Date:         Thu, 14 Jan 1999 19:23:36 -0800
Reply-To:     Björn <bratjen@DIRECT.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Björn <bratjen@DIRECT.CA>
Subject:      turbocharger: how to destroy it
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

just an add on about turbocharger longevity: There are basically two phases
where the turbocharger is vulnerable: when you start a cold engine and when
you shut down. To get the maximum wear and early disintegration you would
run a cold engine with high rpms and also rev it up before you shut it off.
When the engine is cold turbocharger (end engine) do not yet have sufficient
lubrication and have a high degree of wear between moving parts. The
turbochargers rpms increase with engine speed. When you rev the engine
before shutdown you will speed up the turbocharger which will run after
engine shutoff with decreasing lubrication. Both situations should be avoided.

VW gossip: VW had a problem with their turbochargers in North America and
they traced the problem to the people loading the ships in Germany. They
must have done drag races with the cold new engines which the turbochargers
did not take lightly. By the way the english Garret turbochargers seemed to
have fared better than the German KKK (Kühnle, Kopp & Kausch) in this exercise.

Björn

P.S. Not every engine is suitable for turbochargers, because you intensify
the combustion and add more heat the engines (particularly Diesel engines)
need piston cooling (oil spraying the underside of the pistons) to avoid
burnout.
Björn Ratjen, Ph.D.

Mill Bay, B.C.
Canada
ph/fax (250) 743-7575