Many times customers ask me if they will be able to swap the turbocharger or supercharger from their old engine to their replacement engine. While you should only rely a detailed inspection of the part by yourself or your mechanic, there are a couple rules of thumb you can use.
- If your engine has failed due to oil starvation, the odds of you needing a new turbocharger or supercharger are increased. They need oil, just like your engine.
- If the unit still turns freely, chances are greater that it will be ok. Again, this is just a rule of thumb – your mileage may vary.
This is an area that your feedback would really be appreciated. What have been your experiences?
I had a recent experience with a customer who had a 2002 Volvo S40. He had a 1.9L turbocharged engine, and while driving down the interstate, either he or a member of his family had a large rock tear a hole in their oil pan. Due to heavy traffic, they weren’t able to make it to the shoulder fast enough; the engine lost oil and scorched itself. The customer’s mechanic felt they would be fine with his old turbo – it turned freely and didn’t look like it had suffered from a lack of lubrication. However, when they installed his replacement engine, the old turbo was no good. They had to get another. I helped him find a good used one, but it was not the labor money saver he had hoped for.
If you have any stories about whether you needed to replace your turbo at the time you also replaced an engine, please, leave us a comment! Your experience could help someone else save time, money, or both!
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