How Much Does Turbo Cost To Repair?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The price of a turbocharger typically

starts from $400 and goes up depending on the make and model of your car

. For smaller cars such as an Audi A4, or a Subaru Impreza you can expect to pay less for a replacement turbocharger.

Can you still drive a car if the turbo goes out?

When the turbo fails, you will no doubt experience a sudden loss of power. In smaller turbos, like a 91-94 Mercury Capri XR2,

you will still be able to drive, albeit WAY slow and very poorly

. Some have driven some 25 miles in this state. Such a drive will use over a quart of oil because of the broken seals.

Can you fix a damaged turbo?

Yes! In the right hands,

almost all problems of turbochargers can be repaired

. What is more important is to identify the problem with the turbocharger and how to repair it. To understand how to diagnose turbocharger repairs, here are a couple of significant repair tips to remember.

Is turbo worth replacing?


Never replace a turbo without replacing all the oil feed pipework as well

. Turbos usually fail because the oil in the bearings cokes up from the engine having been switched off when the turbo was too hot.

How do you know your turbo is blown?

  1. The car has noticeable power loss.
  2. The acceleration of the car seems slow and noisy.
  3. The car doesn’t easily maintain high speeds.
  4. There is smoke coming from the exhaust.
  5. There is an engine fault light on the dashboard.

What are the signs of turbo failure?

  • POWER LOSS. If you notice that your car isn’t accelerating as powerfully as it used to, or is slow to react to your input, this might be a sign that your turbo is failing. …
  • WHINING ENGINE. …
  • EXHAUST SMOKE. …
  • CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. …
  • OIL/LUBRICATION. …
  • DAMAGED SEALS. …
  • FOREIGN OBJECTS/DEPOSITS. …
  • WEAR & TEAR.

Can a faulty turbo damage your engine?


There is no reason for engine damage to occur when a turbo fails

. In the case of a chip off of the impeller, they end up in the catalytical converter and intercooler.

What causes turbo failure?

Most failures are caused by the three ‘turbo killers’ of

oil starvation, oil contamination and foreign object damage

. More than 90% of turbocharger failures are caused oil related either by oil starvation or oil contamination. Blocked or leaking pipes or lack of priming on fitting usually causes oil starvation.

How many miles do Turbos last?

In general, turbos last

150,000 miles on average

(or about 50,000 miles on a typical car), but they can wear out over time depending on how hard you drive it and the original build quality.

How far can you drive with a blown turbo?

Be sure to keep an eye on your oil level if you do decide to drive on a blown turbo, and don’t go more than

around 100 miles

.

How often do Turbos need to be replaced?

Most turbochargers need to be replaced

between 100,000 and 150,000 miles

. If you are good at maintaining your car and get timely oil changes your turbocharger may last even longer than that.

Can a turbo car run without turbo?


The vehicle can run without an efficiently functioning turbocharger

, but it will perform poorly, and your decision could possibly have dramatic repercussions. If the issue is an oil supply or internal component-related problem, complete failure is imminent.

How long does it take to replace a turbo in a car?

How Long Does It Take To Fit A Turbo On A Car? Obviously, the exact service time varies, depending on what car model and workshop you use, but usually ranges from

2 – 4 hours

for a turbo replacement.

What does a faulty turbo sound like?


A loud whining noise

– Often, a failing turbocharger will make a loud, distinctive noise when under boost – a bit like a dentist’s drill or police siren if compressor wheel damaged. If you start to hear this noise from your engine, it’s definitely time to have it checked out!

How do you check if the turbo is working?

At what speed does turbo kick in?

The boost is achieved by using the exhaust flow from the engine to spin a turbine and then spinning an air pump. The turbine in the turbocharger can spin at speeds of

up to 150,000rpm

, which is 30 times faster than most car engines can go.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.