I pulled my stock turbo off the truck when it was almost brand new. It was working perfectly at the time. It sat under my workbench, uncovered, for several months. When I pulled it out and put it back on the truck, however, it now makes a weird noise kind of like a howling sound whenever it is making boost or winding down. It still looks like new and it was not full of dust or dirt or anything. There is no type of play in the shaft and the impellers are all in perfect shape. I first noticed this a couple months ago when I pulled the HTB2 off the truck to put a new wastegate on it. I installed the stocker while I waited to get my wastegate and I began hearing the noise. I had hoped that it was just a bad gasket so I changed all of them (Very expensive) when I put the HTB2 back on. Now that I have put it back on the truck again I notice that the sound is still there. It's very annoying!! I also noticed that my boost will spike to 30psi but then drop down to 24-26psi even if I keep my foot to the floor. If I put the boost fooler on the truck then I can easily hit 40psi and it will sustain the boost properly but the sound is still there. My truck is completely stock again except for the CON OFE clutch and muffler delete. No extra fueling...

Any ideas? I hate to have to buy another stock turbo when this one is new but something just isn't right. Are these rebuildable?

 

I wonder if the howling is from an air leak on a hose connector. Maybe pressure test the CAC side. It's a good idea to hold the turbo shaft with a socket/wrench and have someone start the engine to get oil pressure up when installing a turbo. Craig

 

Thanks Craig. I think the hose connections are all fine because I don't have this problem with the aftermarket turbo. I'm thinking that after sitting on the shelf so long that there was no oil left on the bearings and couple that with some dust and a dry startup and there's a recipe for bearing failure. I guess I'm on the hunt for a stock turbo to replace this one since getting this one rebuilt will cost a fortune. I'll definitely pour some oil in the next turbo that goes on the truck....

 

Yeah, man, you gotta lube that thing before you start it. Sorry to hear about your fortune...

I'll keep my eyes peeled, maybe I can come up with ah discount one...

 

take it to the dealer and get it fixed under warranty

brett

 

LOL. I can't say the thought hasn't crossed my mind. With my luck they would check the Key Cycles and see that I had some kind of programmer on the truck and void the warranty....

And MadHat, I would call it misfortune.
Fortune would be what someone is going to find when they buy this truck and find out it has an expensive aftermarket clutch in it!! Or the guy who bought my 03 that had Formula1 injectors and a DTT trans in it......

 

Does your truck have a surge also when it's making that sound?

 

Nope. It runs just fine other than when it hits 30psi it starts defueling and the boost drops down to around 25-26psi. If I put the boost fooler on it then it will make around 40psi and holds it steady. This is all with a totally stock truck now including intake and airbox.....

 

BTW, if I don't find a replacement soon then a nice stock low mileage turbo off of a 600 and a few hundred cash can get someone a nice HTB2 62/12 turbo.......

 

try ebay there are usually a few on there brand new one on there right now for a 04

 

They dont really have bearings they are just bushings with a groove and some holes for the oil to get into and form a bearing. You can replace them very easy for about $90(whole kit) and a little time, just need an inch pound torque wrench that clicks when going left. Have you looked to see if the noise is the pinwheel rubbing the housing?

 

It's still on the truck. I will check that out when my other turbo gets here in a few days...
Thanks for all the replies fellas.....