Sorry for the frequent posts here - it's my first turbo build and I am pretty new to all this. So I started my car for the first time yesterday and found my turbo doesn't spin while the car is idling? I know the turbo spins freely and it is a fresh rebuild. Plus I know he turbo is getting enough oil. It's a turbonetics t3/t4b if it helps. Thanks guys

 

That's normal...might start to spin at idle once it gets a few miles and loosens up.

 

Thanks, I did some reading online and all I really found were a bunch of people arguing over that.

 

check for exhaust leak by turbo area if still no spin

 

Something definitely wrong.

 

Why do you say that? Because it spins freely while outside the car...

 

I had 4 different turbo before and they all spin on start up and idle. Did you clocked the turbo and maybe just offset it wrong where it touches the housing?

 

Not necessarily saying there is a problem but just because the turbo "spins freely while outside the car" doesn't mean there isn't a problem. As someone mentioned there might be an exhaust leak or another plumbing problem. There is much more to the equation than just the turbo.

 

Because I've never heard of or seen a turbo that doesn't spin at idle. It's like asking if you're supposed to feel air coming out of your exhaust when the car is running.

 

Generally, ball bearing turbos spin at idle. Older journal bearing turbos often do not. Some larger ball bearing turbos may not spin, but this is unlikely and could be a sign of damaged bearings.

Tim