Diagnosing turbocharger and diesel engine problems: smoke, codes, shaft play, boost leaks.
Understanding Turbo Whine vs Normal Turbo Noise is one of the most valuable diagnostic skills a diesel owner or mechanic can have, because the difference between a healthy spooling turbo and a failing one is often just a subtle change in pitch that most people ignore until the bearings let go. At PT Turbo, we
Turbo Whine vs Normal Turbo Noise: How to Tell if Your Turbocharger Is Failing Read More »
Blue Smoke from Diesel Engine exhaust is one of the clearest warning signs that oil is getting where it shouldn’t, and nine times out of ten on a turbocharged diesel it points straight back to the turbo. Unlike black smoke (unburned fuel) or white smoke (coolant or raw fuel), blue-gray smoke means engine oil is
Blue Smoke from Diesel Engine: Turbocharger Oil Seal Failure Diagnosis Read More »
The P003A Turbocharger VGT Actuator Code is one of the most common diagnostic trouble codes we see roll through the shop on late-model Cummins and Duramax diesels, and it almost always points to the same underlying problem: the variable geometry turbocharger vanes are no longer moving through their full commanded range. Left unaddressed, it kills
P003A Turbocharger VGT Actuator Code: Diagnosis Guide for Cummins & Duramax Read More »
If your diagnostic scanner just pulled a P0046 Turbocharger Vane Position Sensor Circuit code, your turbo’s variable geometry system is telling you something is wrong with how it’s reporting boost control back to the ECM. This is one of the more misunderstood turbo codes out there, and chasing the wrong part can cost you a
P0046 Turbocharger Vane Position Sensor Circuit: What It Means & How to Fix It Read More »
The P0234 Turbocharger Overboost Code is your engine control module telling you the turbo is producing more boost pressure than the system is programmed to allow. On a diesel, that is not a minor warning light. Overboost puts real stress on pistons, head gaskets, and the turbo itself, and left alone it can turn a
P0234 Turbocharger Overboost Code: Causes, Diagnosis & Fix Read More »
The P0299 Turbocharger Underboost Code is one of the most common and most misunderstood fault codes we see roll through the shop, and if you drive or wrench on a modern diesel long enough, you will meet it. It means the engine control module (ECM) commanded a certain amount of boost pressure and the turbo
P0299 Turbocharger Underboost Code: Complete Diagnosis Guide for Diesel Trucks Read More »
P0299 is one of the most common diesel OBD codes — and the turbocharger is rarely the first thing to blame. Here’s a systematic diagnosis approach that saves time and money.
How to Diagnose a P0299 Underboost Code on a Diesel Truck Read More »
Most turbocharger failures are preventable. Learn the five root causes responsible for the majority of diesel turbo failures and what you can do to avoid them.
5 Most Common Causes of Turbocharger Failure in Diesel Trucks Read More »
Black smoke from a diesel exhaust almost always means incomplete combustion. The turbocharger is often involved. Here is how to diagnose the cause systematically.
What Causes Black Smoke from a Diesel Engine? Diagnosis Guide Read More »
If you run a 150HP turbodiesel and you’ve started hearing a whine that wasn’t there last month, you already know what’s coming. The 150HP turbocharger, common across the VW-Audi TDI platform and a workhorse in countless light commercial diesels, is a reliable unit until oil contamination, shaft wear, or a cracked actuator starts eating it
Signs Your 150HP Turbocharger Is Failing (And What To Do) Read More »
