Is my turbo(s) Bad?

[2010Limited]

Hello, I'm fairly new here and have a 2010 Limited ecoboost. When I got it in September of last year the engine and both turbos had been replaced at about 80K and it now has 150K. It started smoking a little, then I heard some squaling from the engine area, and now it smokes ALOT.  The front turbo has oil leaking from it, but I can't tell if its just the drain tube or leaking from somewhere else. The rear doesn't appear to be leaking.

My question is, is there any way to tell the turbo has failed without taking it off? Can I pull the intake hose and feel for shaft play? It doesn't look terribly hard to remove but I don't want to pull it is its unnecessary.

I appreciate the help in advance

 

[SHOdded]

A visual inspection is going to be the best way to figure out if the turbo is involved.  Might be a bad bearing, might even be the wheel if any grinding was heard.  Pooling oil at the turbo is generally an indicator of its endoflife.

With any luck it is a feed line, but if the turbo is making a sound, replacing just the feed line would be delaying the inevitable.

 

[b4black]

Pull the compressor outlet hose off and look for oil.  When the seals go bad, they blow oil through the outlet, through the intercoooler and into the engine.

 

[ajpturbo]

I'd check the PCV system as well and the separator on top of the valve cover...Could be full of oil.

 

[2010Limited]

I appreciate the tips. I'm hoping to dig into this this week. I changed the PCV valve but did not check the separator. To do that do I need to pull the valve cover?

 

[SHOdded]

No, it is held on by 2 fasteners I believe.  Comes right off.

 

[2010Limited]

YOu are correct, the separator is just held on with 3 bolts. Its off and I had condensation in there and it looks like its packed with a creamy mixture of oil and water crap. Can this thing me cleaned out or flushed?

 

[SHOdded]

you can try, but it is better to replace it entirely.  not expensive.

 

[8nutz8]

YOu are correct, the separator is just held on with 3 bolts. Its off and I had condensation in there and it looks like its packed with a creamy mixture of oil and water crap. Can this thing me cleaned out or flushed?

i’ve heard a couple people mention that you can clean it but when mine failed i chose to replace it. also, after i had the old one off the car i saw no way of separating it to clean it inside. i would highly recommend a replacement unit.


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[2010Limited]

I flushed it for now. I need to see why the turbo is leaking oil. I can't imagine the separator is the cause of oil leaking at the turbo so I'll replace that later. I also just did a huge favor for a local ford dealer so I may just have them look at it.

 

[askoncemore]

I replaced my separator... Ford had an updated piece that apparently helped with oil consumption.

 

[ZSHO]

The Oil Sep has TWO Bolts and ONE rear Retaining clip which can easily be removed using an 8mm socket and a flat head screw driver and simply pull and twist off.
The 2010My has a heated version PCV Valve IIRC!  Z

 

[2010Limited]

The Oil Sep has TWO Bolts and ONE rear Retaining clip which can easily be removed using an 8mm socket and a flat head screw driver and simply pull and twist off.
The 2010My has a heated version PCV Valve IIRC!  Z

I have the heated PCV and (3) bolts on the Sep.

 

[8nutz8]

I flushed it for now. I need to see why the turbo is leaking oil. I can't imagine the separator is the cause of oil leaking at the turbo so I'll replace that later. I also just did a huge favor for a local ford dealer so I may just have them look at it.

Umm yes the separator failing will cause oil to get pretty much everywhere in the intake pipes etc.
See below thread for reference when mine failed in a major way.
I pulled up almost a quart of oil from my CAC after the issue occured.
https://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php/topic,8777.0.html

 

[ajpturbo]

I can't imagine the separator is the cause of oil leaking at the turbo so I'll replace that later.

Then you need to research pcv functions and effects on turbo applications and symptoms from inadequate pcv

Not that this is your particular problem but it absolutely could be.

 

[2010Limited]

So how can you tell if the separator is actually bad? Like I said I flushed it out, blew it out, and like the pcv I can hear the valve rattling. I'm assuming it would be the same function like the PCV valve if it's not stuck its OK.

But this is my first time working on something like this. I turbo'd my SpecV but this is quite different with a factory set up vs. my homemade turbo kit.

Do you know the part # of the updated separator? I tried searching and only come up with catch cans

 

[2010Limited]

I can't imagine the separator is the cause of oil leaking at the turbo so I'll replace that later.

Then you need to research pcv functions and effects on turbo applications and symptoms from inadequate pcv

Not that this is your particular problem but it absolutely could be.

I just read through this and had nothing like what you had in there. Maybe 1/4 of what you had. If I get a chance I'll pull the hose and see how much is in there.

 

[2010Limited]

The compressor wheel and nut and still there and the wheel spins freely. I pulled a few hoses and it doesn't seem flooded with oil, but there was some in there. I'll try and post some pics up.

 

[2010Limited]

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[2010Limited]

I decided to remove the turbo because it wasnt that hard. Here’s where I’m at. There is no oil inside the turbo. The feed line area looks like it may have burnt a gasket or something. I’m not sure.
Let me know what you guys think. Also there was quite a bit of oil in the IC.

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