CT26 turbo oil leak (8 Viewers)

[Eurasiaoverland]

15B-T engine, 8 valve version with the factory high mount CT26, exactly the same turbo core as the 1HD-T and 1HD-FT as found in the HDJ81 for example.

The engine is from a 1994 JDF BXD10 Mega Cruiser. Assumed to be low km. When I bought the engine I noticed there was a lot of black liquid in the intake system. The engine ran with no visible blow-by coming from the crankcase (turbo disconnected, oil filler cap off) and the rocker cover was spotless clean metal inside, so I really don't think the liquid was from crankcase blow-by, but it's possible.

I partly stripped the engine and have been cleaning up the exhaust manifold and turbo parts. I decided to rinse the oil gallery in the turbine unit with mineral spirits to ensure no dirt has got in there (I blanked off the openings as soon as I removed the turbo, but I realised just now that the blanking plate was loose as the nuts had bottomed out on the studs before they tightened against the blaning plate).

Filling up the oil cavity in the turbo with mineral spirits (aka panel wipe, for degreasing body panels before paint), there is a slow but steady drip from the compressor wheel shaft, down the face which the turbine housing mounts on. I assume this means that the turbo will leak oil and that is my oil leak?

The compressor shaft has a good bit of lateral play, but not so much as to be contacting the compressor housing. There is negligible end float on the shaft.

I assume that an oil seal has failed. Is this something that can be repaired? I'm happy to rebuild most things but have no prior experience of turbos.

Thanks for reading this thesis,

EO

 

[FJBen]

15B-T engine, 8 valve version with the factory high mount CT26, exactly the same turbo core as the 1HD-T and 1HD-FT as found in the HDJ81 for example.

The engine is from a 1994 JDF BXD10 Mega Cruiser. Assumed to be low km. When I bought the engine I noticed there was a lot of black liquid in the intake system. The engine ran with no visible blow-by coming from the crankcase (turbo disconnected, oil filler cap off) and the rocker cover was spotless clean metal inside, so I really don't think the liquid was from crankcase blow-by, but it's possible.

I partly stripped the engine and have been cleaning up the exhaust manifold and turbo parts. I decided to rinse the oil gallery in the turbine unit with mineral spirits to ensure no dirt has got in there (I blanked off the openings as soon as I removed the turbo, but I realised just now that the blanking plate was loose as the nuts had bottomed out on the studs before they tightened against the blaning plate).

Filling up the oil cavity in the turbo with mineral spirits (aka panel wipe, for degreasing body panels before paint), there is a slow but steady drip from the compressor wheel shaft, down the face which the turbine housing mounts on. I assume this means that the turbo will leak oil and that is my oil leak?

The compressor shaft has a good bit of lateral play, but not so much as to be contacting the compressor housing. There is negligible end float on the shaft.

I assume that an oil seal has failed. Is this something that can be repaired? I'm happy to rebuild most things but have no prior experience of turbos.

Thanks for reading this thesis,

EO

Seeing how meticulous you work on and fix other things, you can absolutely do this seal.

The most critical part is getting the wheels/shaft/nut marked so they are put back on how they were balanced.

People seem to do this on their own all the time. I opted to send my old one to be rebuilt. I think it was around $500.

 

[TheBussman]

I wouldn't say that the seal is failed just from that. It's not like a rubber radial shaft seal on cam or crank. A brand new turbo can leak out of that seal if something is not right with the engine. (crankcase pressure too high, clogged air filter etc) you might try a test on the engine first and watch for oil leaking (be sure to prime it with engine oil first.) When oil pressure is being sent to the turbo and it starts spinning it centers the shaft into the correct position also, that's the position where the seals work best.

that being said rebuilding the turbo is not hard and rebuilding it anyway will give you some piece of mind although i don't know if there is a high quality kit for the ct26 or not.