TDI Intercooler following blown turbo

Blew the turbocharger in my diesel VW the other day. Resulted from a nut on the compressor shaft coming off, getting sucked into the blades, and destroying them.
I suspect the shattered blades then tore apart the oil seal, which then pulled engine oil from the crankcase and into the intake.
What a wonderful opportunity to learn how to get a Turbo Diesel engine running again.

[@lukey3507]

Your turbo had failed oil seals, which allowed the oil to go into the intercooler, I bet it was in your airfilter and all the turbo pipes as well. You're very lucky it didn't run away.

[@davidparker9676]

It's very unlikely that it went to the air filter. When the turbo goes bad, oil gets into the compressor and turbine housings. The direction of the airflow is away from the air filter. Oil in the intercooler is somewhat normal, just not excessive amounts like this. This car would have had an exhaust plume that nobody could ignore. You are right about the engine possibly being a run away, but it is more common when the piston rings are worn out, allowing too much oil into the cylinder. You usually see high mileage diesels with runaway problems. Another possibility is the engine hydrolocking the cylinder if enough oil gets in the intake.

[@lukey3507]

@@davidparker9676 - Very informative. I had a turbo fail in a similar manner, the smoke was only when I drove it hard, or upon first start in the morning. Driving normally the smoke wasn't noticeably. Only in the mirror at night in other's headlights could I see the smoke whilst driving. But if I started it up in the morning it ran like it was misfiring, let off a plume of blue smoke and would then run normally. It was a 120D M57 engine, it had oil in the air filter when I pulled it apart. I actually threw the towel in on that car. High mileage end of its life, with a rear main seal leaking.

[@laundryeater]

@jdmgsr1208 That could be oil from the EGR system. There's a lot of stuff that has to recirculate. Get a delete kit if your state laws allow you to. If you still have oil, then you have a bigger problem.

[@berczigabor]

The EGR is not routed back through the intercooler, but through a separate EGR cooler and EGR pipe. The PCV valve though is routed right into the intake at the turbo, so, it could be oil from that.

[@fishonnelson2353]

PVC ❤

[@fishonnelson2353]

PCV

[@alireza071]

my 1.9tdi match has blown turbo and oil gone to the intercooler and engine shut off and not starting what do i have to do to start the engine b4 fit new turbo?

[@lyleeeeee4220]

What did you do to fix this problem?

[@jdmgsr1208]

My VW Beetle had a lot of oil in the intercooler also. but i checked the to see if it was still boosting and it was fine, up 15lbs. I dont hear a turbo whistle though at idle. do you think my turbo could still be bad?

[@alireza071]

hi can turbo push the oil to intercooler then to the engine afterblowing and stop the engine to be started ??

[@mohammedimad6420]

Alireza iesanejad yes excess oil can shut the engine off

[@sergiooliveira1127]

if the oil goes to the pistons it will act like fuel and your engine will accelerate by itself... its called "diesel runaway" and if you dont stop it as soons as possible, it will blow up...

[@christothegreat1]

VW TDI Mk3 or Mk4 ?

[@laundryeater]

@compu85 Heh, true! My bad... that would be a lot of oil to come through the crank case vent.

[@easydoz1]

Your lucky... You could of had a runaway engine. Oil is fuel to a diesel.

[@ShaaBazz]

i know im replying to an old comment, but PD engines cant runaway :) they have a cut off

[@alireza071]

Shaa Bazz hi thats what happened to me and engine not cranks how to cleans the engine pls

[@jepperasmussen2581]

easydoz1 are you stupid

[@ethanmccrory1727]

@@jepperasmussen2581 no he's not. Are you?

[@kylemcgowan846]

@Ethan McCrory I guess these kids don’t know how Diesel engines work

[@elpewy]

Wooow impresionante !!! =O

[@retrocarspain2571]

Turbo RIP

[@heinz490]

your Lucky it didnt made a runnaway