14 VN 53 | JANUARY – MARCH 2019
TURBO PERFORMANCE
Less than 1% of turbo failures are due to the fault of the turbo itself. BTN Turbo and
Comma discuss the impact oil has on turbochargers.
Despite being inherently complex, today’s
turbos are reliable. Over 90% of turbo issues
are actually attributed to oil problems. This
comes as no surprise as clean and appropriate
oil is vital for turbos. Performing in aggressive
environments, the entire mechanism is
protected by a thin film of oil on shaft
bearings. Any issue with the oil will result in
damage to the bearings or oil seals, inevitably
leading to turbo failure.
formulations today have high detergency and
dispersancy to loosen contaminants and keep
them in suspension.
STARVED FOR OIL
Running a turbo without oil for five seconds is
as detrimental as running an engine without
oil for five minutes. Hence, turbos without an
adequate supply of oil as a result of a leak or
blocked/kinked oil feed pipes, will run into
problems.
Oil starvation can be also be caused by a
missing or faulty air filter, which produces
insufficient exhausted back pressure that
will result in inconsistent air pressure.
Consequentially, the oil seals start to leak,
starving bearings of oil. All these aspects
ultimately lead to the same consequence – the
catastrophic damage of the turbocharger.
IT’S NOT OIL GOOD!
Oil contamination is a real threat to the
performance of turbochargers. While old
oil with carbon, sludge or tiny particles of
silicon gasket sealer will score the turbo shaft
bearings, oil contamination is more than just
dirty oil.
Although effective for many turbocharged
engines including older diesels, high-
detergent oils are not recommended for
modern diesels fitted with DPFs. Detergents
can form ash during combustion and block
the DPF with detrimental effect on emissions,
performance and economy. These engines
need low SAPs oils that are specifically
designed to prevent ash build up.
KEEP IT SLICK
It is imperative to observe the oil specification
stipulated by vehicle manufacturers and
recommended replacement intervals for oil
and filters. Comma has a comprehensive
range of motor oils to ensure that
turbochargers are fully protected.
As modern engine tolerances and performance
parameters get more demanding, oil and
lubricant technology need to suitably progress
as well. Oil contamination can be a result of
using inappropriate oil for the system. To ensure that the system is as free from
carbon deposits and sludge as possible, the
Comma Petrol and Diesel Engine Flush
(EF400M) is designed to quickly clean the
inside of an engine before an oil change. BTN
offers a range of oil pipes and strainers to help
preserve the lifespan of turbochargers.
Various oil types today are designed for the
specific characteristics of modern engines
and turbochargers. For example, many To find out more about BTN Turbos and
Comma Oils, speak to your local FPS
representative today.