First off, I'd like to say I'm extremely happy to be in my new to me 03 xc90 T6. I just bought it yesterday with 133k miles and a leaky turbo.

I have oil seeping into the exhaust side. I don't think there's much if any going into the engine side since I'm not losing much and I have no CEL or real performance issues. I drove it 30 mins to get home last night and about 20 to work this morning. The smoke comes and goes, sometimes it's a white cloud and sometimes not much of anything.

So on to my questions.

1. How hard is it to R&R the turbos? (I consider myself a moderately adept mechanic)

2. How reliable is the turbo rebuilding process?

3. If rebuilding is a horrible option, whats my best source for replacements?

TIA

This is the worst auto enthusiast forum I've ever joined. I though the bimmer heads would be hard commune with, but wow. Guess I'll enjoy my car without the community aspect.

 

I find it easier to drop the motor to replace the turbos on the T6 than I do pulling them out through the top. So you are asking a question about a fairly difficult job that most people have not done. Then you complain when no one answers. Good luck.

 

This is the first car I've owned where there isn't a forum full of people that have torn theirs apart. There's always a pocket of hardcore enthusiasts for any brand and they usually congregate on forums and log their conquests. My BMWs, Audi and Range Rover were all complex animals that have threads upon threads of guys discussing difficult work, posting empty engine bay shots, swapping tech sheets, how-to's and shop manuals. I guess I'm spoiled.

Anywho, I refuse to be a dealer rat. I got the 123 turbo out from the top and through the wheel well. It seemed to be the culprit. I'll ****** the motor next yr during bike season so I have wheels while I tackle other engine maintenance and maybe the 456 turbine with the motor out.

 

I know what you're saying, but not all forums are the same. Some other Volvo ones have more of that from what I hear.

You can get them both out from the top, it just depends on how patient you are and what tools you have. Since I can drop the whole subframe, motor and trans in about 1.5 hours, I'd rather do that than fight them from the top.

 

yeah have to realize that this forum many focuses (from what ive noticed) on the older cars like the 850s s70s early v70s etc. we have a couple people on here (est6 and myself being some of them) that have a bit more knowlege of newer cars. i try to help as much as i can but sometimes we dont see the post and if it never gets brought up again we will completely miss it. but like es6t said it isnt hard to pull the engine. disconnect all connectors from the top and drop the engine, tranny, and steering rack with the subframe.