Turbocharger Troubleshooting

If the problem occurred during operation is not resolved by means of the action(s) recommended
in the table below, or if turbocharger overhaul cannot be performed, consult with MHI or
authorized repair agents.

1 Compressor Surging
Immediate action
• Reduce speed to load at
which surging stops.
• If necessary, open the air
cooler inspection hole to
stop surging (be careful of
elevated exhaust
temperature).
Cause Remedy
Air filter fouling Remove and clean air filter
Turbine side fouling Overhaul and clean turbine side
Turbine blade wear damage Replace turbine blades
(consult with MHI or Authorized repair
agents)
Air cooler fouling Refer to engine manual.
Exhaust gas protection grill Refer to engine manual.
blockage
Problem with fuel pump Refer to engine manual.

Exhaust gas boiler Refer to vessel manual.

contamination
Problem with engine room Check ventilation fan operation.
ventilation

2 Oil leakage from Main Unit and/or Oil Mist

Mixed with Discharged Air
Immediate action
• Check whether there is
any abnormal vibration.
• If so, reduce speed to load
at which vibration is
alleviated, and
immediately overhaul
turbocharger.
Cause Remedy
Excessive inlet lubricant Adjust oil pressure at orifice, etc.
pressure 0.6-1.5 [bar]
Problem with air bleeder Check size of air bleeder piping.
piping Check that there is no inclination where oil
has accumulated.
Loose impeller Check whether impeller is tightened at
specified pressure.
Vacuum breaker sticking Overhaul vacuum breaker.
Oil labyrinth damage Overhaul turbocharger, inspect parts, and
clean channels.
Bearing damage Overhaul turbocharger, inspect parts, and
clean channels.
Inspect or clean L.O. filter for turbocharger.
Sealing air channel Overhaul turbocharger, inspect parts, and
blockage clean channels.
Problem with oil return Check whether interim valves are closed.
tubing Check size of oil return tubing.
Turbocharger Troubleshooting

3 Exhaust Gas (or oil) mixed with released air

from bearing pedestal side
Immediate action Cause Remedy
• If amount of exhaust gas is Gas sealing ring Remove rotor and replace sealing ring.
low, continue using wear/damage
turbocharger until next
overhaul.
• If amount is high, and gas
is ingested from the
turbocharger silencer such
that intake air temperature Oil leakage from Remove impeller and check the ljournal
is higher than the engine compressor side (when the bearing & oil labyrinth (refer chapter 2).
room temperature by 10˚C oil mist is mixed with air)
or more, reduce speed of
engine immediately and
overhaul turbocharger as
soon as possible.

4 Abnormal Vibration and/or Noise from Main

Unit
Immediate action Cause Remedy
Reduce speed to load at Turbine blade and/or Overhaul turbocharger
which vibration is alleviated, compressor impeller
and overhaul turbocharger as damage
soon as possible. Bearing damage Remove rotor and inspect bearing

Over the maximum Remove silencer and confirm the rotor

acceptable value of Rotor deflection. When the value is over the limit,
deflection remove the silencer and check the surface of
MET22-90 size: 0.1[mm] impeller clutch.
Met18 size: 0.05

Loose impeller Check whether impeller is tightened at

specified pressure.
 7 Turbocharger Troubleshooting

5 Abnormally High Turbocharger Speed,

Speed Increases Regardless of Engine Load
Immediate action Cause Remedy
• If both scavenge air Abnormal engine Stop engine and inspect according to
pressure and exhaust gas combustion engine manual.
temperature are high, or if
exhaust temperature is
abnormally high, reduce
engine load and inspect
turbocharger and engine
as soon as possible.
• Do not approach
turbocharger.
If scavenge air pressure and Abnormality with Check rpm from frequency of signal in
exhaust gas temperatures are tachometer tachometer junction box near turbocharger.
normal, reduce engine load Identify problem point and replace part(s).
and test output signal from
turbocharger tachometer.

6 High Exhaust Gas Temperature

Immediate action
Reduce engine load to point
at which engine reaches
allowable temperature, and
inspect engine.
Cause Remedy
Turbocharger internal
Overhaul turbocharger and clean
fouling
Substantial scavenge air Identify location of scavenge air leakage
leakage and perform countermeasures.
Bigger tip clearance by miss Check the clearance “A” “B”
assembling and “L”
In case of MET SR series, “W” should be
checked instead of “L”

7 Failure of Turbocharger to Start Up

Immediate action
Inspect turbocharger.
Cause Remedy
Blockage due to
combustion residue on Clean turbine side.
turbine blade tips
Blind plate for turbocharger
shutdown extending into Remove blind plate.
gas inlet