Turbo Repairs and Replacement in Tyne and Wear

A turbocharger uses exhaust gas to spin a turbine that forces extra air into the engine, giving more power from a smaller engine. The turbo spins extremely fast and relies on a steady supply of clean oil, so it has little margin for neglect.

Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn handles turbo repairs, and turbo replacement and fitting. This page covers the signs of trouble, what the work involves, and the questions that stop the same failure happening twice.

Signs of a failing turbo

Turbo trouble often starts quietly. A high whine or siren-like whistle that gets louder with revs is a classic sign. Power may feel flat, particularly when accelerating or going uphill, and the engine management light may come on.

If you see heavy blue or grey smoke, or the oil level is falling quickly, get the car checked straight away. A failing turbo can pass oil into the engine, and in the worst cases a damaged turbo can send debris into the engine. Do not keep driving a car that is smoking heavily or has lost power badly.

• Whining, whistling or grinding noise from the engine bay
• Noticeable loss of power or slow response
• Blue or grey smoke from the exhaust
• Oil leaking around the turbo or its pipes
• Warning light or limp-home mode

What the work involves

We start by diagnosing. Many turbo-like symptoms come from split boost pipes, a blocked filter, a sticking actuator or sensor faults, which cost far less than a new turbo. Checking these first avoids replacing a good part.

If the turbo itself is at fault, it is removed, usually along with pipes and heat shielding. Depending on condition, the turbo may be repaired or a replacement unit is fitted. The oil feed and return pipes are inspected for blockages, and the oil is usually changed, because dirty or starved oil is a leading cause of turbo failure.

Afterwards, we check for leaks, confirm boost is behaving correctly and clear any fault codes.

What affects the outcome and the cost

Cost depends on the engine and how hard it is to reach the turbo, whether it can be repaired or must be replaced, and what else the failure has damaged. Related parts such as oil pipes, gaskets, an intercooler or a particulate filter can all be involved.

The cause matters most. A turbo that failed from oil starvation will fail again if the underlying problem remains, so we look at oil supply, engine breathing and the condition of the engine before fitting anything. We explain this at the estimate.

• Whether the turbo is repairable or needs replacing
• Engine design and access
• Oil feed and return condition
• Damage elsewhere caused by the failure

Looking after a turbo

Regular oil and filter changes with the correct grade are the strongest protection. Allowing the engine to settle after hard driving, and avoiding hard revving from cold, both help too. Follow your car's handbook for specific advice.

Whether a turbo can be repaired depends on inspection; we will not promise it before we have looked.