Variable vane turbos

[Red Herring]

I am just wondering if any of the trucks run variable vane turbo's?

 

[Mauricio]

Mine does, but it's not a Toyota.

 

[Dougal]

Seems to be later 100 series diesel (292F engine) and all the D4D engines from then on (1KD, 1VD, 2VD etc).

 

[Red Herring]

Well, OK. I run a Jetta TDi with a variable vane VNT15 Garret turbo, and one of the more common problems is carbon build up in the exhaust side, and seizing or restricting the movement of the vanes.

Someone on the TDi web site happened upon a GREAT fix, and I thought it might help out some of our turbo diesel brethren here in MUD.

The tip is... clean your exhaust side with easy off oven cleaner. Confirmation from Garret, and I'm sure this applies to most if not all other turbos, is that there is nothing in the exhaust side that will be harmed by easy off. Simply remove your exhaust from the turbo, blow it full of easy off, work the vanes either manually or with a vacuum actuator till they free up (this might require some patience), let the easy off sit for a couple of hours, and either gently rinse with low pressure water or just reassemble, and take it for a hard run.

I don't know if this will be useful for anyone, but it sure works like a hot damn, and I thought I would put it out here just in case. It is a lot easier and works just as well as removal and disassembly.

Here's the link to the thread in the other forum Chemical cleaning for turbo vs removal? - TDIClub Forums I don't think you have to be a member to read it.

Cheers

 

[Dougal]

Nice tip.
But tell me, do they carbon up more if you drive them hard or drive them nicely?

 

[Red Herring]

Nice tip.
But tell me, do they carbon up more if you drive them hard or drive them nicely?

If you baby it, they tend to carbon up.