I'm not really sure if it is working at all, doesn't feel like it. When you accelerate, the turbo vibrates quite a lot for about 3 seconds and then stops. I wold guess that the bearings are bad and it needs to be rebuilt, but what i was wondering about is if it is an option to just disable it and drive the car without the turbo functioning? I really haven't felt it giving any boost for a few years.

Not sure how you would know if the vibration is coming from the turbo. I have tee'ed a cheap "vacuum/boost" mechanical gage on the tube from the intake manifold, by routing a nylon tube into the cabin, for diagnostics. I think some do it permanently. I see ~10 psig max intake pressure, which assures the turbo is doing its job. I would think a turbo w/ a vibrating shaft would drag so much it wouldn't give any boost, plus would leak oil into the intake, making a lot of smoke in the exhaust. You can take off the inlet duct and spin the blades by hand to get a feel for the bearings.

Any idea what kind of vehicle M-B diesel you have?

^X2

Quickest way to determine proper operation is a boost gauge. You should see 0 at idle and a steady climb to around 9-10 reaching peak at 2100 rpm or so under full throttle. (assuming a 617 engine - others would be similar but different) If I didn't have a gauge, I wouldn't know if it was working properly as there is no turbine whine and the spooling is very smooth, rather unlike the turbo in my Powerstroke.

If you can feel the impeller you should have noticable play side-to-side but no play axially. It should spin free.

If you had vibration in the turbo, I'd think it would get progressively worse and worse as it spooled up and ultimately self-destruct. Those things turn at 100k rpms.

If it needs to be rebuilt, kits are readily available and relatively simple to do assuming there is no damage to the turbines.

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Current Stable

• 380SL (diesel)
• Corvette C5
• Manx
• Baja Bug
• F350 Powerstroke
• Auburn Boattail Speedster replica