Shaft seizing ?
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi guys, ive just finished installing the turbo engine into my road mini and the turbo is giving me some grief.

After starting the engine the turbo whistles and whines quite happily for about 5 to 10 min, while idling and then goes dead. Ist almost seams like the shaft seizes. There is still play in the shaft but it wont turn. I can then wiggle the shaft and get it to free up and spin freely, but it then only works for a short while before seizing up again.

I have checked that the oil feed is indeed delivering oil to the turbo, apart from that Im stumped.
The turbo is a brand new GT1548 and I did spin the engine up for oil pressure a couple of times before starting it for the first time.

Any ideas or suggestion ?

"So wat we gonna do tonight Brain?"
"Same thing we do evernight Pinky!"
"Try to take over the world!"

Whistling and whining are not sounds associated with a happy turbo.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

nut/washer/crap in the turbine housing jamming it up?

edit to add i have seen this happen and its as you describe, turbo locks up, jiggle it free and itll run for a bit before jamming again :)

Edited by evolotion on 2nd May, 2011.

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

When my t3 died from oil pressure loss it sounded like a ferrett had been fed into the turbine. Can you shine a torch into the housing to see if contact has occured?

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

I should of added that I have checked both the compressor and turbine for damage and the both look perfect.
Neither of them have touched their respective housings or have damaged blades.
evo you say u had a similar situation, what was the solution ? Rebuild ?

"So wat we gonna do tonight Brain?"
"Same thing we do evernight Pinky!"
"Try to take over the world!"

take it back to who rebuilt it its GOOSED !!!

Well ive found the problem.

I confused the oil drain with the oil feed on the turbo core, so no oil was getting to the bearings. There doesnt seem to be any in and out play on the shaft but Ill be ordering a rebuild kit anyway just to be safe.
Hopefully have it working again in the next couple of weeks.

"So wat we gonna do tonight Brain?"
"Same thing we do evernight Pinky!"
"Try to take over the world!"

Ouch =/ don't forget to mark the wheels!