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Topic: Turbo working? (Read 647 times) previous topic - next topic

Turbo working?

How would I know if our turbine is working?


Edited for a descriptive title
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #1
Do you mean Turbo Charger? If so Im not sure you have one on an 8.2
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #2
Sorry, yup, did mean turdo charger. I was quite tired. Doctors and shopping for eight hours.
My engine description in the owner's manual says we have a Detroit Diesel 8.2 liter turbo-charged V8 engine.
This round thing on the top rear of the engine that has the exhaust coming up into it and then out a flex pipe down to the muffler. On the other side of this round, silvery thingee is the air intake going into the engine.
Without actually removing the rear exhaust connection how would I know it it is even all there and is capable of rotating?
There are no gauges on this old all-mechanical engine.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #3
If you get heavy black smoke all the time, Would check turbo. BUT if it clears up quickly, the turbo is working.

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #4
Thanks Dave. The exhaust is very light even at startup. Probably not today tho, seeing as how it is a -17 degrees out this morning.
Don't think I will go outside today.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #5
Yup, Dave is correct.

Bad turbo or leak between turbo, CAC (Charge Air Cooler) and engine intake on those coaches with a CAC will result in lots of black smoke and significant loss of power.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #6
OH, OH, Brett. Now you have got me confused. What would my CAC look like and where might I find it if I have one?
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #7
Most, but not all turbocharged engines have a CAC= inter-cooler= after-cooler. Different terms for the same thing.

The intake air coming out of the turbo can be up to 300 degrees F.  The CAC is an air to air radiator that reduces intake air temperature to close to ambient temperature. Cooler air= more HP, cooler engine and better MPG.

It will be in front of the radiator (except Detroit Diesel 2 strokes where it is "built into" the motor) and look similar to the radiator . 

Easy to tell.  Trace the large intake plumbing from the turbo.  If you have a CAC, the plumbing will run turbo to CAC and then CAC to intake manifold.

No CAC, it will run from turbo to intake manifold.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #8
Just went out & checked. NO CAC.
Standing at the foot of the bed I see piping coming up from both exhaust manifolds to the cast iron part of the turbo housing. Further towards the center of the engine a manifold curves around to the passenger side of the air intake housing from the rear of the turbo. No hoses from either part of the turbo housing and nothing after the engine but radiator and fans. No CAC, no "sandwich construction" and no transmission cooler lines into the radiator. I do have a separate tranny radiator mounted to the frame on the driver's side.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #9
If the turbo is working, when you press down on the throttle from a stop, you will get some power and a second or two latter way more power will come on as the turbo spools up.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #10
Never noticed that, but what is "way more horsepower" with a 230hp engine? I think that is all we will ever get with the 8.2 DD four stroke.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #11
Never noticed that, but what is "way more horsepower" with a 230hp engine? I think that is all we will ever get with the 8.2 DD four stroke.

Don't know if your coach has the potential for installing Silverleaf VMSpc system — so apologies up front for my lack of knowledge about the 8.2 DD.  But if so, we watch the turbo performance on the screen of the laptop running VMSpc, as we drive.
The selected media item is not currently available.Richard & Susan Peck
____________________
1999 40' U320 "Bob Patrick"
(2000 4010 U320 WTFE Floor Plan, Single Slide)
Build #5567  |  MC #17522

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #12
Richard, don't think there is much chance of adding anything to our engine except oil, antifreeze, and fuel. Maybe a straight pipe or resonator.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #13
Richard, don't think there is much chance of adding anything to our engine except oil, antifreeze, and fuel. Maybe a straight pipe or resonator.

<smile>  Well said.  We were surprised and thankful to find a nine-pin connector under the dash of our coach.  Wouldn't have had any idea what it was, or what to do with it, except for another Forum member saying, "Hey, hook up VMSpc."

But you can see why we depend on James Holder for so much, so apologies for a useless suggestion re: the 8.2 DD.  :-)
The selected media item is not currently available.Richard & Susan Peck
____________________
1999 40' U320 "Bob Patrick"
(2000 4010 U320 WTFE Floor Plan, Single Slide)
Build #5567  |  MC #17522

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #14
I do find it interesting when folks suggest things like they have on their coaches and do not realize some of us have coaches just one step above an oxen powered covered wagon when it comes to technology. I do prefer the simplicity tho, as it seems to be a whole lot cheaper to maintain---until it blows up unexpectedly, without warning!!
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Turbine working?

Reply #15
Norm,

Another way to verify that the turbo is working is to listen for the "turbo whine" as the turbo spools up.

Easier to hear if driving along a wall on the exhaust side of the coach-- listen out the window on that side.  OR sit on the floor in the bedroom with someone else driving. You should hear it spool up.

BTW, not a thing wrong with KISS coaches.  Keep It Simple Stupid can be a lot easier to keep going.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Turbo working?

Reply #16
Brett, how about lifting up the bed and then revving the engine by reaching in and moving the throttle? Should be able to hear it then.
Maybe when spring comes and I can take the coach for a warmup drive first.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Turbo working?

Reply #17
I would not start the engine unless you can drive 25+ highway miles-- it would just add moisture to the crankcase.

Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

 

Re: Turbo working?

Reply #18
I would not start the engine unless you can drive 25+ highway miles-- it would just add moisture to the crankcase.

Yes to that. I've blown two turbos in the 'Stream and the smoke (lite blue) did not get noticeable until I got on the road with a load-on (stone sober), so I'm suprised at the "Dark Smoke" post. Perchance the newer engines have a different turbo set-up than our trusty Isuzu. Other than mass oil consumption, pulling a grade in freezing weather and watching the view from the mirrors disappear in thick white smoke will be an indicator, to say the least!  :'(
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
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