A trick with a piece of fuel line saved me from pulling a turbo on a 6.7 Powerstroke

I used to pull the whole turbo just to check the VGT actuator on those trucks, which is a full day job. Last week, a guy at the shop in Phoenix showed me you can disconnect the actuator arm, slip a short piece of 1/4 inch fuel line over the pin, and use a socket to move it through its range. If it moves smooth, you know the turbo vanes aren't seized. Saved me like 6 hours of work. Anyone got other quick checks for turbo issues before you go tearing things apart?

3 comments

3 Comments

caleb2622mo agoTop Commenter

Full day job for a VGT check seems like a lot. I've seen guys just unbolt the actuator and try to move the lever by hand with some pliers. If it's really that stuck, you probably already have a low boost code anyway.

evan_wilson182mo ago

That trick works if the vanes aren't completely seized.

dylanmurray2mo ago

Full day job for a VGT check" is putting it nicely. I once spent a whole afternoon pulling one, just to find a perfectly good turbo. Felt like a real genius, you know? The socket and fuel line trick would have saved me from my own overthinking.