Hey guys, I met someone the other day with a 2003 Evo VIII. I found some issues with it and wanted to get some input on some things from here. Had some lifter tick, and a slight knock. I think a proper tune should be able to help that. Might want to add in it has 150k on it, intake, FMIC with U/LIP, cat back exhaust. To the owners knowledge it has not been tuned in the 10 years they have owned it. It shoots out brown smoke under boost...ive seen black and white smoke but not brown before....smelled like oil. I figured start with some fresh oil, new plugs (owner does not know the last time plugs were done), check the turbine for any shaft play (have a feelings it may need some new bearings and or rebuild) and at this point check all the fluids (coolant, trans, diff, break, basically everything). Anything else you guys would check on a basic oil change evo for 10 years? Also if anyone has seen brown smoke out of the exhaust little bit starting boost then huge puff under full spool...WTH is it?

 

That Evo needs a more caring owner, if you buy it, a Refreshment of all parts you mentioned and a good look over through out car.
Brown smoke is probably from the negligence, new oil & plugs should change that......Evo's are High maintenance chicks lol

 

boost leaks are the likely cause of the smoke. 10 years with just oil changes? Its going to need a timing belt. While thats being done you can remove and clean the lash adjusters, which should help with the ticking. Like i was saying before, your going to want to do a boost leak test. My 03 @~160k miles needed the brake booster line, throttle body shaft seals (second replacement), new recirc valve, new LICP to IC coupler, new BISS screw o-ring, and a pcv check valve to cure all my boost leaks on the last test.

Is this something your thinking about buying or you want to help the guy out? You might consider doing a compression test before really moving forward with anything so you can depth gauge how deep of a money hole this project is going to be.

 

It's a friend of a friends car I took a look at and asked some questions and got some horrifying answers...and here we are. I will not be buying it but will be part of getting back to a properly running and maintained evo. I did mention the timing belt when I was with the owner it has not been done in 10 years. Which blew my mind supposed to be done every 60k. I will probably get the compression test done and then do a boost leak test prior to starting any of the other things. @Biggiesacks Thanks for the boost look idea as well as the list of areas you had to replace, ill have to check em all out. @EVO196 I agree but there were other priorities over the evo in the owners life.

 

its actually worse then that, the maintenance schedule calls for 60k miles or every 5 years. Which ever comes first.

 

 

I honestly don't get why people buy a car like an Evo just to abuse it like this. Why not buy something more tame if you're just going to neglect it? You're only giving yourself headaches by having more items to fail.

 

That cars gonna need more than a a 60k service, you better tell owner to save up to refresh that shortblock because I guarantee it’s on its last leg and that leg would be a wooden peg leg lol.

 

that's funny but sad cause its true. Hey maybe ill get lucky and get a project care if the owner decided to get ride of it. I don't see the owner putting out the kinda money that's going to be required to get it back to full functionality. Maybe the basics to keep it kicking but that's about it.

 

A friend and I are going through a similar situation right now with an 05 evo 8. It's a double salvage, high mileage, and rebuilt title. The only damage to it was front fender and radiator support. It also now has a block with spun bearings. An older friend of mine owned it when an old lady made an illegal U-turn and crashed into it, thus giving it the second salvage title. My friend then sold it to some biker dude who neglected the living **** out of it and left it in even worse shape than it was when it was sold to him. He is now trying to sell it for the same price that it was sold to him. We are going to attempt to low ball the crap out of him for what he has done to that car...

OP, you will need to expect a rebuild if you are already hearing knock. A tune will not help rod knock or fix an engine that is burning oil.

 

That is insane specially that the guy is expecting to sell it for what he got it for letting it waste away like that. makes no sense at all. I think your right itll need a full rebuild but I don't think the current owner will shell out that kinda money for it unfortunately. Itll turn into another fully neglected shot motor car. Hopefully ill be able to grab it fix the little bit of body damage and rebuild it. Besides the few dents and motor the body is in good shape just needs a nice clay bar and wax. amazes me how people can buy these cars and let them fall apart. Should bought a Honda instead.

 

Because people want to own a performance car capable of incredible numbers for very little $$$. They don't realize that going fast always costs money, be it now or later or both. When the bills start coming in, they cut corners, defer maintenance; do things poorly. This pattern seems to apply to about 80% of the EVO's I've seen. With successive owners, it only gets worse.

I remember when I bought my first EVO back in 2003, people here freaked out when they had to deal with the cost of replacement parts and maintenance. The cost of entry was the easy part.

 

Doesn't surprise me at all, most people don't even take care of their own bodies.

 

Yup, Honda's are at least made to be treated like crap by irresponsible owners.

Couldn't agree with you more. I know we could start a whole new thread on this topic and other things that are wrong with people!