blacksmoke99

Blew up the turbo last month and replaced it with a used one with 80,000 miles and no shaft play. I noticed when i atarted building boost it sounds like I have a boost leak. I pressurized the system and noticed it's leaking from the back of the compressor housing where the big snap ring holds it together. Wondering if you guys have any thoughts or opinions on a fix.

OlBlue

That's common, and there's not much of an absolute fix available as far as I know. You can take the compressor housing off, smooth the flat face on the center section and the mating face on the compressor housing to get rid of anything that is holding them "slightly" apart. Use a greenie or something very similar to keep from scratching the surfaces.

Before you take it apart, run your finger around the back side and try to locate the area that's leaking, then make sure some of the snap ring is over that area instead of the gap.

When reinstalling the snap ring, take a punch and hammer to the snap ring. Tap on it outward to help it seat into the compressor housing all the way around. With the turbo installed, there's are directions where you just won't get a hammer swing. Also, tap the punch with the hammer. You should be able to get it sealed up to 20psi or so, then only slighly leak after that.

blacksmoke99

Thanks OlBlue, I'll give that a try this weekend and see if that helps.

blacksmoke99

Tried cleaing up the surfaces and tapping the snap ring in with a punch and it still leaks. Wondering if it would be o.k. the use a real small amount of copper rtv to help seal up the leak?

OlBlue

That's some work to go through and not have it succeed. Sorry!

There should be an alignment pin in the back plate that fits in half round "slot" in the compressor housing. Did you notice if that pin was there?

I've heard of people using sealants to stop the leak, but I have not done it. You might take that wonderful snap ring off again, and rotate the compressor housing on the backing plate a little bit to "score" the aluminum housing with what ever is keeping it from sealing. Smooth that out and apply a high temp sealant to make sure this time. The silicone is going to make it no fun to take apart next time.

blacksmoke99

Just got done tearing it apart and putting it back together. Turns out someone has had the turbo apart before. It was clocked wrong and the alignment pin was pushed all the way in. Got it siliconed and clocked correctedly. Gonna let the silicone cure overnite and see if that helps. Good news is that I can get the turbo out in less than 10 minutes now! Thanks for the help OlBlue!

OlBlue

10 minutes? Congrats! I fiddle around with the snap ring alone for what must be 10 hours!!!

mkehler

Having the same issue, have a slight leak where the retaining rings 'ends'. I tried clocking the ring back and forth and even the comp housing, but still leaks. Did your silicone work or just eventually burn out? I may try good 'ol old axle bearing grease, I've used it on turbo flanges before with success.