Turbo gone

[Been to Stuttgart]

2014 B180 62000miles, Turbo went on the way home from York, had no warning just a low wurring noise that eventually got louder and a higher pitch, so rang for the pick-up truck and was trailered home. My mechanic checked it over and said it was the turbo, then he told me what would have happened if I had kept running the car Really annoyed that its gone at this low mileage and finding out its a renault nissan engine, just a warning to other owners the cam belt & water pump is also due at 60,000miles, so I am having them replaced also.


Really gutted that its not a mercedes engine, hence no capital M

 

[mioba]

Well known they are not Merc engines, same with alot of A classes.

Glad you stopped and called recovery.

Its always worth doing the water pump at the same time everything is off, chexk yout pulleys are good at the same time.

 

[Been to Stuttgart]

Yes new pulleys to they all come in the same kit, I dont know, when you buy a mercedes you do expect a mercedes engine.

My concern is a turbo going at 62000 miles, has anyone else had this problem?

 

[EmilysDad]

.... when you buy a mercedes you do expect a mercedes engine.

....

All manufacturers share bits whether it be engines or platforms.

 

[FiveAlive]

Maybe the OP could trade it in for a Mercedes X-Class....

My commuting car is a Nissan and the engineering is perfectly sound. With a modern Mercedes you're paying extra for the fit and finish, not the engineering, just like people buying an Audi instead of a Skoda.

As for turbo failure, this is often down to switching off the engine before letting it simmer down for a bit so the turbo continues to spin without an oil feed, or not keeping up with oil changes. In days of old, when turbos were the preserve of performance cars, there were aftermarket kits to keep the engine running for a few minutes after switching off. But now turbos are everywhere and most users aren't aware of their special needs - makes buying a used one a bit of a lottery as the longevity is so reliant on the previous owner's usage, but manufacturers don't really care as the turbo will last until the end of the 3-year warranty and it is good for the official emissions figures.

 

[mioba]

Never had an issue with a turbo. Then again my cars are all serviced on time, if not earlier.

 

[mioba]

All manufacturers share bits whether it be engines or platforms.

sharing bits yes, but the specs is what they dont share.

 

[EmilysDad]

sharing bits yes, but the specs is what they dont share.

Who mentioned specs?

 

[mioba]

Who mentioned specs?

Just a comment - nothing more than that.

 

[bembo449]

you just have to take it on the chin pal , things break on cars , just think as its not an MB the parts will be adman sight cheaper to source

 

[oigle]

Maybe the OP could trade it in for a Mercedes X-Class....

My commuting car is a Nissan and the engineering is perfectly sound. With a modern Mercedes you're paying extra for the fit and finish, not the engineering, just like people buying an Audi instead of a Skoda.

As for turbo failure, this is often down to switching off the engine before letting it simmer down for a bit so the turbo continues to spin without an oil feed, or not keeping up with oil changes. In days of old, when turbos were the preserve of performance cars, there were aftermarket kits to keep the engine running for a few minutes after switching off. But now turbos are everywhere and most users aren't aware of their special needs - makes buying a used one a bit of a lottery as the longevity is so reliant on the previous owner's usage, but manufacturers don't really care as the turbo will last until the end of the 3-year warranty and it is good for the official emissions figures.

Not so much spinning without an oil feed.. The main issue is with temperature. Turbos run extremely hot, particularly if motor being driven hard. If the motor is switched off before allowing a cooling period, the oil actually carbonises in the turbo from heat - anything over about 350° will burn the oil, even if fresh. If oil is old and diluted with fuel, the flash point reduces even further. The carbon builds up and the oil feed is gradually diminished until turbo failure occurs. One should always try to either drive slowly for a period before stopping motor or give it some idle time if preferred.

Ian.

 

[LostKiwi]

With modern water cooled turbos the carbonising of the oil is much less of a thing and under normal use it does no harm to simply switch off. The only exception to this is switching off immediately from being in a high load situation (spirited driving, top of a long steep hill).

 

[mioba]

I dont see this carbonising as an issue with modern syn oils and regular oil changes as the turbo needs the oil for lubrication. But the OP has a Renault engine and maybe the turbos are just not good enough.

OP it would be cheaper to get to the turbo repaired if possible, many companies offer this service, I have never used such so maybe someone can offer advice as to if a rebuilt turbo is as good as a new one for longivity. Its not something you want to be doing obv every 7 years.

Good luck and keep your chin up!

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Engine heat sink is an interesting and not much talked about subject. I’m not a particular fan of electric water pumps but there are advantages to having one, they are only in use when required (no unnecessary load on the engine) and can continue to circulate when the engine is switched off to provide cooling. Interestingly my BMW 435i N55 engine has one but they have since been substituted for a mechanical unit in the latest engines due to the cost of a premature failure.

 

[LostKiwi]

But the OP has a Renault engine and maybe the turbos are just not good enough.

Renault don't make turbos.
Turbos on all cars are a bought in component usually supplied by the likes of KKK, Garret, IHI, HKS, Mitsubishi etc.

 

[oigle]

With modern water cooled turbos the carbonising of the oil is much less of a thing and under normal use it does no harm to simply switch off. The only exception to this is switching off immediately from being in a high load situation (spirited driving, top of a long steep hill).

I do agree with you in general. Water cooling has made a big difference. Trouble is - with a purchase of a used vehicle, nobody knows the history. Did it tow a van? Were oil changes made regularly? Old oil - even fully syn - will flash off at quite low temps due to presence of fuel in the oil. Towing a heavyish van will make motor work hard and turbo will be running at quite high boost and heat. All it takes is a quick pull off into a petrol station and a quick turn off and heat soak will do some damage. Water and oil cooling only work whilst engine is running. Normal low load use and regular oil changes and turbos last almost forever.

 

[oigle]

Renault don't make turbos.
Turbos on all cars are a bought in component usually supplied by the likes of KKK, Garret, IHI, HKS, Mitsubishi etc.

Totally agree. No vehicle manufacturer makes turbos.

 

[Been to Stuttgart]

wow chaps thanks for all of the valuable information you have given, from the MB service sheets the last year before I bought it, the car did its most mileage, well over the service shedule and was obviously serviced prior to selling, so maybe that has something to do with it.

I always idle the car before turning off, as I always reverse into my drive, and our estate is 30 MPH, so the car does have a rest, before turning off.

My mechanic has said it was down to bearing failure?

Thanks again

 

[mioba]

Renault don't make turbos.
Turbos on all cars are a bought in component usually supplied by the likes of KKK, Garret, IHI, HKS, Mitsubishi etc.

Thsts clear, but renault will define the spec for the turbo,

 

[M80]

I'm not reading the op's turbo is water cooled and wouldn't expect it to be.
I haven't seen one as yet, but my youngest mo mo is also 2014.

So for the rest of us it seems exhaust temperature is about the best indication we can have as to turbo temperature. Some will monitor turbo temp on the exhaust side, others might find the temp monitor is downstream at the cat.
By the time we might monitor at the DPF we are getting a bit remote, even in regen mode as that heats the DPF and not the cat.

It might be getting a bit much to start the Toque app to monitor this, but I don't see another realistic way.

What sort of exhaust temps will cause the carbonising within? How long of a cool down drops the temp to 'safe' temps?
From high exhaust temps the cooling will be rapid due to a higher differential to ambient.
I'll have to remember to monitor and try to understand.