Ok in the past i frequiently drove a lowboy truck transporting heavy equiptment most of the engines had turbochargers. Most of the time we would cover the exhaust with duct tape. I was clamed that when you were moving that the air flowing over the exhaust would make the turbo spin and since the engine was not running the bearing would have no oil and it would be damaged. Most of the time you went 60 mph or slower. I just dont think that air if it went down the exhaust if the exhaust valve were open the intake would be closed . Besides that we used to tow semis with the wrecker sometimes for hundreds of miles and we sure as heck drove a lot faster than any lowboy truck we didnt cover the exhaust ever and never heard of any problems. My question is this a myth? What is your qpinion? OldWolf
pure ****. The only way for the turbine wheel to spin is if there is air flowing through the turbo. Just a light vacuum draw across the exhaust pipe is not enough to pull air through the entire engine. Besides, if it was even possible the turbine would spin so slowly that it would not harm the turbo.
They spin upwards of 100,000 rpms. a little wiggling won't hurt it, not that it would spin from that vacuum, but if it did... Anyone got a 5/8" drywall stretcher I can use?
Just enough truth in it to cause problems If you were going fast enough AND you had a headwind AND the engine had a low-restriction intake AND enough valves were open to allow the air through it MIGHT be able to move the turbo. However maybe it's a good idea to cover the exhaust pipes to prevent debris and rain from getting into the pipe -- if enough crud got into the exhaust impeller it could cause problems on start-up. But your explanation sounds like something from someone who works at a desk and knows just enough to be dangerous
Sounds like something that would be a problem anywhere that's got a ****load of wind and has turbodiesel equipment parked outside. Yet the only time I've ever seen anything like that done is when a tractor is missing it's clinker so the farmer hangs a bucket on the stack. Think I'm calling BS on this one.
ok, got it now.... after midnight here. still don't see it being a problem even if the vehicle is being towed.
sounds to me like something that would happen where I work in the aerospace industry. You have a problem come up, don't know the real reason for it and make up some Semi plausible excuse for why it happened so you can right up a "cause and corrective action" form as to why it will never happen again...... after that it's just tacked on as part of someones job. kinda like the old story we tell at work about processes and reasons we do things. Little mary is learning how to cook a christmas ham from her mother. Her mother is showing her the secret family recipe for the perfect ham dinner that has been handed down through the family. Her mother shows her that the best way to cook a ham is to cut 2" off either end of it before you put it in the baking dish. the little girl asks her mother why she does that?? Her mother tells her, that's the way her mother showed her how to do it. So after christmas dinner the little girl asks her grandmother what made it so special to cut the ends off of the ham. Her grandmother responded that that's the way HER mother had taught her to cook it. Finally the little girl goes to visit her GREAT grandmother and asks the same question. Her Great grandmother laughs a little and tells her the reason she cut the ends off of the hamb is that she didn't have a pan big enough to fit a whole one.
Does the following spelling error mean that some of us might spend too much time on this board? "Her Great grandmother laughs a little and tells her the reason she cut the ends off of the hamb is that she didn't have a pan big enough to fit a whole one." And regarding the "myth", I have read about this on a couple of tractor forums, where guys have sworn that it happened to farm tractors they were hauling. I have no proof one way or the other......
Umm, the exhaust pipe goes directly to the turbo were the blades (fins) could spin. Try sticking a air nozzle in the end of a turbo see if it spins.
I dont have a job test driveng vehicles but everything i drive is thourghly tested and proven. As for the myth i never did think it would ruin a turbo. I just wanted some verification. OldWolf
The Bernoulli effect accross the mount of the exhaust pipe will actually cause enought air flow and the turbo will spin slowly. However, the oil left in the turbo is more than enough for the slow rotation of the turbo since there is no heat, and you will only be spining the rotating ***embly maybe a few rpm. A dry turbo simply has enough drag that it will not spin with the minimal air flowing through it. Its a good idea to cover the exhaust to keep **** out of it.
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