GT17 lifespan

[nine-fiver]

How long has everyone got from their GT17s? Years and KM please.
Our Linear is heading to 200,000km and it is starting to play up every now and then. Boost levels ar intermittent sometimes and it is not as 'free' as it once was. Smoking a little under hard acceleration but running well overall.
 

[Audax]

Mine lasted to about 135k (miles), car was about 9 years old then, the reason I believe it failed was due to increased oil pressure after a sump drop and clean. Almost immediately after we did that sump drop and went to the final breather it started smoking from cold so we replaced it as a precaution.

[TomPaine]

My old MY98 9-5 lpt had its third turbo fitted at 63k miles / 5 years under the previous owner. I acquired it at 66k and that turbo is still in it, c160k miles [ie 220k total on the clock] and 11 years later [with a new owner]. Religious simmering, and intermediate oil changes.

[nine-fiver]

Tell me what simmering is?

[mikeloadsasaabs]

Tell me what simmering is?

After a fast run, e.g. on the motorway, it's leaving the turbo to spin down from its high rpm to normal idling speed by letting the engine tick over after coming to a halt for a minute or so. If you shut the engine off as soon as you stop, the oil pump stops running and the turbo just spins on whatever oil it has in it at the time, which then overheats and can carbonise with bad effects on the bearings. Keeping the engine running enables the oil to keep flowing and it remains cooler.

FWIW, my GT17 lasted around 175,000 miles and was still running OK when I had it swapped out for a second hand unit. After the swap, the pickup was much quicker and it felt like a different car. I would guess it was around 8 years old at that time. But there was no real smoke or other issues, it was just a precautionary measure. I too followed the simmering principle, and 6,000 mile oil and filter changes. Same on the Aero I have, which has now covered 211,000+ miles in 11 years and 9 months on the original turbo.

[nine-fiver]

Nice to see they can last when looked after. A credit to you Mike. And thanks.
I was looking at changing ours over and still might in the nearer future but it is hardly putting any smoke out the back at all, and only on hard acceleration.
I drove behind and we had a two way conversation between the cars to see what it would do under different loads. A diesel Rangie puts out a fair bit under hard acceleration and this is nowhere near that, so I am leaving it for a bit.

[stevetreacy]

Mine lasted to about 135k (miles), car was about 9 years old then, the reason I believe it failed was due to increased oil pressure after a sump drop and clean. Almost immediately after we did that sump drop and went to the final breather it started smoking from cold so we replaced it as a precaution.

Hi,

Ive just had service and now notice a little puff of smoke when starting from warm. Original turbo at 150500 miles. still boosting well but I suspect is next thing to change.

steve

[nine-fiver]

I am not rushing in to changing mine over at this point. Turns out a little TLC is cheaper and pre-emptive. After discussing the situation with my indie-wrecker who really knows his stuff, there are things to consider first. Namely, change the PCV valve and a few other little things things, including the Boost controller valve, and a few more vac lines. Now it boosts properly. And that touch of smoke it had is gone.
Just need to do the Alt now and get the volts up a bit.