Turbo Swap

There’s a suggestion that I need a new turbo on the old E Class.

The only symptom is some smoke. However, I don’t seem to be using much/any oil which I’d expect if the turbo was the cause. Is that a fair assumption?

If it’s the turbo, what sort of job is a turbo replacement for an accomplished DIYer? I’m told access is pretty easy on the W211 3 litre diesel.

How was it diagnosed?

If you leave on idle for 10 mins do you get any blue smoke?

if you can get the Intercooler pipework off - check it was oil residue, and also the shaft on the turbo for lateral play.

Only takes a few drops of oil to smoke quite a lot...

Thanks. Yup - it’s just the spot residues above the two exhausts. I don’t want to swap the turbo if it’s not necessary

did you do the idle for 10 mins test?

No - what’s that?

If it does idle a while, there tends to be white smoke. The specialist (who hasn’t seen it himself yet) wonders if it might be a leaking injector. The white smoke is probably diesel.

If turbo oil seals are leaking, then it'll drip into the exhaust at idle if left for a while, result is blue / black smoke out the back, not white.

white smoke is either water, or unburnt diesel - injector or low compression possible.

It’s not using water - suspect the dripping injector as I think that also leads to a sooty exhaust when running and there is some soot