How to take care of a turbocharger so that it serves you as long as possible?

Nowadays, you can hardly find a new car that is not equipped with a turbocharger. Manufacturers are using it more and more often – because they have to meet strict emission limits, but at the same time they want to extract as much power as possible from a small engine volume. How does a turbo actually work and what can you do to extend its life?

How does a turbocharger work?

You can recognize the turbocharger at first sight by its characteristic shape, which resembles a snail. In its bowels are hidden 2 paddle wheels – one serves as a turbine, the other as a compressor.

The principle of operation of the turbocharger is quite simple. Exhaust gas from the engine exhaust pipe enters from one side. They spin the turbine wheel, which is connected to the compressor wheel. In the second chamber, the compressor wheel compresses clean air from the intake and drives it into the intake manifold.

Did you know that the air from the turbocharger passes through a cooler of compressed air (the so-called intercooler) so that it does not enter the engine extremely hot?

The use of a turbocharger in modern engines

Thanks to the turbocharger, combustion engines achieve higher efficiency. They have lower fuel consumption at higher power and at the same time please with high torque even at lower revolutions – to achieve the required power they do not need to be revved to high revolutions like atmospheric engines. Thanks to the turbocharger, it is possible to obtain high performance even from a small engine volume.

For this reason, todays turbochargers are used in almost all modern diesel and gasoline engines in passenger cars, vans or trucks. Some aggregates even have up to 2 or more turbos.

Why does a turbocharger need engine oil?

The turbocharger rotor rotates at a speed of up to 250,000 revolutions per minute. It is stored in high-quality bearings with minimal volition, which must be well cooled and lubricated. That is why engine oil is critically important for the proper functioning of the turbo.

3 functions of engine oil

The oil primarily ensures effective lubrication and cooling of the turbocharger bearings. It thus prevents them from overheating and rapid wear.

However, at the same time, the oil also fulfills a cleaning function. Contains detergents and dispersants that help remove deposits on metal surfaces. This also reduces the risk of faster wear.

The most common failures of turbochargers

Common problems with turbochargers include a leak, which causes oil to enter the exhaust pipe and can cause damage to the DPF filter.

Practical tip: If you want to extend the life of the DPF filter in your car, we recommend using DYNAMAX DPF cleaner. The EGR cleaner DYNAMAX DXC11 will serve well to effectively clean the EGR valve.

Oil leakage is usually caused by increased volition in the rotor bearing. If this volition is too large, the rotor or stator blades may come into contact with the turbocharger housing. The vanes will be damaged and the turbo will start to lose its efficiency.

How to extend the life of a turbocharger?

The most important thing of all is to observe regular oil changes. Used engine oil contains a lot of impurities that accelerate the wear of the turbocharger bearings. Also, be sure to use the correct engine oil recommended by the manufacturer. In our offer you will find a wide selection of oils not only for passenger cars, but also vans, agricultural vehicles and trucks. You can also use the practical product search engine.

If you want the best for the turbocharger in your car, watch your driving style as well. In the first minutes after starting, do not run the engine immediately into high revs. Give the oil time to warm up properly and effectively lubricate all engine components, including the turbocharger. Let the car idle after stopping at least for a minute before turning off the engine. Thanks to this, the turbo rotor will naturally cool down and there will be no risk of oil burning and the formation of carbon deposits.

Final advice: For even smoother engine operation and longer component life, we recommend using DYNAMAX year-round diesel additive, or DYNAMAX additive for E10 gasoline.