'Turbo charger waste gate siezed'.... help please?

emjay

emjay

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Having had the bill for my engine service through the door today, I noticed that the engineer has added the above as a 'note' Could you guys help me with two things please?

1. what is the waste gate? 2. Is it ok to use the boat on the river in this condition. I'm taking it that 'note' means get it repaired but not essential right now? I tried to get hold of him today but he was probably (quite rightly!) on holiday.

Thanks,

Mike
 
The wastegate is like a little door on the turbo. When boost pressure gets to a pre-determined level (by the wastegate actuator) the wastegate opens to let excess pressure out the door.

Without a wastegate, boost would continue to rise with engine revs and ultimately the engine would go pop.

I don't know how the wastegate is seized (open or closed or part open) but it's very risky using an engine with a siezed one.
 
The waste gate is a valve that diverts exhaust gas past the turbocharger when a pre-determined (exhaust) gas pressure is reached. So as the engine revs higher the turbo spins faster producing more engine power until the set pressure is reached, then the waste gate opens to prevent the turbo spinning any faster and producing more pressure to the inlet manifold.
You have a different problem depending on whether the waste gate is siezed open or shut. If it's seized open, the turbo won't work (or will work poorly). If it's seized shut, it could allow so much 'effect' (increased engine power), it'll destroy the engine.
I would try to free it with penetrating oil or something.
 
The waste gate opens to limit the amount of turbo boost pressure.

If it were stuck shut you might notice more power from the engine (only if there is sufficient fuel flow) but higher exhaust gas temperature, possibly resulting in engine/turbo damage. I would have thought your engineer would give you a more direct warning in this case

If it is stuck open the amount of turbo boost will probably be quite small, causing a reduction in power and probably fuel economy. Unlikely to damage the engine.

EDIT: Elton types faster than me as usual :D :D
 
re report

when was the service done have you been on the boat since normally if the engine is unusable then you would expect to be advised and a note attached to keys etc
it could be that the wastegate has been freed off and is ok and the comment is for information only
what engine is involved
 
Lots of probable's and possible's but don't risk it until you know what the issue is.

The good news is that the wastegate is generally a very simple device so it's normally quite easy to free up but if you're not mechanically minded, don't take a gamble on it. Speak to the engineer and get confirmation from him/her what exactly the issue is.

A few days delay is better than a blown engine.
 
Thank you guys. I really appreciate the help.

The boat is new to me; I've only just taken over the keys, which is why I had the engine serviced. I have been told that the boat has only been used on the Thames in the last five years, so I assume that the gate will have been open?

I will get the engineer to check it out soonest and will content myself with cleaning/drinking coffee/etc and just generally pottering. I wish I was more mechanically minded. The engine is a Volvo 78hp, the boat was commissioned in 2000. If I could find the thing, what would I look for?

Thanks again.

Mike
 
The turbo has to come off to free this and it could be either a lack of oil or water making the shaft for the gate seize so this can be quite time consuming. The bearing of your turbo will need checked too.

When was the last time the engine was serviced, i.e. oil changed?

Is there any visible rusting of engine, water drips, leaks?
 
turbo

If the boat has been on the non tidal part of the river then I doubt the turbo has ever come into play, they need a few revs to get them going, 1200, SOUNDS LIKE UNDERUSE, has killed another engine.
 
omega2 said:
If the boat has been on the non tidal part of the river then I doubt the turbo has ever come into play, they need a few revs to get them going, 1200, SOUNDS LIKE UNDERUSE, has killed another engine.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say a stuck wastegate is a dead engine. Far from it. I would agree though that bobbing up and down the river would probably cause the wastegate to not even need to operate so the likely culpret for it being stuck.
 
emjay said:
I will get the engineer to check it out soonest and will content myself with cleaning/drinking coffee/etc and just generally pottering. I wish I was more mechanically minded.
Click to expand...

Now is your chance Mike. No one is born "mechanically minded" - we have all had to learn. But it's easy to do so just by starting on simple jobs, taking it slowly, and following the golden rule - never force anything.
 
Is it a TMD 22 per chance?

I have one in my boat and it would be a better anchor than an engine.

They require to have their ears twisted at every opportunity.

2 years ago, the oil smoke was diagnosed as glazed cylinder walls due to under use( PO used the engine a lot as a generator at 1200 rpm). Changed from synthetic to mineral oil and ran it HARD the last 2 years. Almost done with the break in period now.

End of season last year, lots of black smoke... after investigation, the turbo was seized and the exhaust manifold was cracked.

Now repaired but Volvo TMD 22's are maintenance pigs... works great now but for how long???:mad:
 
Friend of mine was racing at Goodwood when the wastegate seized on his RS200, said the power was truly awesome like 800bhp+ just before the engine turned into scrap.....
 
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