SR20DET Boost Issue

isimon91 · Oct 10, 2008

I put it to the high boost setting a few nights ago, I had to try it.. (24psi, pre-set from previous owner, not the smartest choice on my part).. Did a few highway pulls, and noticed after one pull that it would sputter and misfire all over once it hit 4500rpms (where turbo begins to spool). It feels as if there is a boost leak, same symptoms as my previous SR when the BOV weld broke and there was a two inch hole in the FMIC piping.

The car runs fine under 4500-5000rpms (where the turbo begins to spool). After that, it sputters and misfires all over. It sounds just as a boost leak would, where it would sputter and misfire instead of boosting the turbo. However, the turbo still holds boost, I don't think that it's blown. After I did a highway pull, a 'T' shaped hose from the top right side of the engine was dislodged and oil was sprayed all throughout the engine bay.

I checked all along the piping, tightened everything that I could, and still the same problem. I know that the turbo shouldn't be blown, because it is still holding boost. The only possible thing that I think can be wrong with it is:
-Broken piston ring, blown turbo seal (making a boost leak), or worst possible scenario, a warped piston.

Any input to help fix my problem would be helpful, no more high boostin' for me.

isimon91 · Oct 10, 2008

Engine Bay, you can see oil that was splattered on hoses, piping, the valve cover, etc.

Oil Splattered in engine bay / intake manifold:

More splattered oil:

This is the 'T' shaped bar that came loose from being lodged in the engine:

More oil:

More oil:

isimon91 · Oct 10, 2008

Also in the last picture, notice the oil pressure gauge is cracked. I'm not entirely sure if it was cracked before the purchase, but it is now.

pa s13 · Oct 11, 2008

umm well the t fitting you blew off is just a sort of pcv valve to recirculate postive crankcase pressure and blow by back into your intake system. That gauge if it is a oil gauge, thats probably the worst idea i have ever seen, what happens when those clamps fall of, and u loose all oil pressure, say bye bye to your motor. But really if your vc vent came off, i dont think it should be spraying that much oil out of it, well then again the cams are in there so they could splash it around. Back to your problem it looks like you are running factory injectors, why would you turn the boost up that far unless you have a tune for it. YOu could have cracked ringlands, but anyway do a boost leak test, make sure that is good, and get back to us

4x4le · Oct 11, 2008

if thats what the boost was set at he etherr never used it ad it was like that from the factory or he had that as a race fuel.

isimon91 · Oct 11, 2008

Did a compression check today, everything seemed fine. Checking the turbo in the next day or two, hopefully it's just a seal.

pa s13 · Oct 12, 2008

did you do a leak test on your intercooler pipes?

Joel 180 · Oct 12, 2008

im sure its fine. If previous owner ran 24psi you can bet it would have forged pistons. Give your maf a clean, you might have had a blowback of oil through the turbo inlet.
Also with that turbo id doubt they were factory injectors.

Replace or remove the oil gauge too

It didnt throw out the oil dipstick did it?

4x4le · Oct 12, 2008

I could be wrong but from the pics, I think they are stock injectors. You gotta remember people dont do shit right here in the states,, especially on cars that have had work done to them that they then sell off.

I wouldnt run 24 psi on pump gas but thats me.

isimon91 · Oct 13, 2008

4x4le said:
I could be wrong but from the pics, I think they are stock injectors. You gotta remember people dont do shit right here in the states,, especially on cars that have had work done to them that they then sell off.

I wouldnt run 24 psi on pump gas but thats me.

To be honest, running 24psi wasn't the best choice on my part, but shit happens and for what it lasted it was amazing..

About the injectors, we had the shop look at them, and from a glance they said they were stock. They looked a bit closer to find that they might be aftermarket, and be purple just like the stock ones. They'll pull them and let me know tomorrow.

Joel 180 said:
im sure its fine. If previous owner ran 24psi you can bet it would have forged pistons. Give your maf a clean, you might have had a blowback of oil through the turbo inlet.
Also with that turbo id doubt they were factory injectors.

Replace or remove the oil gauge too

It didnt throw out the oil dipstick did it?

Nah, if it threw out the oil dipstick I think I'd have some real issues. I'll have the oil gauge replaced- I think that sounds like a possibility though, that a blowback of oil in the turbo inlet, I'll have the MAFS cleaned.

pa s13 said:
did you do a leak test on your intercooler pipes?

I actually haven't had it done yet, but I spent a few hours tightening just about everything I could with the bumper off the other day, with no luck.

I'll try cleaning off the MAFS , maybe oil blowback in the turbo inlet DID make this. Thanks everyone, I'll keep you posted.

Joel 180 · Oct 13, 2008

they could have been high flowed - its an old school mod from when new injectors were expensive

pa s13 · Oct 14, 2008

thats why i brought up the injectors, they are purple just like factory ones. But umm if they were high flowed, could they honestly be high flowed enough to handle 24psi. Make sure to unplug yur maf and clean it with maf cleaner, and let it sit for couple hours so it can dry. Dont want to mess up your maff

NebrS13 · Oct 16, 2008

simple green and carb cleaner do wonders to front of SR block

tw1nturb0 · Oct 23, 2008

That looks more like its a fuel pressure gauge. Where is it getting an oil pressure reading from??

isimon91 · Oct 23, 2008

Problem fixed. Was a boost leak near the FMIC, didn't see it until I revved it and saw a crack in the rubber seal. Thanks everyone.

OpenThrottle · Oct 23, 2008

all that for a busted coupler........dont you just love it haha

at least you got it fixed

isimon91 · Oct 23, 2008

Haha yeah. I'd think it'd be something more serious, but whatever. I found that I needed oil desperately at least.

SRlouisiana · Oct 25, 2008

when I got some time on my hands I wouild take it apart and find out what is done to this motor. If it is built and those are not stock injectors (although they look like they are to me too.) you could get tuned to run higher boost and not worry about anything. But thats just me.

SR20DET Boost Issue

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isimon91

isimon91

pa s13

4x4le

isimon91

pa s13

Joel 180

4x4le

isimon91

Joel 180

pa s13

NebrS13

tw1nturb0

isimon91

OpenThrottle

isimon91

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