Before fitting a turbo blanket - check for oil leaks

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  • adam g
    S2Forum Addict
    • Feb 2007
    • 445
    • Country: United Kingdom

    #1

    Before fitting a turbo blanket - check for oil leaks

    I didn't and it nearly cost me my motor last week. I'm sharing my experience in the hope that no one on here make the same mistake.

    It was the first time I'd had the UR on the road for over a year following turbo, suspension and exhaust mods. I was taking it for an MOT and noticed smoke coming from under the bonnet in the first half a mile so pulled over and popped the bonnet, the smoke was clearly coming from the turbo blanket. I remembered the instructions with the blanket stating "it is normal to see smoke in the first few miles of driving due to chemicals used in the construction burning off so don't be alarmed".

    Now feeling un-alarmed I carried on my journey for another 4 miles to fill up with Tesco momentum. By the time I pulled into the forecourt it was smoking considerably so I popped the bonnet again to find flames all over the turbo, emptying the litre bottle of water I had on the passenger seat over it had no effect but luckily petrol stations have fire extinguishers so I made good use of one of them. It made a mess of my new highly polished pipes and engine dress up bits but at least it put it out.

    After convincing the rest of the customers and garage owner the fire was definately out and the whole forecourt wasn't about to blow I moved into a parking spot outside the store and ripped off what I could of the turbo blanket with pliers, cursing the supplier for producing a turbo blanket that catches fire. Thinking 'Id fixed the problem I then went home,smoking all the way and stopping periodically to check under the bonnet for flames. It wasn't until I put my car on the ramps that I noticed the trail of oil.

    As you have probably guessed, it turns out I had a massive leak from my oil return pipe and the blanket was soaking it up like a sponge, effectively wrapping the turbo in a blanket of oil and concealing it therein. When I checked the dipstick the oil was just visible on the end of it so not only did I nearly kill the motor with fire but also from lack of oil.

    I consider myself lucky that it has only cost a couple of hours time and 4 litres of oil to fix in the end.

    Happy motoring

  • Greg_S
    Administrator
    • Jul 2003
    • 12430
    • Country: United Kingdom

    #2
    That's scary and lucky at the same time. Hopefully no lasting damage on the engine front. There was some discussion on them in the past https://www.s2forum.com/forum/techni...lanket-is-best
    Personally I have steered clear of them
    Greg

    S2Forum.com Administrator & Webmaster

    '93 Coupe with a few tweeks

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    • Sunspec1
      S2Forum Buff
      • Apr 2017
      • 29
      • Country: Norway

      #3
      Good to hear that it didn't end worse
      Like Greg_S says, I also steer away from them just because of the fire potential. I don't trust header warpping, either.
      Have you thought about ceramic coatind instead?

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