Turbo Diesel Registry
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/594528
8 www.turbodieselregister.com TDR 90 10 BACK'S ORIGINS As I started writing "10 Back" I wondered, "When did this column first appear as a regular feature in the TDR?" Trivia answer: "10 Back" first appeared in the table of contents in Issue 61, August 2008. Prior to "10 Back" I ran a series of columns titled "The Way We Were," giving me the editorial license to take a look back at previously covered topics or to take a look at a historical event. As I reviewed Issue 50 for content that is still relevant today, I noted our article celebrating the patent for the turbocharger by chief engineer Alfred Buechi of Sulzer Brothers Research back in 1905. So here we are 110 years after the turbocharger's patent, and we now ask "what's new?" I continue to see rumblings in the press about an electric blower to pre-turbo the turbocharger. I'll let you know when the concept is proven. In the meantime, our Issue 50 had two turbocharger technical stories by the TDR's all-things-mechanical writer Kevin Cameron. I am always fascinated by his lucid prose; Issue 50 is worth a read just to relearn in memorable language what you knew, but then forgot, about turbochargers. ON TOPIC Oops, I got a little ahead of myself. Let me stick to a logical outline and give Issue 50 a close review. As always I'll look for the following: • Problems Solved • Feature Articles • Industry News • Magazine Theme PROBLEMS SOLVED Oil Cooler Failure TDR writer Jim Anderson investigates "The oil cooler—What happens when it fails." Thankfully this is a rare problem. In rereading Jim's analysis, we are told that should there be a problem with the oil cooler the tell-tale sign is that oil gets into the coolant, making the coolant turn a milkshake brown in color. If you think about the pressure(s) involved, oil is anywhere from 25 to 50psi and coolant pressure normally doesn't exceed 10psi. Oil cooler repair may sound complicated, but it is a fairly simple task. Wide open access to the oil cooler (remove the air intake piping and it is easy to get to the cooler) makes this a do-it-yourself project. Jim's article takes you through the process step by step. Truthfully speaking, any time there is a mix of oil into water, the thought of an expensive repair is usually what comes to mind—a bad headgasket or a cracked cylinder head. Thinking logically, these two failures are caused by overheating or by a high horsepower condition. Often a repair shop (remember, they've heard it all) will be throwing out quotes of $2000+ when you describe to them "oil in the water, but nooo, it never ran hot." So, if you find the nasty oil sludge in your cooling system, be advised that you may not be facing a big repair bill, rather a simple $200 oil cooler replacement. Details: TDR 50, pages 14–16. First Generation • How to remove the dash (heater core replacement). Hint: It was strongly suggested that the windshield be removed. • Battery replacement or voltage regulator. • A/C quits after 30 minutes. Correction: clean the area around the evaporator and coils (easier said than done). As the Editor, I have often lamented that as a society we don't properly honor the inventiveness and achievement of our elders. So let us give that bygone achievement some proper and regular observance in our pages in the "10 Back" column. In each installment of this column I review the accomplishments of TDR trailblazers as I summarize the old articles to reinforce that "the more things change, the more they stay the same." Here is my look back at what was happening in Issue 50, November/ December 2005/January 2006.