[Vwdiesel] OT: Turbo Gas vs. Non-turbo Gas [was Turbo vs. Non-turbo]

[Tyler "Casioqv" Backman]

I don't buy the concept that turbocharged gasoline engines do not last
as long as non-turbocharged ones, as long as the turbocharged engine is
properly engineered, even if the driver uses it no differently (no
cooldown, etc. as long as the turbo is water cooled). With volvos,
people have routinely been unsuccessful at demonstrating any reduced
life span on the turbocharged versions of the same motors (but of
course, turbochargers still need regular replacement). I have, however
heard of sudden engine failure as a result of predetonation, usually on
motors that were poorly maintained (clogged filters or fuel injectors).
To accommodate the turbocharger, a turbocharged gasoline volvo motor in
a 740Ti has lower compression, a oil cooler, sodium filled valves,
different camshaft profile, watercooled Garrett T3, a HUGE intercooler,
and possibly some other mods that I do not remember at the moment. I
know of several people with over 500k miles on the original motor, with
hardly any signs of wear, and some of them drive hard. I personally have
2, both with nearly 200k miles that both have perfect like new
compression, and have 2 friends who's cars are in the same situation. Of
course, there is the possibility that the motors don't last as long, but
few people have driven their cars far enough in the past 20 years or so
(since the cars were new) to produce any hard data yet. IRV Gordon has
over 2 million miles on his 1966 non-turbocharged volvo, whose engine is
a ancestor of the turbo engine, and only few other people have driven
there volvos over 1 million miles (one of which had the VW D24 diesel
according to a online register). Do you think that possibly your
sister's Capri Turbo "destructed" because of pre-detonation from a lean
condition caused by not changing the air filter (and most likely the
fuel filter also)?

-Tyler

LBaird119 at aol.com wrote:
>   Part of why a gas turbo doesn't last as long is that last 30% IMO.
> Driver error.  Gas owners aren't as smart or good looking as the diesel
> crowd.  Therefore they don't know it and don't have the charisma to be
> blindly approached and offered advice on cool down procedure as part
> of a "pick up" line.  ;D  They don't run as good of oil as we do, are more
> likely to ride it hard and put it away hot and not maintain (necessarily)
> as well.  My sister's Capri Turbo got 70K before it destructed.  First time
> most facilities had seen such a thing.  It still had the ORIGINAL air filter
> in it!  STUPID!