Are Garrett And Borg Warner Turbo's Interchangable?

[Bouncy Pete]

I have an issue with the turbo on my car. It's fine at idle but screeches as it spins up and the hose between the intercooler and inlet manifold collapses as you rev the engine. Until I remove the turbo and look at it properly I can't tell if it is simply a carbon build up causing the issue or a problem with the variable nozzle vanes.

 

With the exhaust pipe removed from the turbo it spins very freely with no sign that anything is rubbing on the turbine. There is a small amount of axial play and a tiny amount of radial play in the bearings. I think this play is normal.

 

I've yet to remove the turbo but I've stuck a digital camera into the engine bay and photographed the data plate.

 

Whilst the picture isn't perfect as far as I can make out the turbo part number is 038253019HV520 or KP39B-0005 which is made by Borg Warner. A lot of web sites show the car is often fitted with a Garrett 720855-5006S (038253016) turbo.

 

Some places I phoned up for a replacement turbo say Borg Warner and Garrett turbochargers are not interchangeable and some say they are.

 

Are they interchangeable?

 

[alan_131]

Just a thought, and sorry I don't know the answer to your question, but are you sure the turbo is your problem? I appreciate that the inlet pipe after the turbo collapsing means it's running below 1 atm, but I'd assume that the inlet pipe before the turbo is engineered to support a partial vacuum (even the freeest flowing filter must introduce a tiny pressure drop) and the pipe after less so (if you see what I mean).

 

 

 

Essentially, I'm wondering if the low pressure in the hose that's collapsing is because the feed to the turbo is obstructed?

Of course, that doesn't explain the noise from the turbo...

Good luck!

Edited June 4, 2012 by alan_131

[chrispb123456]

I would agree something is restricting the air flow badly, the intercooler pipes should be pressurised as the turbo spins up.

Collapsing pipe work indicates a heavy vacuum.

Start from the air filter intake and inspect pipe work down to intake side of turbo.

[chrispb123456]

I would agree something is restricting the air flow badly, the intercooler pipes should be pressurised as the turbo spins up.

Collapsing pipe work indicates a heavy vacuum.

Start from the air filter intake and inspect pipe work down to intake side of turbo.

 

What is your year and engine code?

[Bouncy Pete]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, looking at the cam belt cover my engine code is ASZ 346051 the build date appears to be 23/09/03 and it's fitted in a 2004 car.

 

I haven't ruled out a blockage in the intercooler or inlet but I suspect the collapsing pipe is due to the engine sucking more air than the turbo compressor is delivering.

 

I'm part way through removing the turbo from the car to check it out properly but I've had to stop due to the rain.

 

I'll post back as I learn more.

Edited June 4, 2012 by Bouncy Pete

[chrispb123456]

You may well be right but the fact the turbo is spinning freely I would have looked at the easier options first, the noise may simply be down to restricted airflow.

[Bouncy Pete]

It's almost removed. I'm struggling removing the oil feed pipe from the front of the engine but I've found I've got a catastrophic failure of the turbo.

 

Whilst the turbine spins freely the compressor has sheared off the shaft and is wedge in the compressor housing.

 

So my question remains. Do I have to fit a Borg Warner turbo or can I fit a Garrett unit. Garrett turbo's are more readily available and cheaper than the Borg Warner units

[Bouncy Pete]

Update. Now the turbo is out I can see it's labeled KKK not Borg warner. I'd sid it was a Borg unit because a turbo company said it was a Borg unit due to the part numbers. Anyway. It's dead and the initial question remains valid. Can I replace the original unit with a Garrett unit?

Edited June 4, 2012 by Bouncy Pete

[chrispb123456]

Looking at your pic I can see the air outlet is different from the garrett, can't see your exhaust outlet flange or the oil pipe connections, bound to be different.

What's more important why did that happen, could something have been sucked in through the air intake?