Turbo charger/ hauling damage

[denoginnizer]

Has anyone ever heard of damage occuring to the tractor engine/turbo charger from hauling tractor on a trailer?
Tractor delivery man told me today that if air is allowed to blow into the exhaust pipe during transport severe damage to turbo and engine would occur. Can someone shed some light?

 

[somn]

In theory it can cause damage because the fins on the turbo are being spun by the air flowing backwards thru the turbo. The damage occurs because the turbo has no oil flow to lubricate it when the engine is off. However the air can only go backwards for so long because it needs to vent somewhere and it can't. A person would need to drive really fast to force enough air down the exhaust stack to crank the engine backwards so that air could exit the engine thru the air cleaner. Not going to happen is my guess however regardless of my guess just to make the dealers happy I always duct tape the stack shut.

 

[cfpinz]

The air passing over the top of an open stack creates a vacuum just like in the venturi of a carburetor. If there's an inlet for air it's possible for the turbo wheel to turn backwards, lacking the oil. I've never had it happen first hand but have heard other folks say it has happened to them. I either stick a 2L bottle over them, turn the flapper around backwards, or tape it shut. Not worth taking the chance. Plus it makes a pretty cool sound when I forget to take off the 2L bottle. :lol:

cfpinz

 

[JMichal]

The air passing over the top of an open stack creates a vacuum just like in the venturi of a carburetor. If there's an inlet for air it's possible for the turbo wheel to turn backwards, lacking the oil. I've never had it happen first hand but have heard other folks say it has happened to them. I either stick a 2L bottle over them, turn the flapper around backwards, or tape it shut. Not worth taking the chance. Plus it makes a pretty cool sound when I forget to take off the 2L bottle. :lol:

cfpinz

exactly

 

[somn]

The air passing over the top of an open stack creates a vacuum just like in the venturi of a carburetor. If there's an inlet for air it's possible for the turbo wheel to turn backwards, lacking the oil. I've never had it happen first hand but have heard other folks say it has happened to them. I either stick a 2L bottle over them, turn the flapper around backwards, or tape it shut. Not worth taking the chance. Plus it makes a pretty cool sound when I forget to take off the 2L bottle. :lol:

cfpinz

If it has created a vacuum at the top of the stack I think that the turbo would be turning in normal rotation would it not? In order for the turbo to turn backwards air must be entering the stack not exiting it. This air passing over the stack creating a vacuum where does it draw the air from? I'm doubting a strong enough vacuum will be created to open a exhaust or intake valve.

 

[cfpinz]

The air passing over the top of an open stack creates a vacuum just like in the venturi of a carburetor. If there's an inlet for air it's possible for the turbo wheel to turn backwards, lacking the oil. I've never had it happen first hand but have heard other folks say it has happened to them. I either stick a 2L bottle over them, turn the flapper around backwards, or tape it shut. Not worth taking the chance. Plus it makes a pretty cool sound when I forget to take off the 2L bottle. :lol:

cfpinz

If it has created a vacuum at the top of the stack I think that the turbo would be turning in normal rotation would it not? In order for the turbo to turn backwards air must be entering the stack not exiting it. This air passing over the stack creating a vacuum where does it draw the air from? I'm doubting a strong enough vacuum will be created to open a exhaust or intake valve.

You caught me, mouth was running faster than brain. It would be turning in the normal direction, not backwards. There wouldn't be enough vacuum to open a valve, but if the valves were in just the right position to allow airflow it could possibly do some damage. Again, this is all theoretically speaking as I've never had it happen to me first-hand. And there's the chance that those who claim to have had this happen to them have had a turbocharger that was on the fritz for another reason. With the price of turbos I'm not willing to take the chance.

cfpinz