March 2021

A s the drive towards greater engine efficiency results in more and more vehicles employing turbochargers, garages are increasingly faced with addressing these complex components: “The automotive turbocharger market is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.5% over the next five years,” said Darren Johnson, Group Sales Director at Melett, “which means it is now predicted to reach $18.4 billion by 2025 from $11.1 billion in 2020, according to a market report published by MarketsandMarkets.” Darren continued: “The increased demand for turbocharged cars has led to many new companies setting up turbo repair workshops. However, some of these companies do not have access to the correct equipment or the necessary experience, which can lead to poorly performing turbos. An incorrect rebuild or setting of the turbocharger will have a negative impact on the engine performance and can lead to complete failure in some cases. It is important that the automotive repair market considers the real cost of using low quality repair parts, not only to their own business reputations, but to the reputation of the industry as a whole.” Darren continued: “It is often the case that passenger car turbochargers are not repaired but are completely replaced with new OE or equivalent units. However, new units are usually expensive to purchase and can often be subject to lengthy lead times. Repairing turbochargers, on the other hand, is more cost effective and promotes environmental sustainability. By reclaiming and remanufacturing old cores wherever possible, wastage is reduced, and costs kept to a minimum. “Melett offers an extensive range of assembled and VSR balanced core assemblies (CHRA), which enable repairers to provide a superior standard of repair. Each core assembly is quality checked and inspected against the original equipment specifications to ensure OE performance is maintained during operation. For instances where a repair is not possible, Melett also provides a range of complete turbo units. “Looking ahead, Melett is continuing to ask the market to think about ‘What’s in your turbo?’ The fact remains though that the turbocharger repair market is at a pivotal point. It must fight this needless race to the bottom and promote remanufacturing, investment and engineering, leading to greater prosperity throughout the entire market.” Suggesting some turbo tips, Darren said: “Oil starvation and contamination are two of the most common causes of premature turbocharger failure. With modern turbos reaching speeds of up to 350,000 RPM, it’s critical that they are properly lubricated. Poor oil maintenance causes excess friction which damages turbocharger components. It’s therefore crucial that vehicles are regularly serviced as per the recommended schedules, using the correct grade oil and a quality filter. An oil change should also be undertaken every time a turbocharger is fitted. “Whenever vehicles have been stood for a period of time, for example during lockdown, it’s important to advise motorists to allow time for oil to circulate before setting off. They should be reminded that aggressive driving adds extra pressure to the parts that haven’t moved for some time, which increases the risk of damage.” For more turbo tips and helpful video resources, please visit www.melett.com/technical Service solution Lockdown 1, 2 and 3 will not have been great for turbos. As they become more ubiquitous, with the drive towards greater engine efficiency meaning more vehicles employ a turbo, the problems will be widespread. Prevention is better than cure in most cases, but sometimes you have to start from scratch, with a replacement turbo. Commenting on the problem of turbo oil starvation immediately following installation, Mike Schlup, Managing Director of Kalimex said: “Installing a turbo can be problematic, regardless of a mechanic’s experience. There can be a delay of up to 30 seconds between the engine starting and oil reaching the bearings. This oil starvation can cause unwelcome damage to the turbo which, although not immediately apparent, can reduce its life and result in premature failure. It can eventually lead to a seizure and even cause a degree of premature wear on the engine. You can avoid such problems with JLM Turbo Pre Lube. It has been made to the highest specification with a high load bearing film that coats all the moving parts. Before connecting the oil inlet hole of the turbo, fill to the brim with Turbo Pre Lube." Mike said it is also a turbo service solution: “Over the life of the turbo, contamination such as carbon deposits will 32 AFTERMARKET MARCH 2021 TURBOS www.aftermarketonline.net BE A TURBO HERO All the latest on turbos, and how to deal with them when a vehicle has been afflicted by under-use Above: Turbo from Nissens