I think I've got a problem. A week ago, I installed an AFE cone filter. Like I do whenever I have the hose off, I checked the turbo compressor wheel shaft for play, and there was none. Hose & wheel were clean.

This morning, I took the hose off so that I could change the oil filter more easily. I immediately noticed that the blades on the wheel and the polished inlet were coated with oil and flecks of yellow material. There was oil and yellow material in the hose, too. I took the filter off and looked inside, and it looked like some of the material on the inside of the filter material was fraying apart.

When the blades & inlet were covered with oil and gunk, my turbo shaft was binding slightly when I spun it. When I cleaned it off, it stopped binding, but now I can deflect the shaft to the side slightly, like it's loose. It wasn't that way before.

I called the outfit I bought the filter from, and they told me they'd replace the filter, but that oil and fiber material from the filter wouldn't damage the turbo shaft or blades. I called the Dodge dealer, and the diesel tech told me that there's always a little bit of sideplay in the turbo shaft.

I thought that there was supposed to be no sideplay at all in the shaft. Anyone help me on this? Could oil and small amounts of filter fiber bind the turbo and damage the shaft or bearings?

 

Can't help you out with the oil and debris thoughts but there is some side play allowable. Check out the holset web page. Look under Parts and Service and the service literature. It has freeplay specs for all turbos. Sorry, I couldn't get the hyperlink to work.

http://www.holset.co.uk/flash/index.html

 

you have axial play and thats ok as long as like you say the blades are not touching.
now linear is an other thing (in and out) DONT WANT THAT.