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Turbo issues before and after replacement

Dmxr

New member
Joined
Jul 4, 2025
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3
Just wanted to share what I thought was a new win but now doesn't feel like one anymore, so I finally my turbo replaced on my Ford escape, it was having issues, started with a slow whistle and then loss of power followed, then it just kept snowballing and the shop said there was oil leaking into the intake and the wastegate wasn't functioning right, so the whole thing had to go and I felt good that even though I was spending more at least I knew it was a straight replacement and all my problems would be gone for good but no....they're not gone!, it mostly feels better dont get me twisted but I'm now noticing lag and a smoke on startup that wasn't there before, so is it the install? or the new turbo itself?
I really didn't bargain for this, maybe I should go back to the shop
 
Yeah, it sounds like something's off, a little lag's normal, but smoke on startup? That's a red flag, what I think is that it could be the install or a faulty turbo
 
Just wanted to share what I thought was a new win but now doesn't feel like one anymore, so I finally my turbo replaced on my Ford escape, it was having issues, started with a slow whistle and then loss of power followed, then it just kept snowballing and the shop said there was oil leaking into the intake and the wastegate wasn't functioning right, so the whole thing had to go and I felt good that even though I was spending more at least I knew it was a straight replacement and all my problems would be gone for good but no....they're not gone!, it mostly feels better dont get me twisted but I'm now noticing lag and a smoke on startup that wasn't there before, so is it the install? or the new turbo itself?
I really didn't bargain for this, maybe I should go back to the shop
Appreciate you sharing the update even if it's not the win you were hoping for. The smoke on startup could point to oil getting past the seals, which might mean the new turbo wasn't pre-lubed right or the oil line isn't draining properly. If you haven't already, check your oil level and keep an eye on consumption. Did the shop mention anything about checking the return line or inspecting the shaft play before install?
 
Leftover oil in the intake or intercooler pipes causes the smoke at first, which clears after a bit, the lag could be from a few things like boost leaks, faulty wastegate actuation, or even a tune that needs adjusting after the swap
 
Leftover oil in the intake or intercooler pipes causes the smoke at first, which clears after a bit, the lag could be from a few things like boost leaks, faulty wastegate actuation, or even a tune that needs adjusting after the swap
how do you check for a boost leak or test the wastegate actuator? And if it's a tune issue, would a basic scan tool pick that up or do I need something like FORScan
 
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