Galaxy clogged up turbo vanes, Fixing options?
Discussion
Car - Ford Galaxy 1.9 TDI 2002
I have had no issues with the turbo until last week when the car went into limp mode on the return journey on a trip. There was no warning light and when I went to use the car a few hours later it worked fine and hasn't done it since.
I booked the car in today (after googling turbo issues and the MASSIVE cost of replacement!) and my mechanic hooked it up to diagnostics. There was an overboost fault code, when he got it on the ramp he said he could feel from a lever on it that the turbo vanes were clogged up with carbon.
A garage near to him has a special cleaning fluid that they pump into the turbo to clear out all the crap, it will cost £275 Plus Vat and an extra £150 if when they hook it up they think the inlet manifold needs cleaning too. So £510 all in.
This is obviously cheaper than a new turbo (£1500+) but it is still more than I can really afford.
Removing and cleaning the Vanes on the turbo myself is beyond my mechanical skills.
Is there anyone with experience of this? Does this chemical cleaning treatment sound like good value? Is there any other way I could go about cleaning the turbo, for instance is there any additives I could use and then take on a high reving run to clean through?
Any opinions on this would be great, Thanks
I have had no issues with the turbo until last week when the car went into limp mode on the return journey on a trip. There was no warning light and when I went to use the car a few hours later it worked fine and hasn't done it since.
I booked the car in today (after googling turbo issues and the MASSIVE cost of replacement!) and my mechanic hooked it up to diagnostics. There was an overboost fault code, when he got it on the ramp he said he could feel from a lever on it that the turbo vanes were clogged up with carbon.
A garage near to him has a special cleaning fluid that they pump into the turbo to clear out all the crap, it will cost £275 Plus Vat and an extra £150 if when they hook it up they think the inlet manifold needs cleaning too. So £510 all in.
This is obviously cheaper than a new turbo (£1500+) but it is still more than I can really afford.
Removing and cleaning the Vanes on the turbo myself is beyond my mechanical skills.
Is there anyone with experience of this? Does this chemical cleaning treatment sound like good value? Is there any other way I could go about cleaning the turbo, for instance is there any additives I could use and then take on a high reving run to clean through?
Any opinions on this would be great, Thanks
Having done some more research I have seen that Forte do a Diesel Turbo Cleaner (£16 Amazon), looks like that will be my next option before I pay for the Garage to clean it.
It is added to the fuel, not sure how it gets to the turbo after the combustion process but it has quite a few positive reviews so worth a try.
It is added to the fuel, not sure how it gets to the turbo after the combustion process but it has quite a few positive reviews so worth a try.
I'd be surprised if the 1.9l VW unit in 2002 had a VGT. If it did, I'd be even more sceptical snake oil will clean it.
ETA: Christ, it did have a VGT, or a VNT as VW called it. I didn't think they'd beeen around that long, God I must be getting old...
ETA: Christ, it did have a VGT, or a VNT as VW called it. I didn't think they'd beeen around that long, God I must be getting old...
Edited by Megaflow on Tuesday 7th April 19:16
£1500 for a new turbo - where do they get that price from? Typically autodata time is 4 or 5 hours to change, so say £400. Turbo replacement £300. Oil and filters £50, new oil supply pipe £50.
Easily less than £1k. v £700 odd for a clean. There really is no competition is there??
Cleaning won't repair any mechanical damage that might have been caused by a sticking vane - I've seen them before where the linkage between the vanes is damaged, so turbo would be wrong anyway.
Just my thoughts..
And if you are near south wales PM me
Easily less than £1k. v £700 odd for a clean. There really is no competition is there??
Cleaning won't repair any mechanical damage that might have been caused by a sticking vane - I've seen them before where the linkage between the vanes is damaged, so turbo would be wrong anyway.
Just my thoughts..
And if you are near south wales PM me
Ask him what solvent it is that dissolves carbon then take it elsewhere since there isn't one.
The right solution is turbo off, open both ends up, clean it out if it needs it (by hand) then check it for play and a blocked oil supply line before refitting if all is well. Total cost of a couple of hours labour unless it's knackered, in which case a new turbo (350-400 ish) and 4 hours labour.
The right solution is turbo off, open both ends up, clean it out if it needs it (by hand) then check it for play and a blocked oil supply line before refitting if all is well. Total cost of a couple of hours labour unless it's knackered, in which case a new turbo (350-400 ish) and 4 hours labour.
I had a golf with the 1.9 tdi engine, went into limp mode as I was attempting an overtake. Advice I took was to drive it til the engine was nice and warm, then give it some welly in the low gears - think I went for third gear on a motorway run. Seemed to cure the problem, and gave me an excuse to drive it hard from time to time.
We had the same issue with my wife's E320 CDI estate last year - MB's mobile tech said standard MB response was a new turbo (£2,500!), but unofficially suggested a turbo cleaner. 10 litres of Shell Nitro and two bottles of Forte Turbo Cleaner, a good Italian tune-up and problem gone. Really recommend the stuff.
Stegel said:
We had the same issue with my wife's E320 CDI estate last year - MB's mobile tech said standard MB response was a new turbo (£2,500!), but unofficially suggested a turbo cleaner. 10 litres of Shell Nitro and two bottles of Forte Turbo Cleaner, a good Italian tune-up and problem gone. Really recommend the stuff.
Did a similar thing on my nieces Rav 4D Wynn's diesel clean 3 extreme and premium grade diesel that was over 18 months ago the problem was almost daily prior to this with the good old over boost condition fault code and falling into limp mode regular when least expecting it if you can afford it I would recommend the better quality diesel full time or at least once a month to prevent the vanes sticking Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff