I was just wondering what some of the most common mistakes are with bad turbo installs. I'm kinda having second thoughts on my custom kit since hearing about people blowing their engines from bad installs. I bought my car brand new back in February and really don't want to see it parked dead in my drive way.

 

Although I'm obviously out of my element here in the lancer supercharger/tech forum, I think the biggest mistake people make is a lack of planning, and being too eager to tear apart the car before having the entire project planned out or knowing exactly what components you will need to finish sucessfully (and having a checklist and trying to get everything together before tackling it if at all possible)

this is really something I tell everyone who wants to modify their car.. Any direction you go in is your own ultimate decision, but the research and planning will make a difference in whether or not you have a huge problem, or a smooth install.

 

Usually just random carelessness. One guy forgot he had a flashed ECU (flashed for NA power) and got 3 miles before his lean AFR blew a piston. It's easy to forget to attach hoses, sensors, etc. Just be careful. Do one step at a time. And if you have bonus pieces...oh man.

 

This is a very generalized question; so it's difficult to answer. I would say the best advice is to take your time and research. Like was said earlier, be sure you have everything you need to complete the job before you start. Do your homework!

This goes for tools too, BTW. Plenty of times I've ripped into a project to realize halfway through that I didn't have the proper tool to do the job. Huge inconvenience when your car is not running.

 

With everything that have installed rather it be an intake or installing a car stereo, I check then double check things to make sure they are correct. After that I check again to make sure. No problems here with that method.

 

I was hearing things about the oil return line on the turbo. Just make sure it is hooked up correctly and that your turbo gets oil to it. Nothing worse than a dry turbo!

 

It's a lot more complicated with something like forced induction where you're loosening, tightening, and replacing a lot more things. Schedule yourself ample time...and then a little more just in case. Check every step after you do it, then go back and check it again later. I was super paranoid about my rod bolts when I installed them. Same when I reinstalled my head bolts(which has a rather annoying 6 step installation). Better to do it right the first time, or to catch a mistake early on than to tear back down and do it again.

 

That'd be the pressurized feed line. The return is a 1/2" or larger (generally speaking) gravity fed line from the bottom of the turbo to the tap in the oil pan. If you do that incorrectly or it gets kinked you're at risk of swamping the catridge.

 

dont boost too high, get a boost controller, a lot of people blow their engines that way

 

Also, remember to check and tighten every clamp, fitting, flange, every thing you installed with the kit every time you change your oil. It takes a few minutes, but it was well worth it. Better than driving down the highway and all of a sudden you get a loss of boost due to an exhaust leak, or your intercooler hose flying off (if you go I/ced). A turbo is like a baby, you gotta take care of it and treat it just like one. That's the price you have to pay if you go FI. Just some help for you.

 

ok my problems. check over everything yourself. i trusted my friend who said he tightened the oil feed line but he didnt tighten it enough and oil got everywhere. make sure you have the right tools bc i had to go t the store several tiems bc i didnt have the right size socket or needed more zipties or soemthing. one dub mistake i made was not pluggin two the ignition wires back in so only two pistons were firing for a a couple minutes. that was jsut dumb tho. also i didnt have torque wrench so didnt put the right torque on the header bolts so now there is still an ehaust leak.

 

Ok who here knows how a boost controller works? A BC will only raise the pressure above what it is set to open at the wastegate, it can't lower it, the valve doesn't create pressure (which is what it would need to lower the boost, it bleeds it off to keep the wastegate closed thus increasing boost. Ok lesson over. Back on topic.

The biggest mistake in my opinion is not having another car to drive and a machine shop on premisis for all the manufacturing you need to do and the wierd tools like pipe taps and huge drill bits.

 

Good advice in this thread, take your time, plan out how much time you will need (and double it to be on the safe side), and get the tools before you do the work. Get a factory service manual also, those things are life savers.

Also having a second car makes things less of a pain, because you're not relying on the car you are working on.

 

amen brotherman!

 

Like everyone has said, plan your work. I go so far as to write a step-by-step how-to for myself to act as a checklist as I progress. And make sure it includes lots of opportunities to double-check your work.

Also, on complicated installs, and really on any install where more than one piece comes off, I have a notepad with me to take notes about where things came from as I take them off. It also helps to tag pieces with painter's tape to remember what's what and to help you realign things. It takes longer to do the install, but you'll have more confidence that you did it right. It's not a race, so don't try to do it quickly just for bragging rights (what?!? It took you a whole day to do a turbo install?!? I can pull mine off and on it 3 hours!!)

Hope that helps. Good luck.