REFLECTOR: Turbo diagnosis update.

[Mark Magee]

Hi Chris,
Seems like you're on to something. Next try and run your shop Vac through the intercooler on blow mode. Is it plugged? On occasion intercoolers get plugged up by failing or failed turbo's. Actually not uncommon. Engineers like the intercooler as a 'filter' for a catastrophic failure of a turbocharger from the shrapnel being directly ingested into the engine causing a total engine failure. Their are few reasons for an intercooler to plug up, all of which normally point to a problem with the turbo. An oil leak at the minimum. I'm hoping this is a used intercooler, or even better that you can think of a logical reason this intercooler is plugged; eg. a different turbo died upstream of this intercooler. 
If the shop Vac reveals a plugged intercooler, and you have no idea how this happened, I personally would cut it in half for inspection to find out what's plugged it.
Sorry for the downer, but a plugged intercooler points to a possibly much more serious issue.
Hopefully you bought this I/C already plugged.

Mark B. Magee
N34XL
Sent from IPhone 4

On Aug 21, 2012, at 6:51 PM, Chris Barber <cbarber at texasattorney.net> wrote:

> When I got to the hangar this afternoon I jumped into a diagnosing my turbo problems. I checked out the turbo and it moved easily and freely with no noticble physical damage. I cranked up the engine, crawled under the wing and removed the hose from the intake and felt if I could feel any preesure out of the hose from the turbo. No joy. I couldn't feel any air movement. Ok, shut her down and went to the other side of the engine and removed the hose from the outlet of the turbo compressor. Cranked her up and felt for air out of the turbo compressor. I felt steady moderate air pressure. How about that. Data. I also could see the compressor spinning nicely. 
> 
> So, I rigged an alternate plumbing route and bypassed my intercooler. I also removed the pop off valve as it over complicated the rigged plumbing. 
> 
> I got it all buttoned up and started her up and recorded my readings like yesterday. 
> 
> They were as follow:
> 
> 2000 - 14.1
> 3000 - 15.4
> 4000 - 20.2
> 5000 - 26.4
> 6000 - 30.3
> 6200 - 31.2
> 
> Hmmm, seems more like it. So, it seems if I may need a new intercooler unless I am missing something. 
> 
> The new power surprised me as in just the short time I was at the higher power setting, the time it took to write numbers down, I overheated. I have had no heating issues since I modified my radiator location back in April. 
> 
> Again, this is with a 3 lb spring on the waste gate and 93 octane fuel 
> 
> Thanks for y'all's input. 
> 
> Chris Barber
> Houston, GSOT
> Velocity SE
> 13b turbo rotary. 
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone 4
> _______________________________________________
> To change your email address, visit http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
> 
> Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html