Cleaning turbocharger

[LittleGidding]

My Yanmar 6lya operators manual says to periodically clean the turbo by spraying a cleaner slowly into the intake side, but doesn’t specify the cleaner, the frequency or the technique. Does anyone do this? Using what and how?

 

[Genius]

I've seen the product. I don't believe they sell it anymore. Basically soapy water. You could probably make it up with some Dawn and follow the instructions. My understanding it was to clean the aftercooler fins.

 

[ThePartsGuy]

I actually just was asked this by another DEBF member. Yanmar still sells their turbo wash but only in gallons. Which for the DIY guy is a lifetime supply. Contact your local dealer and see if they might sell it by the ounce.

Turbo wash PN 974500-00400 (Gallon)


***please be aware this is a S.O.P. sheet from Yanmar. Actual field application may very and when possible should be done by a trusted marine mechanic*** #notmyfault #yourturbonotmine #becareful

 

[LittleGidding]

But…. Does anyone here actually do something like this? Actually run stuff through the intake / air cleaner to clean the turbo?

 

[Genius]

But…. Does anyone here actually do something like this? Actually run stuff through the intake / air cleaner to clean the turbo?

You can achieve the same results (or better) by cleaning your after cooler. Lots of people do this on the site, every 2-4 years?

A company I used to work for did this (turbo wash) as a service item. Easy money maker IMO.

 

[LittleGidding]

So the issue is not primarily the turbos impeller, but the airways in the intercooler?

 

[Genius]

So the issue is not primarily the turbos impeller, but the airways in the intercooler?

IDK, mostly. You see a little buildup on the turbo compressor but it's mostly just slight discoloration IMO not causing any harm. Though....deposits on the air fins on the AC does produce resistance to flow, decreasing usable boost to the engine.

 

[Brooksie]

I do this yearly by spraying Fantastic or 409 cleaner into the running turbo on both my diesel car and boat. It seems to remove the layer of black from the from the intercooler mainly. I don't go through the air cleaners but Do keep fingers and rags well clear.

 

[hunttr]

I just did this on my yanmar 4lh 240 hp.I took the air cleaner off but probably not necessary.I used yanmars product that I got a couple of years ago.I also did it last year. I took the aftercooler off in the early spring and went through that.I was kinda targeting the oily black buildup on the turbo intake fins.I haven't actually inspected the fins yet to see if it helped.Turbo was was working fine before the cleaning and I didn't notice any change on boost guage.

 

[tailhook]

Be cautious when doing this, you can suck up things like rags and ruin your day, capt. Larry saw this happen and the rag ruined the turbo

 

[TCL]

But…. Does anyone here actually do something like this? Actually run stuff through the intake / air cleaner to clean the turbo?

No, I don’t.

 

[Diesel Jerry]

I have done one turbo wash my entire career. I have rebuilt many air coolers. In my opinion there is no substitute for disassembling, cleaning (we send ours to American Honeycomb) and rebuilding. I won’t say how I clean turbo’s due to personal safety issues. I mean if not careful the person doing the cleaning or anybody walking by could get…. Stuff in there eyes.


Wow… that sounds bad.

 

[Genius]

Some of the deep sea engineers can share their stories of walnut shells.... for the big diesels/gas turbines

 

[diesel]

Used to work for Westinghouse combustion turbine division. I have done the walnut shells on a 40mw gas turbine that would not make heat rate on startup. I bought 3000 lbs of the shells in bags in Houston and drove them across the border at Nuevo Laredo in a rented pickup in the dark of night. Those were the days. We ran the turbine up to full load and dumped them in the inlet. Took about 20 min , the heat rate improved a lot but still not per contract. Ended up spending 6 months there reblading the compressor with a pretty pissed off customer (CFE) . Yup good times ….

Don’t see it being helpful on a diesel IC engine. The turbine has axial flow so he shells go right through the axial compressor to the combustion section and burn up.

 

[LittleGidding]

Thanks for all the info! So it sounds like direct, off-the-engine cleaning of the intercooler is the most important thing. And of course simply using lime-away flushing will not get at the air side of the intercooler. So…hmmm. I’m wondering if I can even get my intercooler off my engine, it So completely fills the engine well.

 

[Diesel Jerry]

Thanks for all the info! So it sounds like direct, off-the-engine cleaning of the intercooler is the most important thing. And of course simply using lime-away flushing will not get at the air side of the intercooler. So…hmmm. I’m wondering if I can even get my intercooler off my engine, it So completely fills the engine well.

View attachment 137477

You can remove both end caps and slide the core aft. Then clean the core as a whole. Wipe out the housing with a rag and brake cleaner. Talk to @ThePartsGuy for the o-rings and other stuff you may need.

 

[ThePartsGuy]

6LY intercooler parts break out for reference

Also it might be prudent to clean up the galvanic corrosion on your starboard side transmission cooler and the surface rust on mixing elbow near the turbo clamp. This will save you some money down the road! lol

 

[Diesel Jerry]

^ best parts guy ever ^

 

[Wayfarer]

I did it to my Yanmar.if I remember correctly it’s done at WOT. I think is done every 250 hours. I had a 4LH in my Dyer 29

 

[southshore30]

I had a 6LYA-STP 370 in my old boat that I owned for almost 20 years and did the turbo wash at least once a year. There was a few times I couldn’t get it and used a small bottle of spring water, dumped off a couple ounces and put a tablespoon or two of dawn in it then stuck a filet knife blade in the cap and squirted it in the turbo. Yanmar bottles are about 8 oz and they would tell you to squirt in over a mini or two while running up around cruise rpm then run it hard for a few minutes before slowing down in order to pass all the water through the AC. They did stop selling the small bottles but the place near me I got Yanmar parts from buys the gallons and sells to their customers small quantities