Replacing the Used Turbo to Fix Oil Smoke
In a recent attempt to fix the persistent oil smoke issue in my Satria, I decided to swap in a used turbo. My mechanic suspected the turbo was the root cause of the engine burning oil. After some quick checking, I found a used TD04 turbo for RM1000. While the price was a little steep for a secondhand unit, time wasn’t on my side — I had to act fast.
Why a Used Turbo?
Buying a used turbo felt like a gamble from the start. But with limited options in my area and no time to hunt down a better deal, I took the risk. The unit came from a nearby shop, but I never dealt with the seller directly. Instead, my friend helped me seal the deal. I really appreciate his help — he did the legwork so I could focus on the bigger picture.
No Inspection, Only Trust
Here’s the catch: I didn’t get to inspect the used turbo before purchase. I relied fully on the seller’s word that the turbo was working fine, with no leaks. Looking back, that was a big mistake. The unit looked rough when it arrived. Dirty exterior, worn signs, and poor packaging. My gut feeling already told me this wasn’t going to end well.
First Impressions Say a Lot
Just by looking at the condition of the turbo, I felt uneasy. It didn’t match the “working condition” label the seller promised. While I hadn’t installed it yet, I already suspected that this unit wouldn’t magically solve the oil-burning issue. If anything, I might have just wasted RM1000.
Lesson Learned on Buying a Used Turbo
The biggest takeaway? Never skip inspection when buying a used turbo — no matter how urgent the timeline. Trust is important, but in car mods, proof matters more. Ideally, I should have waited and sourced a cleaner unit. At least one I could test or return.
If you’re facing similar engine problems and thinking of going the secondhand route, make sure to inspect the turbo or get it from a trusted source with a return policy. Buying blindly will almost always lead to disappointment — or worse, more damage.
