Turbo fault
Turbo Failure Recovery Across Birmingham
A failing or failed turbocharger usually announces itself with a noticeable loss of power, sometimes alongside blue-grey smoke from the exhaust if oil is getting into the intake or exhaust system, and occasionally a change in the whining noise the turbo normally makes under acceleration.
This isn't a fault that can be fixed at the roadside, since turbo replacement or repair needs the car on a ramp. We recover turbo failures across Birmingham, Solihull, Sandwell and the Black Country to a garage, and try to minimise further running of the engine to avoid making any damage worse.
Signs of turbo trouble
A sudden flat spot or noticeable loss of power under acceleration, blue-tinged exhaust smoke (a sign of oil burning), a change in the usual turbo whine to a louder or different pitched noise, or the engine warning light appearing alongside reduced performance can all point towards the turbo.
- Sudden loss of power or a flat spot under acceleration
- Blue-grey smoke from the exhaust — oil getting where it shouldn't
- Turbo whine changing pitch or getting noticeably louder
- Engine warning light with reduced performance
Why continuing to drive is a bad idea
If a turbo has failed and is leaking oil into the intake or exhaust system, continuing to drive risks the engine drawing in too much oil and revving uncontrollably, or damaging the catalytic converter and diesel particulate filter with oil residue — both of which are expensive fixes on top of the turbo itself.
What we do
We won't run the engine any longer than necessary once a turbo failure is suspected. We'll load the car and recover it to a garage of your choice, flagging what we've noticed so the mechanic has a head start on the diagnosis.
After the turbo is replaced
It's worth knowing that a turbo failure is sometimes caused by an oil supply issue rather than the turbo itself being at fault — a blocked oil feed pipe or low oil level can starve the turbo of lubrication and cause it to fail prematurely. A good garage should check for this rather than just fitting a new turbo and risking the same failure again.
Questions we get asked
Can I keep driving gently if there's still some power?
It's risky if oil is leaking into the intake or exhaust, since this can cause further engine damage or contaminate emissions components. Better to stop and arrange recovery.
What causes turbo failure in the first place?
Common causes include worn bearings from age or poor servicing, oil starvation from a blocked feed pipe or low oil level, or foreign object damage from debris entering the intake.
Will a garage just replace the turbo?
A thorough repair should also check the oil supply and quality, since a turbo can fail again quickly if the root cause of the failure isn't addressed.
Is blue smoke always a turbo problem?
Not always, but it's a common sign of oil being burnt where it shouldn't be, and a failing turbo is one of the more frequent causes.
Losing power or seeing blue smoke?
Call 07402 666 687 and we'll recover your car to a garage before further damage can occur.