D Turbo

[SCSG-G4]

The new C- turbos are not really loud whistlers like the old ones. Can hardly tell the difference. Maybe it will be louder when it loosens up a bit but as of now it’s not that bad.

If you don't have the two types side by side for a comparison I'll go with a natural loss of hearing due to age (whether the loss is in the turbo or the listener remains to be determined).

 

[HDN]

I'm just thinking about all the posts I've read here in the past about everyone and their dog wanting a whistler turbo. Look how far we've come

I guess I've never experienced a loud turbo. The turbo that came with the Cat 3116 in my deuce has a pleasant whine to it, but definitely not deafening. It might have to do with the muffler too

 

[67Beast]

I'm just thinking about all the posts I've read here in the past about everyone and their dog wanting a whistler turbo. Look how far we've come

I guess I've never experienced a loud turbo. The turbo that came with the Cat 3116 in my deuce has a pleasant whine to it, but definitely not deafening. It might have to do with the muffler too

I was thinking the same thing. Everybody just had to have the C turbo years ago, and 20 years ago when I got mine with the D turbo, I kept think just how nice that sounded and that I definitely didn't want anything louder.

 

[biscuitwhistler37]

For "light" work and parades it's hard to beat that whistle in a low boost low rpm situation, After the C is spooled and building boost though, it's hard to hear the engine under it, for me anyway. I want to try a D after the inevitable happens and the C quits just to see what "quiet" is like. If you ever have the muffler off of the A3 and it's safe to do so, start it. You'll either love it, hate it, or learn to hate it .

 

[3rdmdqm]

Well now that I’ve had the opportunity to drive it with both, I prefer the D. I’m going to try to rebuild my D and if all goes well may reinstall it.

 

[Valley Rock]

The silicone half blocking your return as you described was probably a bigger deal than some people might think, the oil flow back from the turbo has to be unobstructed or it will pool up and push out past an otherwise decent seal .

 

[3rdmdqm]

As promised....just finished tearing down the old turbo. Was a pain getting the halves apart, had to soak it for a few hours in PB Blaster to get them to come apart. The turbo itself looks in remarkably good condition, like almost new. After careful inspection, I think the oil leak was caused by what Vally Rock observed in the comment above, the partially blocked oil passage with silicone. Research reveals these things really don't have "seals" so to speak. They operate o oil slings. There are small channels that as the turbo spins, it slings the oil into these channels acting as a drain before it seeps out past these locations and out other areas. If the oil drain is restricted, this causes oil to build up and pool and starts flowing out other areas instead of being able to get out thru the sling channels fast enough. Does anyone know if the 3LM-319 rebuild kit for the C turbo "whistlers" are the same parts that will interchange with the 3LM-39 "D" turbo? They appear the same, but there could be slight variances. I cannot seem to find a rebuild kit for the 3LM-39 "D" model.

 

[3rdmdqm]

Also, quick tip - when tapping the turbine housings to separate them from the shaft/turbines, leave the bolts that hold the haves together in a few threads so when it comes loose it doesn't drop/fly off and damage any of the fins. You can then remove the turbine assembly carefully on the bench top after you remove the bolts the rest of the way. You may have to whack it pretty hard with a sledgehammer to get them to separate depending on how much corrosion there is binding them together.

 

[3rdmdqm]

If this is helpful for anyone, original service kit for this model turbo was listed as #194397. This can apparently be replaced by part#318368 which contains what looks like all of the correct parts for this rebuild.