During the assembly of a turbocharger, a shaft nut holds the compressor wheel and other rotor group parts onto the shaft. The shaft nut is a machined part, which must be tightened to a specific torque. A shaft nut is normally left-hand thread, unless the rotor parts are reverse rotation. A shaft nut can also be referred to as a "locknut" or an "impeller locknut."
Turbochargers are a precision engineered object and are designed to operate at speeds of up to 360,000 rpm while also reaching temperatures of up to 850 C in diesel applications and up to 1050 C in petrol applications. Operating under such extreme conditions, it is easy to see how failures can occur and how it is easy to misdiagnose a loose nut shaft.
If there is any kind of resistance or locking up within the rotor, then the centrifugal force/inertia continues and the shaft nut will eventually come loose. When the nut shaft comes loose, it can result in catastrophic damage to the compressor wheel within seconds of the turbocharger starting up.
Here are the most common signs of loose shaft nuts.
Here are some of the common causes that can lead to loose shaft nuts and subsequently turbo failure.
Here are some simple measures you can take in order to prevent turbo failure that is caused by loose shaft nuts.
Always change the oil and filter when fitting a turbocharger. Make sure to use the correct grade that is specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
Using the correct torque settings on the shaft nut.
Preventing failure from a loose shaft nut is not straightforward. Keeping the engine in good, working condition and correctly installing the turbocharger is the only way to fully prevent any issues, which is what you'll get when you turn to Long Island Turbo. Professional turbo installation. Any time. With no need to worry about poor operation.
There are strict guidelines and procedures for the shaft nut tightening operation, where each model has its own specified torque setting and instructions to be carried out by the assembly team. Here are the three steps for securing shaft nuts.
With this tightening procedure in place and extensive operator training, manufacturing of turbos has never been safer and more secure. These manufacturers have made a loose shaft nut a highly unlikely cause of turbo failure.
If you do happen to have turbocharger engine failure, do not hesitate to reach out to LI Turbo. Request a quote today for the parts and service you need.
When you reach out, we can provide you with a fair and accurate quote for the repair work.
More Information About Turbo Failure