Previa 2.0 D4D

[Mechanically Challenged]

Had a reconditioned engine installed in my Previa 2.0 D4D in May 2010. The engine has a 1 year parts and labour warranty. It ran 5,171 miles problem-free until last week. I had noticed a faint oil burning smell inside the car a day or two previous, and I found suddenly one night on my trip back home an issue with the car when accelerating (or revving when not in gear). It felt like there was a loss of oomph when accelerating, and there was a fairly high frequency mechanical sound, like something lightly scraping at a high speed. The car was generating a hell of a lot more exhaust than normal - huge clouds of smoke trailed the car. I was fine getting home at a steady 40 miles per hour - no symptoms under those conditions. Next day, I checked the oil - barely any, even though oil changed 3 months ago. Mates suggested testing for blown head gasket, pasty substance in the oil, or oil in the coolant. Couldn't find any. No warning lights have come on at any point.

So, I've given the car back to the garage that arranged for the engine replacement. I am being told that the 'specialist' company that installed the re-conditioned engine are saying the turbo is 'all broken up'. What can that mean? Is the turbo not part of the new engine that was installed?

I haven't got a clue what intelligent questions to ask... and would be grateful for any advice.

[bothwell_buyer]

Hi and welcome to the forum. The head gasket was known to blow and is seen as a known fault. However, from what you say, it does sound as if it might be a turbo. If it is, perhaps the garage didn't connect the oil feed to the turbo? I don't know anything about the turbos on diesel Previas so best try posting this in the MPV section - I'll ask a kind moderator to move it to where it may be seen by more Previa owners.

[Mechanically Challenged]

Hi and welcome to the forum. The head gasket was known to blow and is seen as a known fault. However, from what you say, it does sound as if it might be a turbo. If it is, perhaps the garage didn't connect the oil feed to the turbo? I don't know anything about the turbos on diesel Previas so best try posting this in the MPV section - I'll ask a kind moderator to move it to where it may be seen by more Previa owners.

Thanks for moving this to the right forum. It's definitely the turbo, and luckily only the turbo. I'm told that once they 'go', they will suck oil out at quite a rate, so caught it in time without damaging the engine. Oil warning light was imminent. Lesson here is definitely stop driving the car if you hear the turbo whistling and the car is not accelerating as well as it has.

Debris or faulty oil feed would probably have caused problems long before getting to the 5000 mile mark.

Work quoted as: £845 for a genuine Toyota turbo, 10 hours of labour, including engine flush/new oil/filter and manifold gasket - total £1,645 inclusive of VAT. A week before Christmas, and all.

[igormus]

Had a reconditioned engine installed in my Previa 2.0 D4D in May 2010. The engine has a 1 year parts and labour warranty. It ran 5,171 miles problem-free until last week. I had noticed a faint oil burning smell inside the car a day or two previous, and I found suddenly one night on my trip back home an issue with the car when accelerating (or revving when not in gear). It felt like there was a loss of oomph when accelerating, and there was a fairly high frequency mechanical sound, like something lightly scraping at a high speed. The car was generating a hell of a lot more exhaust than normal - huge clouds of smoke trailed the car. I was fine getting home at a steady 40 miles per hour - no symptoms under those conditions. Next day, I checked the oil - barely any, even though oil changed 3 months ago. Mates suggested testing for blown head gasket, pasty substance in the oil, or oil in the coolant. Couldn't find any. No warning lights have come on at any point.

So, I've given the car back to the garage that arranged for the engine replacement. I am being told that the 'specialist' company that installed the re-conditioned engine are saying the turbo is 'all broken up'. What can that mean? Is the turbo not part of the new engine that was installed?

I haven't got a clue what intelligent questions to ask... and would be grateful for any advice.

hi mate

have you been billed for new turbo ???? or they are ready to substitute it by own account? this matter is interesting now. Besides what does it mean as RECONDITIONED ??? whether that means REBUILT engine or partly rebuilt???? Normally the engine is considered as a whole and the turbocharger is belong to the engine. Secondly - the cloud of smoke trailed might be resulted by SCV valves fault. As visible an investigation is required. In case you have had all warranty papers from this company before car commissioning then you are close to success to be either refunded or releasing from repair. Good luck/Igor

[94lucida]

from what you have described it sounds like the bearings in your turbo have gone, once this happens you will hear the turbine screeching as you describe but it will also allow oil through into the turbine wich then gets pushed down the turbo pipe through the intercooler into the cylinder and out the exhaust

do you have the car back or is it still at the garage - i would say it was their responsibility as part of the warranty to replace and repair. however should they wriggle their way out, it is a relitavely easy and cheap enough repair to do even for the none mechanically inclined

quickest way to check for yourself would be to get to the turbo and have a look in the turbo pipe for oil and to see if there is any play in the turbine

[bothwell_buyer]

There are tuning companies who do excellent refurbished turbos at a lower price than you have been quoted.