Turbo and Oil question, non tractor

paulsharvey · May 14, 2024

Me and son just got back from picking up a car he bought, a 1.8Turbo Volkswagen Jetta. It has a bad oil leak, and a pretty significant coolant leak from the water pump. Zero oil on dip stick, we added 2 quarts to drive it onto the trailer.

So, I assume the turbo is oil cooled; and this was empty to so low it doesn't show; is there anything that needs ro be done on fix and refill to get the oil primed to the turbo or anything?

BTW: this isn't 100% a daily or 100% a project; but at $400 and it drove onto a trailer for a 2003; I figure he can part out and break even. Yes, if it can be repaired to a reliable state, for cheap, that is the intent; but I've cautioned him about getting the "parts cannon"

John0829 · May 15, 2024

Nothing to be done as long as there is oil in the pan the pump will put oil to the turbo, my only concern would be have the turbo bearings been starved for oil and/or has the oil oil coked in the bearings that could make replacing the turbo cost as much as you paid for the car.

paulsharvey · May 15, 2024

It was dark when we got it home; but we were able to confirm it has a large crack in the alum oil pan. Doesn't 'look' like that should be too expensive or hard to replace. The water pump however.... that looks like a real pain in the butt.

Snobdds · May 15, 2024

Pull off the air filter housing and piping to the turbo...wiggle the compressor wheel. If there is any play...it's gone. You should also be able to spin it with out feeling any crunchiness.

I have no idea if this turbo is just oil cooled or both oil and coolant. But a lack of both screams like an expensive lesson is coming.

Fixastuff · May 15, 2024

Snobdds said:
Pull off the air filter housing and piping to the turbo...wiggle the compressor wheel. If there is any play...it's gone. You should also be able to spin it with out feeling any crunchiness.

I have no idea if this turbo is just oil cooled or both oil and coolant. But a lack of both screams like an expensive lesson is coming.

It is oil lubricated and water cooled lack of oil is going to kill the motor before the turbo. Most dead turbos I see are from boost leaks causing over spinning from trying to reach a psi it’ll never get to because of the intake leak.

paulsharvey · May 15, 2024

It wasn't ran without oil and coolant, it was parked due to both leaking (as in a quart leaked on the trailer, in an hour, with the engine off).

The oil pan appears to have been from hopping a curb or a wheel stop at a parking lot.