EDGE-CUTTING 7D1949 - Caterpillar

Hot engine components can cause injury from burns. Before performing maintenance on the engine, allow the engine and the components to cool.
Turbocharger bearing failures can cause large quantities of oil to enter the air intake and exhaust systems. Loss of engine lubricant can result in serious engine damage.Minor leakage of oil into a turbocharger under extended low idle operation should not cause problems as long as a turbocharger bearing failure has not occurred.If a turbocharger failure is suspected do not operate the engine. A failure of the turbocharger can be signaled by significant loss of engine performance and erratic RPM at no load. Also, large quantities of engine oil could pass into the engine air intake. This oil would have been seen as smoke from the engine exhaust. Applications that have a DPF installed will filter the engine exhaust.
A visual inspection of the turbocharger or turbochargers can minimize unscheduled downtime. A visual inspection of the turbocharger or turbochargers can also reduce the chance for potential damage to other engine parts. Do not inspect the engine with the engine in operation.
Illustration 1 g02178129
Typical example
Ensure that the turbocharger is clean and free from dirt before removing components for inspection.
Remove the pipe from the turbocharger exhaust outlet and remove the air intake pipe (1). Visually inspect the piping for the presence of oil. Clean the interior of the pipes in order to prevent dirt from entering during reassembly.
Check for abnormal heat discoloration of the turbocharger. Check for any loose bolts or any missing bolts. Check for damage to the oil supply line and the oil drain line. Check for cracks in the housing of the turbocharger. Ensure that the compressor wheel can rotate freely. Check for signs of damage to the compressor wheel, or contact of the compressor wheel to the body of the compressor housing.
Check for the presence of oil. If oil is leaking from the back side of the compressor wheel, there is a possibility of a failed turbocharger oil seal. The presence of oil may be the result of extended engine operation at low idle. The presence of oil may also be the result of a restriction of the line for the intake air (clogged air filters), which causes the turbocharger to slobber. For more information, refer to Systems Operation, Testing, and Adjusting, "Turbocharger - Inspect".