Schroedinger

Using a "dna motoring" T3/T4 Ebay churbo. The last few times I've started the car, it makes a clattering/squealing type of noise on startup and acceleration, not at idle. It only does this when cold; when the car warms up, the sound disappears. Seems to be getting progressively worse. I thought at first it was a loose alternator belt, so I tensioned the belt but it didn't fix the problem. Oil pressure is normal. It's always hard to locate funny noises from the drivers' seat, but it seems to be coming from the driver's side of the engine bay, where the turbo is.

Is this the sound of failing bearings in the turbo? Maybe the compressor wheel dragging against the housing? Any suggestions for diagnosis? Right now my plan is to pull the intake and check for shaft play, then remove the compressor housing and look for visual signs of scraping or wear.

Here's a quick video. Easier to hear the noise with headphones. You can hear it every time I blip the throttle. Disregard the sound of me crinkling a plastic bag in the middle of the video.

DaWaN

Both this fact and the sound I hear makes me think exhaust leak?

Schroedinger

Checked the turbo... spins freely, no play. Exhaust leak is a good guess since I had it all apart a few weeks ago to fix a manifold crack. I’m getting tired of exhaust leaks.

Schroedinger

Turns out that this is the sound of a dumbass who forgot to put the gasket back in between the head and the manifold. Nothing to see here people.