Land Rover 300TDi turbocharger rebuild

Land Rover 300TDi turbocharger rebuild

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100SRV

Original Poster:

2,180 posts

249 months

Friday 11th March 2022
quotequote all
When the garage replaced the timing belt on my 300TDi a while ago I asked them to give the engine a quick check to see why it was more sluggish than my identical but higher-mileage vehicle. I was advised that there was a lot of play in the turbocharger bearing but it wasn't in imminent danger of failure. The intention was to fit a BAS VNT turbocharger when they became available - buy once, cry once.

The turbocharger had other ideas and decided to start making Canary noises at gear changes and a more scary noise at higher engine speeds.

I suspect it is telling me that it's time to book it's funeral.

The VNT turbochargers aren't readily available yet but I don't want to buy a replacement assembly so was thinking of rebuilding it with a new cartridge.

Is this a good idea?
It doesn't look too difficult (I've rebuilt engines before).
Any tips?

stevieturbo

17,535 posts

254 months

Friday 11th March 2022
quotequote all
are you trying to change from a non VNT turbo to a VNT turbo ?

Or just a direct replacement ?

100SRV

Original Poster:

2,180 posts

249 months

Friday 11th March 2022
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
are you trying to change from a non VNT turbo to a VNT turbo ?

Or just a direct replacement ?
Direct replacement for now - I'm pressed for time and need the vehicle mobile again.

100SRV

Original Poster:

2,180 posts

249 months

Monday 14th March 2022
quotequote all
This might be a viable replacement:
https://www.turborebuild.co.uk/webshop/prod_548194...
- certainly a good turbocharger will make the engine perform better than the present worn one. The attraction here is I am buying from the assembler/manufacturer of most of the parts, claimed extra performance is a bonus.

100SRV

Original Poster:

2,180 posts

249 months

Monday 21st March 2022
quotequote all
Not a lot of responses to this query so I decided I'd go ahead anyway.

I ordered an improved turbocharger CRHA and it arrived well-packaged three days later.

The biggest obstacles to it being a straightforward job were the lack of a suitably large internal circlip pliers and one of the clamp bots shearing off in the exhaust manifiold. The former I solved with ingenuity and the latter I drilled and re-tapped.

The job took just over a day to do but four hours of that was spent fixing things and removing / refitting the circlip.

Scrump

22,944 posts

165 months

Monday 21st March 2022
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Is the performance improved? Better than your other Land Rover?

100SRV

Original Poster:

2,180 posts

249 months

Monday 21st March 2022
quotequote all
Scrump said:
Is the performance improved? Better than your other Land Rover?
Probably about the same now, although the wastegate is still chirruping so I need to check the boost pressure. Could be there are/were two factors at play - a worn-out turbocharger and the wastegate relieving boost pressure too early.

hidetheelephants

27,848 posts

200 months

Monday 21st March 2022
quotequote all
Any pics? Mine isn't making alarming noises but I dare say it will get there eventually.

100SRV

Original Poster:

2,180 posts

249 months

Monday 21st March 2022
quotequote all
hidetheelephants said:
Any pics? Mine isn't making alarming noises but I dare say it will get there eventually.
I'll post some on Tuesday.

Test run on the motorway this evening, definitely still down on torque on longer/steeper climbs when compared with the other 110". Revs nicely but appears a grey smoke haze at full accelerator around 65mph in fifth.

Suspect that the wastegate is bleeding boost which is causing the poor climbing performance, surely the catalytic converter can't be that restrictive? Economy is on a par with the other 110" which again points to poorer efficiency.

100SRV

Original Poster:

2,180 posts

249 months

Saturday 2nd April 2022
quotequote all
Fitted a boost pressure gauge, peak is uncalibrated 0.85 Bar.


I rotated the boost compensating diaphragm / pin so the fuelling regulator runs on the part of the cone with the greatest offset (it was on 1/2 way position). Obviously it goes better but with puff of black smoke between gears as the turby winds up and a black haze at full load. Think I'll put it back where it was and try winding the boost up next.
Need a rolling road!

100SRV

Original Poster:

2,180 posts

249 months

Monday 4th April 2022
quotequote all
hidetheelephants said:
Any pics? Mine isn't making alarming noises but I dare say it will get there eventually.
Oil in the intercooler, inlet tract even as far as the fuel/boost aneroid:




Old turby - can you see the damaged vanes?


New turby



All assembled: