Turbo Care NZ Ltd

20/10/2026

19/10/2026

Old-School Datsun Meets New Tech

One of the Turbo Care crew is giving their CA18DET powered Datsun 180B an upgrade! 🐌

The previously stock CA18DET is swapping its Garrett TB25 for a custom Turbo Care TCRX Series ball-bearing turbo matched with a Sinco manifold and a bunch of other goodies

We’ll share more of the setup and progress as the build takes shape. Stay tuned!

16/10/2026

Turbo Overspeed but what caused it?

This Holset HX55 from a Volvo truck has failed due to overspeed meaning the rotating assembly has exceeded it's safe limits

This particular model has no wastegate so how is boost controlled?

The turbo is carefully matched to the engine. Its speed and boost pressure depend on exhaust energy, fuel delivery, engine speed and the amount of air flowing through the engine. There’s no wastegate opening to divert exhaust gas around the turbine.

That makes engine health and the condition of the entire air system critical.

A leaking intercooler or split boost hose can allow boost pressure to escape before it reaches the engine. Depending on operating conditions and fuelling, the turbo can then run at excessive shaft speeds while the boost reaching the engine remains low.

Incorrect fuelling, intake restrictions and engine breathing problems can also upset the turbo’s operating conditions.

A low boost reading does not necessarily mean low turbo speed.

Overspeed puts enormous stress on the rotating assembly potentially leading to fatigue and catastrophic failure like you see here.

The overspeed damage tells us how the turbo failed. The next step is finding what caused it, because replacing the turbo without correcting the underlying problem puts the replacement at risk.

15/10/2026

Something pretty cool in the shop, a couple of AiResearch turbos off a Bell 47 helicopter with a design dating back to the 1960s
What's cool about these they use what's called a density controller that senses air pressure and temperature at the compressor outlet, this then regulates a hydraulically operated external wastegate to maintain the required air density. This system compensates for thinner air as the helicopter climbs, helping the engine maintain sea level horsepower within the turbo system’s operating limits.

A little piece of aviation history on the workbench

08/10/2026

Precision Balancing Its All in the Detail!

Just 0.002 grams (2 milligrams) per balancing plane!

That's the incredibly fine indicated correction mass we're achieving on this turbocharger rotor assembly using our soft-bearing balancing machine.

But results like this don't happen by chance. They're the result of meticulous preparation, precision checks and attention to the smallest details long before the rotor reaches the balancer.

The real work starts long before the balancing process begins.

Before balancing, every rotor assembly is mounted in a dedicated jig fixture where runout is checked against our specified tolerances.

If the runout is outside our tolerance, the assembly is stripped back down and the components are carefully inspected to identify the cause.

Particular attention is given to locknut mating surfaces, collars, spacers, shaft shoulders and other mating faces. Even the smallest burr, contamination or surface imperfection can affect how components seat together and influence the final balance result.

Only once the assembly meets our runout requirements does it progress to the balancing machine.

And it's not just about achieving a low reading on the machine it's about achieving a result that's accurate, consistent and repeatable.

When you're dealing with turbocharger components operating at extremely high rotational speeds, the smallest details really do matter.

Precision balancing doesn't start at the balancing machine. It starts with the preparation.

04/10/2026

20/09/2026

A common issue we see with BorgWarner S300SX/S300SX-E turbochargers is exhaust leakage from the turbine outlet fl**ge.

These turbochargers use a Marmon style outlet, which relies on accurately matched flared surfaces to create the seal. When the mating fl**ge is welded to the downpipe, heat distortion can prevent the surfaces from seating correctly, resulting in an exhaust leak.

To provide a more reliable solution, we setup and machine the back of the turbine housing to accept a standard V-band fl**ge with a locating spigot. This positively locates the downpipe, eliminates the original leak path and provides a much more consistent sealing surface.

18/09/2026

In for repair is this BorgWarner B03G turbo, fitted to a Mercedes-AMG A45.

The turbo had developed excessive end float, causing the compressor wheel to damage the compressor cover. Rather than throwing the cover away, we machined out the damaged area and built it back up with aluminium weld.

Next, it will go back into the lathe so we can re machine the profile and restore the correct compressor wheel clearances.

A bit of specialised repair work to save a component that might otherwise have been binned

16/09/2026

CAT C16 Upgrade Turbo

Fresh out of the Turbo Care workshop, this upgraded CAT C16 turbo has been built to support setups up to 800hp

Key upgrades include:

• 80mm billet 7+7 compressor wheel
• Upgraded 360 degree thrust system for improved durability
• Professionally assembled and balanced in-house
• Built for increased airflow and performance under load

Whether you’re looking for a performance upgrade or simply need a reliable OEM replacement turbo, talk to the team at Turbo Care NZ. We can help determine the right option for your engine and application.

11/09/2026

Check out what we found inside this Komatsu turbo that came in with lack of power funnily enough