How to keep a car with turbo in good condition

A 2003 Toyota Premio

Hi Paul,
I have owned two cars so far, which are turbo-charged: Subaru Legacy B4 2000 model with a two-stage twin-turbo, and currently a Subaru Forester SF5 with a single turbo. Many people have commented these kind of cars are not suited for the Ugandan situation. Others have cautioned about the turbo failing. However, there are many turbo-charged cars of different makes on our roads. Please advise on how to maintain such vehicles?
David

Hello David,
The innovation of the turbo charger has become more popular in sports, high performance, private and commercial vehicles as it has evolved with car engine technology to establish itself as both a performance and efficiency enhancing tool. Like it or not, it is here to stay.

As you probably may know a turbo charger is designed to create extra air flow into the combustion chamber of an engine and help it produce more power.
The turbo charger is located in the exhaust system and it has a turbine, which is spun by the exhaust gases to force compressed cool air back into the engine. By nature of its design and operation, the turbo charger spins very fast and is exposed to a lot of heat from the engine exhaust.

This means to maintain the turbo, one needs to use a unique lubrication (engine oil) solution which will promptly protect its bearings from seizing, help to cool it down as well as prevent deposit and corrosion build-up.

Reputable oil companies sell engine oils that clearly indicate the viscosity or grade and whether it protects the turbo charger in your engine. Many times, vehicle manufacturers will recommend special mineral grade or fully synthetic engine oils such as Shell Helix Ultra or Rimula R4, which cover the protection needs of high performance or heavy duty turbo charged engines.

Another way to maintain your turbo charger is by protecting it against yourself. Often the thrill of high performance or turbo charged engines gets one carried away and drivers rev the engines as soon as they start them or shut down the engines without letting them idle to slow the turbo.
In both situations, the turbo runs dry and slowly but surely gets damaged. One way to avoid this is let the engine idle for about 15 seconds to let oil pressure reach the turbo before accelerating.
The use of turbo timers or allowing the engine to idle before shutting it down prevents premature damage.

Hello Paul,
I have owned a Toyota Noah Liteace Field Tourer 1999 model for three years. Over the weekend, I took it upcountry for the first time. But during the journey, the steering wheel shook hard and vibrated when I stepped on the brake or when driving over 100 kph.
What could be the problem? What do you recommend my mechanic should do?
Ronny P.K

Hello Ronny,
Your Toyota Noah Field Tourer, like all other vehicles has components in the steering and suspension system, which work with the wheels to facilitate driveability of a vehicle and response to changing road forces.
Over time there is wear and tear of these components, which causes driveability issues such as wobbling, juddering or shaking when you accelerate or brake at certain speeds.

In the case of your car, get a good mechanic to inspect the front axle steering linkages, that is, steering rack ends and tie rods to confirm that there is no excessive play especially with the ball joints.
The suspension lateral arm bushes should also be inspected for wear which causes vibration when you brake at high speeds.
It is important to carefully inspect the wheel hubs to rule out hub bearing wear which prevents unilateral movement and can cause a wheel judder when you brake.
Finally, inspect the surface of the brake discs in case there is uneven wear, which to a small extent can cause juddering when you brake. Identify the parts that are worn out and replace them with quality new parts. Thereafter, have the wheels camber and caster aligned at an automated wheel alignment centre.

Hi Paul,
I am considering buying either a second-hand Nissan Teana or a Toyota Premio 2003. My considerations are fuel efficiency, stability on the road (as I might use it for long journeys quite often), comfort and maintenance. Advise me on which choice to make.
Daniel.

Hello Daniel,
The 2003 Nissan Teana (Maxima) and Toyota Premio (Allion) are compact semi-luxury mid-size sedan vehicles, which were designed to meet the middle-income driver’s needs such as flexibility, economy, reasonable performance and comfort all wrapped together.

The Teana, which shares a platform with the Renault Laguna looks more imposing and stylish when parked next to the smart but compact Premio.
The Teana and Premio have their looks complemented by their interior styling cues which combine artificial wood grain with chrome finishes.

Both cars offer reasonable amenities such as electric adjusted windows and seats, air conditioning and a good stereo.
Teana takes it a notch further with small finer details such as the more modern looking brightly illuminated triple instrument gauges. Teana is also more spacious and offers better leg, shoulder and head room. Surprisingly, the Premio offers better boot space.

For a driver who is conscious about economy, the choice of engine might be a 2.0 litre petrol. Toyota Premio and Nissan Teana offer 2.0 litre line 4 with direct four (D4) fuel injection engines with double overhead camshafts and variable valve timing valve trains. This technology improves fuel economy and ensures prompt performance.

The D4 fuel delivery technology is offered as an option on both cars and it can push the fuel economy envelope further. In comparative terms Premio’s 1AZ-FSE 2.0 litre engine with a 4-speed automatic engine has better acceleration 0-100 kph (9.4 seconds) and fuel economy on the highway (15.5km/L) compared to Teana’s QR20DE 2.0 litre engine with a CVT gearbox (11.7 seconds and 13.5 km/l).

Premio’s superior performance is due to its slightly bigger power output (108KW @ 5,700rpm) at lower engine revolutions. This is due to the excellent combination with Premio’s H gate 4-speed automatic gearbox, lower co-efficient of drag (0.31) and smaller but balanced weight size ratio.

On the other hand Teana’s slightly lower engine output (107KW @6,000rpm) is not helped by the sluggish CVT gearbox, higher co-efficient of drag - COD (0.32) and bigger heavier profile. The Teana gears shift at higher and less fuel economical engine revolutions (12.2 km/l on highway).

The Teana and Premio have average road handling manners, their low profiles and good COD combined with the front independent suspension and rear multi links makes them stable and manouverable during highway driving.

The Nissan’s wider wheel base gives it a firmer road grip and less oversteer, while Premio’s less lofty profile makes the steering feel light with the possibility of over steer during high speed maneuvering situations.
In maintenance terms, both car are affordable if you pay attention to routine maintenance schedules, use genuine service parts.

It is advisabe to use quality lubricants and fuels with cleaning additives to protect the VVTi valve trains and intake valves from sludge and deposit build up.
Both car models have supportive appointed dealers with routine service parts, Toyota has more independent parts outlets and used options for body parts. Your choice ought to be driven by the emotional appeal and practical concerns of both vehicles.

Ask the mechanic: 0772316145, send sms: mycar (space) your comments and questions to 6933, or email them to [email protected]