Turbocharger Issues: Leaks & Russian Filters

Hello everyone,

Today, I was driving behind a really old and broken diesel car that was emitting thick clouds of black smoke whenever the driver accelerated, and that led me to an interesting question that I'd like to raise here:

Russfilter - aside from all the technical and, above all, political aspects - are actually installed by some people, and VW has also announced plans to do the same.

What actually happens when a car has leaks in the turbocharger pressure system? Based on the experiences of Bertil and myself, you may not necessarily notice it in the car's performance, and whether the oil is detected depends on the installation position and the location of the leak. Also, with good insulation, you may not necessarily hear the hissing sound.

What's happening to that Russian filter? It's definitely not designed to handle that...

Does anyone know anything about that?

Is there a measurement or monitoring system for the opacity caused by Russ (soot) in the exhaust?

Or is a goldmine opening up for manufacturers and workshops here?

Best regards,

Jan.