Turbo Noise

[EDX]

Driving with the window open recently, I noticed a loud turbo whistle bouncing back from the fence alongside me. I've listened to other 220CDI Mercs passing in the street and I can barely hear their turbo. Should there be sound/heat insulation around the turbo? There isn't on mine. Anybody got any photos of the W202 installation?

TIA

 

[psmart]

As the turbo wears, the whistle becomes more prominent. A new turbo is quiet and more like a highly muffled vacuum cleaner. Do you regularly change the oil and let the turbo spin down?

I installed a new one on my ML over 40K ago and it still isnt whistling, yet the original at 55k whistled quite loudly. It was badly installed (manufacturing fault as the exhaust manifold was stressed), under enough tension to shear the mounting bracket and wear the hole oval, hence its rapid wear!

 

[ALFIEBEARD]

Driving with the window open recently, I noticed a loud turbo whistle bouncing back from the fence alongside me. I've listened to other 220CDI Mercs passing in the street and I can barely hear their turbo. Should there be sound/heat insulation around the turbo? There isn't on mine. Anybody got any photos of the W202 installation?

TIA

I had a Turbo fitted to my old E250D by TB Turbo,s and I asked the same question, as at the time we had a Turbo diesel van at work which whistled like a kettle, they said often a bit of carbon can stick to the turbo vanes and cause a slight imbalance which produces a whistle, we never did investigate it further but the old girl ran ok for another 100,000mls without problem, so I would'nt worry about it.

Regards
Alfie B

 

[oigle]

I have noticed on my ML270 that the turbo whistles when the motor is cold - first km or two of driving then it becomes quiet. Presumably this must be a fuel/air mixture issue but may also relate to oil viscosity as I found it whistled more with a heavier engine oil. Colder weather also seems to make it more noticeable. I don't consider turbo whistle to be a problem. At least you know it is working !!
I have used turbo motors at very high boost in competition - 30psi - and the only times they gave trouble was from running too hot - glowing almost white hot - and shutting down the motor prematurely - engine stall etc. It is imperative to idle down a turbo for a minute or so after heavy or high speed work - do not just rip off a freeway for fuel and shut it down.