Hello everyone,
After 3,5 years of ownership, my FL2 TD4 (2008) has started marking its territory!
I visited the dealer, just yesterday, they removed the big black hose going from the turbo into the intercooler and they told me that the oil leak was due to the turbo. They advised I should take it back into the dealer's asap and turbo has to be fixed! Mind you I had a turbo change at 25000km under warranty - the car now has 102000km's. Cost would start at around 250 euro's but could possibly climb up, they said.
So, please advise:
1) Does it have to be the turbo, or could it be sth simpler?
2) Is repairing a turbo adequate and reliable?
3) Could I find a new turbo unit cheap in UK?
4) I am a bit technically oriented... Is this a job I could do myself?
5) They told me that oil leaking from the turbo could permanently damage the engine. Is that true?
So I am a desperate man now, I would really appreciate any help on this, thanks.

PS. BTW, are FL2 turbo's designed to brake every 70000km's? I take good care of the turbo by not harshly accelerating when cold and always allowing time to cool down before switching the engine off. I am a big LR fan, but I do have some thought spinning in my head now that those mumbling about LR reliability may actually have a point.

1) very likely to be seals in turbo leaking oil - this will eventually block the intercooler, starving the engine of air - not good for the engine or the expensive catalytic converter.
2)Have replaced turbos on several vehicles (not mine) that have had similar failures, with good success rates - do remember to clean the internals on the intercooler (I flush them out with petrol).
3) Last couple of turbos (Audi A4, & Ford Focus) were around £300 each reconditioned.
4) Only you can answer that, but I suspect if you can change a starter motor you could change a turbo - check on TOPIX.

Turbo life mmmmm Mines done 60k miles (96,000km?) and still going strong, I don't redline the engine in the first minute of starting as it takes that long to belt up and get off the drive, I stop driving then turn the engine off, don't wait. Many years ago when the Escort RS turbo was king, waiting for engine to warm the oil, and allowing the turbo to spin down after a run were the only way of keeping your turbo in one piece. Engine design has gone on apace since then, so has oil technology - maybe the oil your dealer is using is not up to the job?

I wouldn't buy anty car that I have driven either  Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

It's normal to have a few milliliters (up to 10-20) of oil in intercooler after 100k km.
It's not from the turbo, but from the crankcase recirculation system (blow by gases).
More than that, yes, could be from turbo.
I've seen a lot of VW cars that have oil in intercooler but they (and the turbo) were OK.

Thanks for your replies, guys!
So, if I understand correctly, there is no way to actually distinguish where the oil is coming from, except if I take the turbo apart, right?
The oil I'm using is the CASTROL 5W30 913B spec, which I buy and the dealer changes for me. Is there a better one? Please note that my FL2 is equipped with a DPF. BTW, could the oil leak damage the DPF as well?
Alex: Does this mean that after 100k km, I have to clean the intercooler every now and then, even if my turbo does not leak any oil? The oil found in my intercooler pipe was less than 1ml, may be less (but since I found out when it was leaking on my garage floor it must have been more): how normal is this and how long could I leave it without repair?
Last question: Anyone know where I could get a new or refurbished turbo from? Any links or company recommendations greatly appreciated.
Sorry about the long list of questions, but I'm just trying to clarify things out a bit for myself, before I spend my dosh to the stealers.

Wow, for a 1 ml of oil I wouldn't even think about it... It's more than normal.
And that oil gets accumulated over the entire period of time, not at the end, so no, you don't have to clean the intercooler periodically.

Hi Alex, thanks for your quick response.
Sorry I didn't understand your last post: you wouldn't even think about it... So you would change it... or not?
1 ml is very little, the inner lining of the pipe was just oily, they turned it upside down and not even a drop would come out of it. The technician had to hit the hose opening on his glove to see the oil.
This all happened on last Friday 4-11-2011. They put the intercooler hose back on and tightened it up again. I went down to my garage 5 minutes ago and there are no more oil leaks. Maybe after the tightening the oil just cannot come out any more (I'm not sure that's a good thing), or it's so little that hasn't been accumulated in the tube yet.
What's your opinion, my friend?

1mm of oil over 60,000km is acceptable. Leave the turbo well alone.
You might have a loose hose connection that is allowing the oil to creep out, externally clean everytrhing and find this. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Do not mess with the turbo. Let it be.
It's normal what you are telling us about the oily hose interior.

when i had mine in pieces the other day it was oily, getting the sytems cleaned out tomorrow tho as my variable vanes are sticking.

Ok people. Just checked for new oil stains again tonight, but nothing there. So, I'll let it be. Is there some way to actually check that there is no abnormal oil leak inside then? I'll check again tomorrow morning and let you know. Thanks a lot for all your help everyone!

Just coming up with an update: After two days of use of my FL2 (motorway & around town driving), I can see no more oil stains. Either the intercooler hose was loose or all oil is now trapped inside because they've tightened the hose collar.

alex_pescaru wrote:

Do not mess with the turbo. Let it be.
It's normal what you are telling us about the oily hose interior.

"...so much that the push fit pipe that leads to the air intake is leakign oil all down the back of the engine and dripping on the floor."

That connection often weeps but that amount of oil you have coming out is excessive.

I dont see how leaking turbo seals will put oil into the air induction system ahead of the turbo- its usually goes straight into the engine, gets burnt and goes down the exhaust pipe - classic blue smoke

AFAIK Excessive oil in the induction system ahead of the turbo is caused by a faulty PCV system or over pressure within the crankcase caused by piston blow-by in a worn engine. Jules

Yes....beginning to doubt the Turbo Seal thang. Is there any way to prove this? The oil that lubricates the cam's drains down back into the sump doesn't it.....but if those drains are blocked that would create excess oil in the breather box......? Or am I being daft now?

I feel I am getting screwed but how to know?

No pressure in the crank case at all really......