slow down in speed

3)     Lack of oil changes or incorrect oil used.

4)     Low oil level

The most overlooked factor with a Turbo is that when the engine has stopped, so has the oil pressure.

A Turbo spins at around 40,000 Revolutions Per Minute and when the engine has stopped the Turbo continues spinning for a few minutes afterwards. This means that the Turbo is spinning with no oil pressure and is only lubricated by the oil within the housing and inlet hose for this period of time. When the engine is restarted it takes a few seconds for the oil pressure to build up and reach the bearings, this means that a turbo is quite often running with very little lubrication.

Dirty oil can also speed up bearing wear due to contaminates within the oil. These same contaminates can also make the oil run hotter making the lubricants less efficient.

FORTE who are a company who produce treatments and additives of all sorts for the motor industry, have analysed the reasons why a turbo has failed. They found that 20% is due to a lack of lubricant, 30% is due to there being a delay of lubrication to the turbo bearings, 13% through lubricant contamination and a further 12% is from the fact that the lubricant is overheating.

A lack of oil in the engine is also a very common reason and can be a contributing factor towards the lack or delay of lubricant to the bearings and the contaminated or overheating of lubricants being used.

This means that a massive 75% of Turbo failures will be down to driver error in some way.

Why Check Your Oil Level?

How important is it to check your vehicles oil level regularly?

It has always amazed me when a customer rings up to book their car in because the engine management light has come on and when quizzed their cars oil level has not been checked.

The realities of the situation are, when the oil light illuminates, it is too late and you would have certainly caused some damage to your engine.

Even if you car is relatively new it could still use oil, an engine will eventually begin to wear out and use a little oil and if it is never checked when would you ever find out?

So make a point of checking your oil regularly. If your car is new to you, check firstly on a daily basis and after a few days you can then spread these checks out to weekly and if the levels still appear to be always correct you can then spread your checks to monthly.

It is so important to have the correct amount and grade of oil lubricating your engine. The oil in your engine does many things. It not only acts as a lubricant and helps to reduce friction and wear but it also can reduce noise, it helps keep the engine cool, can help to produce more power and clean combustion deposits. All this helps maintain the efficient running of the vehicle.

If the engine management light comes on, this could be due to the lack of oil circulating the engine. The engine could be on the verge of seizing up and will undoubtedly be running hotter. If the engine is running hotter than it could lead to a sensor failure. Many sensors have internal soldered joints that can become weak when exposed to hotter than normal temperatures. Weak joints are in danger of braking which could lead onto other running faults.

In summary check your vehicle’s engine oil regularly.

Tips for you

Diesel Particulate Filter

What you should be aware of....

Some Diesel engines today have been designed to run so efficiently that during an MOT emissions smoke test, the emissions are so low that the smoke tester is unable to give a reading. This is due to the Catalyst and DPF both doing their jobs efficiently.

This is surely a good thing? But what some drivers are finding is that due to some peoples driving habits, there can be a clogging problem with some diesel engines that use a DPF.

To help keep your vehicle's DPF clean, your vehicle should regularly be driven at high revs, (This does not necessarily mean high speed). what this does, is help regenerate your diesel vehicle's DPF and burns off any soot build up within the filter itself.

If your diesel vehicle regularly only does around town driving then before you carry out this regeneration process it would help if you added DPF cleaner to your fuel to help this cleaning process take place.

Watch this Aftermarket News Bulletin that explains all about Diesel Particulate Filters... highlight the link and go to...https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=py1nkHKoXa4

If your driving habits do not include the occasional motorway trip then you need to consider some cleaner and a regeneration.

Call Pentagon Motorist Centre on 01634 405757

Top 3 MOT Test Fail Items - Tips for You

Year after year, so many people come in and fail their MOT on something very silly that can be easily avoided by following a few simple steps. Here are the top 3!

1. Headlamp Aim

The top fail item is simply 'Headlight aim incorrectly set'. If a headlight bulb has been replaced since your last MOT, there is a possibility that they have been put back in slightly the wrong place - too high or low. This means that when your headlights shine, they shine at odd angles and do not give out the full effect, meaning that you can't see effectively in the dark/fog.

You can avoid this by simply getting somebody else to sit in the car and operate the lamps, while you walk around the car, checking each lamp individually. It may help to do it in a garage.

2. Tyre Tread Depth

Another common failure is the tyre tread depth. Tyre tread helps the tyres grip the road effectively, if the tread depth isn't to the correct standard, it becomes easier for the tyres to skid on the surface. There is a very simple test to see if your tyre tread is up to scratch. Just get a 20p coin and place it in the grooves in the tyre, if the outer rim of the coin isn't visible, your tyre tread should be fine. However, if you are still unsure, most tyre outlets are happy to do a free check for you.

3. Windscreen Wipers

Windscreen wipers not clearing the windscreen effectively is another common failure, the easiest way to check this is to operate the wipers and washers. If the blades don't clear all of the water effectively, and possibly even leave smears over the the driver's side, this will result in a fail. Wiper blades do wear out over time and need replacing - they get damaged by grit and dirt, so they need replacing at regular intervals. Another issue is if there is no fluid in the washers, then this will also result in a fail.


As you can see, most failures are caused by silly little mistakes that can easily be avoided. So follow the directions above and you will save yourself a little bit of cash!

Free Tips for YOU to Save Money! - Tips for You

Free tips revealed to you! Our valued customers.

‘How To Save Unnecessary Costs On Your Vehicle, Keeping More Money In Your Own Pocket... Guaranteed’

Let’s face it, no-one likes to spend money on transport. The following information could allow you to keep more of your hard earned money in your own pocket.

Carry out your own simple checks

The simplest way to save money is to carry out regular checks on your vehicle. Checking your water and oil levels at least once a month takes only a couple of minutes but could save you hundreds of pounds in unnecessary repair bills. You'll be surprised how quickly things can go from bad to worse under your bonnet.

The knock on effects can be even more expensive

The majority of Engine Management Light faults are originally due to low water and oil levels. If an engine is low on either water or oil the engine begins to run at a higher temperature. Engine sensors can easily be affected by heat and their life span can be shortened considerably once exposed to overheating. Meaning you'll have to pay for an engine sensor as well as everything else!

Extra savings: Guaranteed!

Include a Full Service when you have an MOT with PMC and you will save a further £10 off of your final bill.

When an MOT and Full Service is carried out together through PMC, some checks carried out in a service are duplicated in an MOT. This means that we can save time and hence money and we pass that saving back to the customer.

So remember keep checking those levels and book your car for a Full Service with PMC when your next MOT is due. Simple steps to save you money!