Discussion
My Evo lost all boost last weekend on the first day of a 1k mile round trip. It reappeared intermittently during that day and the next, but vanished never to return in the last few hundred miles. On brief inspection, it appears the vanes are more or less jammed solid against the housing of the turbo. It's possible to get them to turn slightly, but only by moving the spindle up and down at the same time. Other than the loss of boost, the car idled and drove as normal, with no untoward noises either before or after the failure.
I haven't had the oil feed off yet, but obviously that is under suspicion. Other than that, I'm wondering what else I should be looking at as the possible cause, given that I'm not keen on refurbishing or replacing the turbo without safeguarding against another potential failure.
The car was an Evo 8, but It was modified to Evo 9 spec with the Mivec head, 80 series turbo, inlet and ecu from a low mileage car about 6 years ago. It was then added to with bolt on mods and remapped tp 380 brake and 360 lbs ft at 1.8 bar peak. It's regarded as below the safe limits of both engine and turbo generally. I've had the car for about 14 years and this is the first failure of any significance.
Any thoughts appreciated, both on the likely cause and who to consider if I decide to have the turbo rebuilt.
I haven't had the oil feed off yet, but obviously that is under suspicion. Other than that, I'm wondering what else I should be looking at as the possible cause, given that I'm not keen on refurbishing or replacing the turbo without safeguarding against another potential failure.
The car was an Evo 8, but It was modified to Evo 9 spec with the Mivec head, 80 series turbo, inlet and ecu from a low mileage car about 6 years ago. It was then added to with bolt on mods and remapped tp 380 brake and 360 lbs ft at 1.8 bar peak. It's regarded as below the safe limits of both engine and turbo generally. I've had the car for about 14 years and this is the first failure of any significance.
Any thoughts appreciated, both on the likely cause and who to consider if I decide to have the turbo rebuilt.
Assuming no foreign object damage, until the turbo is apart the cause will not be known.
Sometimes there can be causes, sometimes it's just a case of s
t happens over extended periods.
There are many places who can supply a new unit or recon etc if it is salvageable. Turbo Dynamics, Owens, Turbo Technics etc etc
There will be dozens of Evo specialists who would also be able to supply through their networks too, or breakers for a used unit.
Sometimes there can be causes, sometimes it's just a case of s
t happens over extended periods.There are many places who can supply a new unit or recon etc if it is salvageable. Turbo Dynamics, Owens, Turbo Technics etc etc
There will be dozens of Evo specialists who would also be able to supply through their networks too, or breakers for a used unit.
stevieturbo said:
Assuming no foreign object damage, until the turbo is apart the cause will not be known.
Sometimes there can be causes, sometimes it's just a case of st happens over extended periods.
There are many places who can supply a new unit or recon etc if it is salvageable. Turbo Dynamics, Owens, Turbo Technics etc etc
There will be dozens of Evo specialists who would also be able to supply through their networks too, or breakers for a used unit.
Agreed, as things stand, I'm of the opinion it's exactly as you say, and just a sSometimes there can be causes, sometimes it's just a case of s
t happens over extended periods.There are many places who can supply a new unit or recon etc if it is salvageable. Turbo Dynamics, Owens, Turbo Technics etc etc
There will be dozens of Evo specialists who would also be able to supply through their networks too, or breakers for a used unit.
t happens scenario. Given the car seems fine in every other respect, I'll be surprised if there is anything more to it than specifically a turbo failure. I'm hoping the turbo's repairable and if so will look at getting a bb upgrade. Thanks for the reply.From what you say about having to "lift" the shaft to allow the turbo to move, to me, implies catastrophic bearing failure in the turbo itself.
If that is the case then yes, you do NEED to check the oil feed was working before replacing anything.
You will also need to make sure the bearing didn't disintegrate and shower the inlet with bearing bits/metal from the turbo housing.
It probably didn't, but better do the job once than twice eh?
If that is the case then yes, you do NEED to check the oil feed was working before replacing anything.
You will also need to make sure the bearing didn't disintegrate and shower the inlet with bearing bits/metal from the turbo housing.
It probably didn't, but better do the job once than twice eh?
I've since spoken to an Evo specialist I know and trust, principally with the intention of having the turbo rebuilt. However, after listening to his views on the particular model of turbo fitted, I'm inclined to look at alternatives. Shame, I liked the delivery, and the car was great to drive. He surprised me by suggesting an Arashi TD06 20G which he's fitted several of and seen great results after mapping to suit. With the supporting mods already on the car plus a set of injectors, it seems like it could potentially give another 50 brake, although the world of pain that would put the standard box and conrods through would nix chasing that level for me.
I'm tempted looking at the price, but wary of falling into the " buy cheap, buy twice " trap. However it's difficult to argue with the recommendation of someone who has mapped the car better than anyone else who's looked at it over the years, and has several positive first hand experiences with the turbo in question.
Owen developments have said that if the housing is ok, they will rebuild it to bb spec, but wouldn't commit even vaguely to a price on the phone. Fair enough without seeing it.
Thanks for the responses.
I'm tempted looking at the price, but wary of falling into the " buy cheap, buy twice " trap. However it's difficult to argue with the recommendation of someone who has mapped the car better than anyone else who's looked at it over the years, and has several positive first hand experiences with the turbo in question.
Owen developments have said that if the housing is ok, they will rebuild it to bb spec, but wouldn't commit even vaguely to a price on the phone. Fair enough without seeing it.
Thanks for the responses.
Finally found time to get it apart properly today, and about 2" of broken exhaust housing fell out of the turbo. I feel I've been quite lucky compared to some of the horrors I was expecting. I'd already sourced a replacement standard Evo 9 turbo with next to no miles on, and it's starting to go back together.
One of the things I found odd was that the vacuum take off on the j-pipe attached to the hotside of the turbo had nothing on it, no pipe and no blanking plug......there's a vac pipe from the turbo nipple and another from the actuator both going to the 3 port boost solenoid.
One of the things I found odd was that the vacuum take off on the j-pipe attached to the hotside of the turbo had nothing on it, no pipe and no blanking plug......there's a vac pipe from the turbo nipple and another from the actuator both going to the 3 port boost solenoid.
stevieturbo said:
No idea what you're referring to.
As the hot side is the exhaust...it would be rare for anything to be attached to it...simply because it would melt.
Oops, yes coldside, what a muppet! Worrying, considering I've been working on it all day........the j-pipe I'm on about is at the end of the lower intercooler pipe, bolting directly to the turbo, just under the intake. There's a take-off point coming from it, and when inspected, had nothing attached.....I'd have expected it to either be blanked off, or to have a vac pipe attached. Neither were present. As the hot side is the exhaust...it would be rare for anything to be attached to it...simply because it would melt.
Thinking about it, possibly as a result of us farting about at the side of the road in Scotland, trying to bypass what I initially thought might be a faulty 3 port or actuator.
Edited by Heaveho on Thursday 20th April 01:46
Edited by Heaveho on Thursday 20th April 08:44
Finally got it mapped at my tuner of choice on Monday, it previously made 380 brake and 360 lbs/ft at 1.8 bar six years ago at the same place. Only thing that's changed is a 3.5" thick ETS intercooler to replace a useless Autobahn item.
This time it managed 390 brake and 395 lbs/ft, again at 1.8 bar. All seems well.
This time it managed 390 brake and 395 lbs/ft, again at 1.8 bar. All seems well.
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