RTH: GTurbo got lazy after highway drive, slow to build boost, lower boost levels than normal (1 Viewer)

[IanB]

@gerg Turbo wheels and shaft are a single unit, can't spin anything independently.

How long should the shaft/wheels continue to spin if you spin the nut on the cold side with your finger and thumb as hard as you can? The bearing feels smooth and spins freely, but it will come to a stop in about a rotation, less than 2 for sure. I've been treating this as OK, but I'm now starting to 2nd guess myself, as I know when and engine shuts off the turbo spins to a stop over the next 20 seconds or so if you listen at the tailpipe, but it's spinning much faster than in my test...anyone know what I should be looking for?

If the bearing is shot and I just didn't know how to test for a bad bearing, then that would explain a lot. I pulled the intake off the truck and spun the stock turbo in the same fashion, very unscientific testing here, but it free spins about 2X as far as the Gturbo. Insignificant difference? I thought so. Anyone know?

 

[gerg]

Tighter bearings tend to spin less freely. I'd say that's fairly normal for a new turbo.

 

[mudgudgeon]

The bearing feels smooth and spins freely, but it will come to a stop in about a rotation, less than 2 for sure.

I wouldn't be too concerned by that. The residual oil in the turbo will have friction that drags the turbo to a stop.
When the oil is hot in a running engine, viscosity is a lot thinner.

 

[Locked79]

I'm gunna disagree slightly, but with oil on the bearings it should spin more than 2 revolutions

 

[Dilspec]

No word from GTurbo yet?

 

[IanB]

I've had a few conversations with Graeme @ Gturbo this week and last, sent some pics, discussed some more. After much head scratching I'll be sending it back for them to look over, so I guess that's what I was really looking for at this stage, so positive progress.

 

[Lumpskie]

I've had a few conversations with Graeme @ Gturbo this week and last, sent some pics, discussed some more. After much head scratching I'll be sending it back for them to look over, so I guess that's what I was really looking for at this stage, so positive progress.

This is good to hear. At the end of the day, if your stock turbo runs properly and the Gturbo is lazy, you have isolated it enough to warrant getting another one.

 

[KiwiDingo]

I've had a few conversations with Graeme @ Gturbo this week and last, sent some pics, discussed some more. After much head scratching I'll be sending it back for them to look over, so I guess that's what I was really looking for at this stage, so positive progress.

Any updates on if they found the cause of the issue?

 

[IanB]

Update time. Sent the turbo back to Australia, stock turbo back on my truck, runs fine. Gturbo inspect and can't find anything wrong, but then neither could I, not shocked by this. They go the extra mile and install it on a truck and run it on the dyno, they report it worked for them. I'm not 100% convinced they tested for the symptoms I sent it back for, but c'est la vie. They tore it right down and made sure the bearings were fine, no issues could be identified. After some more back and forth, I've "traded it in" on exchange for the newest iteration of the Grunter Extreme, and it's in the mail headed this way.

Not exactly the resolution I was hoping for, but I'm not really sure what else there was to do at this point. I wasn't paying $300 to have them ship the same turbo back, and I've wasted nearly a year on this now. Happy to have the new turbo on the way, and looking forward to picking this project back up and moving it forward after a long stall in progress.

 

[DancesWithMutts]

Sounds like they more or less did their part on the customer service end. I've got my gunter extreme on and I'm happy with it. 24 psi at 2200 rpm. That's at 5k feet.

 

[KiwiDingo]

hmmm.... did you really expect them to come out and say there was an issue with there turbo, especially since they know you'll be writing about it here for everyone to read about? You had already proved it yourself when you swapped the turbos that there was something wrong with it. Oh well like you say, at least now you can move on from this with a functioning turbo. Will be interesting to hear how you find it goes compared to the earlier version.

 

[IanB]

hmmm.... did you really expect them to come out and say there was an issue with there turbo, especially since they know you'll be writing about it here for everyone to read about? You had already proved it yourself when you swapped the turbos that there was something wrong with it. Oh well like you say, at least now you can move on from this with a functioning turbo. Will be interesting to hear how you find it goes compared to the earlier version.

Yep, eyes on the moving forward part, it was a tough one to swallow.

I only got about 10 days of enjoyment out of the 1st turbo, and that was like 11 months ago already, I won't be able to compare. If it's like those first 10 days going forward I'll be a happy man.

 

[IanB]

Replacement turbo has arrived! Looking like install will be in about 2 weeks.

 

[Lumpskie]

Replacement turbo has arrived! Looking like install will be in about 2 weeks.

View attachment 1979875

YES. It looks pretty. I hope it performs to suit. I was just thinking about how much I like the Gturbo/PDI combo on my rig and remembered yours. I can't wait to check in and hear about what you think when it's installed.

 

[IanB]

Replacement turbo is in! Tractor exhaust note is gone, turbo spools quickly with a bit of pedal, and boost needle swings hard for the max! Holds 10psi at 110km/h, haven't really tested in town at about 60km/h yet, but I'm back in the game. Need to get the manual boost controller set at 20psi, and dial back in the bit of main fuel that I pulled back out when I put the stock turbo back on.

It hasn't really set in that I'm good yet.

Snapped a pic where I left off last night after work, new turbo in, ready to torque down the manifold.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Replacement turbo is in! Tractor exhaust note is gone, turbo spools quickly with a bit of pedal, and boost needle swings hard for the max! Holds 10psi at 110km/h, haven't really tested in town at about 60km/h yet, but I'm back in the game. Need to get the manual boost controller set at 20psi, and dial back in the bit of main fuel that I pulled back out when I put the stock turbo back on.

It hasn't really set in that I'm good yet.

Snapped a pic where I left off last night after work, new turbo in, ready to torque down the manifold.

View attachment 1991154

Must be one of them new stealth-turbos!

Seriously have to look hard at that pic to see it!

Hope it's all peachy now!

 

[Lumpskie]

Replacement turbo is in! Tractor exhaust note is gone, turbo spools quickly with a bit of pedal, and boost needle swings hard for the max! Holds 10psi at 110km/h, haven't really tested in town at about 60km/h yet, but I'm back in the game. Need to get the manual boost controller set at 20psi, and dial back in the bit of main fuel that I pulled back out when I put the stock turbo back on.

It hasn't really set in that I'm good yet.

Snapped a pic where I left off last night after work, new turbo in, ready to torque down the manifold.

View attachment 1991154

Yes! Turn up that boost and let's collaborate on a high flow airbox!

 

[cruiserpilot]

I sure hope this is a fixed issue for you now. I'm waiting patiently for my new Grunter Extreme to arrive soon.
Mine is a 12HT so if I have any kind of issues, at least it's somewhat easier to get it. But, damn I sure hope not!
I got my manual boost controller from PDI. It arrived but I'm not home. All the pics you posted have at least
helped see what is involved.
Good luck! J

 

[IanB]

Must be one of them new stealth-turbos!

Seriously have to look hard at that pic to see it!

Hope it's all peachy now!

Oh it's in there alright! Speaking of stealth-turbos, it's quieter than the last one for sure, can barely hear it.

Yes! Turn up that boost and let's collaborate on a high flow airbox!

I'm hoping to be in a position to dabble in the airbox modding world later this summer! I've got a late model FZJ80 airbox lid waiting for me at the border, requires a threaded rod extension, cutting the lid outlet off before the MAF, and some new silicon bends/reducers.

I installed a "filter minder" post-filter/pre-turbo that measures airbox resistance and tells you when your filter is clogged, and if it's to be believed I can't get to the corner without maxing out the damn thing, lol.

I sure hope this is a fixed issue for you now. I'm waiting patiently for my new Grunter Extreme to arrive soon.
Mine is a 12HT so if I have any kind of issues, at least it's somewhat easier to get it. But, damn I sure hope not!
I got my manual boost controller from PDI. It arrived but I'm not home. All the pics you posted have at least
helped see what is involved.
Good luck! J

I've done this job enough times now that it's no longer scary, but it's still a good 7 hours in the garage working steady. Glad to hear the pics have helped someone!

 

[IanB]

Upped the fuel about 1/3 of a turn on the main fuel screw again last night, feels great! I'll keep adding fuel until I get back to where I was this time last year, lol. Truck is running excellent.