Car owners have increasingly complained that their engine turbochargers get glowing red especially after a spirited drive.
The overheating of the turbocharger is caused by a variety of factors including a lack of adequate lubrication, an overworked turbocharger, or a malfunction in the turbocharger's wastegate.
While it is a common occurrence, motorists should pinpoint the exact cause of the overheating in the aforementioned factors and act on it to prevent serious engine damage.
In most cases, the turbocharger glows red when the generator is under high load contrary to the recommended weight.
Well and Power, a company specialising in diesel engines, explains that since the turbochargers are made of iron, they glow red when hot. The effect is called red heat.
“Turbochargers get hot because hot exhaust gases flow through the manifold then the turbo. So when the turbo is red hot, the manifold also glows with red heat,” Well and Power states.
There is no specific temperature of when a turbo or manifold glows red as the temperature of the exhaust gas in diesel engines varies by manufacturer.
To prevent your turbocharger from glowing, make sure you pay attention to the engine rating of your vehicle and make sure you are running at an average of 70 per cent load.
How to prevent overheating of turbocharger
Apart from making sure the engine load is not high, make sure that your vehicle is using the correct engine oil because it is the lifeblood of the engine and should be maintained as a priority.
“Poor quality oil can cause additional friction in the engine and lead to higher engine temperatures and hence higher turbo temperature,” Welland Power advises.
Additionally, car owners should use the right coolant for their vehicles. The coolant helps cool the engine and the wrong one will not only have your turbo glowing red but it will also damage the radiator or block internally.
“Check the back pressure on the exhaust system does not exceed this limit. The higher the back pressure, the higher the manifold or turbo temperature will be,” Welland Power adds.
