mooredb

You'll have to forgive me...I am not very technical savvy.

How can you tell if the turbo is working and preforming the way it should? Would I do a compression test? Or when I pushing the petal to the metal should I feel it kick in? This is on a 84.

How you you know if it is working at all?

NismoPick

Driving the car would be part of the test... you need to make sure it spools up to proper boost level, doesn't make any weird scraping or whurring noises, and doesn't blow any blue smoke.

The other part would be a visual inspection of the compressor wheel. You need to see the actual fins to check for wear & chips. You also need to grab the center of the wheel at the nut and lightly push / pull in all directions. It should not move at all (aside from being able to spin in place).

mooredb

I don't hear any wired noises or see blue smoke....but I do hear something like a fan sound noise coming on when I get the RPMs up pass 2500 or so. Seems strange to hear that at that level of the RPMs. I am amusing that is the turbo kicking in? But I don't really feel a jolt power, should I feel that?

This car has 53,000 original miles on it. Not sure how long the turbo will last. I read that it is oil cooled for that year. So I am making sure I change the oil every 3,000 miles or 6 months.

The visual inspection part. Is that something easy to do -I know where the turbo is at but not sure what to take off to inspect. I might need to let the mechanic do that part.

Thanks.

NismoPick

What did the boost gauge read at full throttle while driving it?

mooredb

I don't have a boost gauge.

mooredb

I have an 84 AE. The compass is where the bost gauge should go ;-(