rx8uknoob

hi guys

ive finally found someone in the uk selling a turbo for our 8's, but hes breaking the car due to low compressions, is there anything in particular i should be looking out for on the turbo itself or associated parts? i know i should be looking at getting new seals and clean up for it but wanted to know about any possible issues?

cheers in advance

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

You soul really start reading the major horsepower threads and learn about turbocharging an RX-8. Starting random threads will not help you.

rx8uknoob

i know the route im taking but trying to get a uk set up is very hard compared to USA where you all have it done, all i wanted to know is there any specific areas to look at that may show signs of abuse as the car is being broken due to compression loss, im not starting a "random thread"

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Why would a UK turbo kit be any different than a US turbo kit? There would be a minor modification to the piping due to being LHD and that is all. Hell, you have not even stated what turbo or turbo kit you are talking about. There are many forced induction kits out there.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

What does that even mean? So you are buying a turbocharged RX-8 with a turbo kit and blown engine?

rx8uknoob

your not reading the question, its only a partial greddy kit, but im trying to find out about any known parts of a turbo (any turbo) that may show signs of degrading or stress if the engine has lost its compression? or if they are not even related? i know kits have to be modified ie US sold have issues with steering rack on rhd models etc

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Okay not once before did you say anything about Greddy and yes a blown apex seal or side seal could ruin a turbo if it made it's way out of an exhaust port. You would have to remove the turbo and inspect it. You really should read up on turbocharging an RX-8. Even basic knowledge of turbocharging would have answered this question. Proper Grammar would also help us understand you better.

rx8uknoob

no the car is being broken as in broken down for parts due to compression loss, not sure why you didn't understand that? and if its possible for a turbo to be ruined due to failing apex/side seal, then why would the manufacturer of the turbo make any difference? hence why i didn't specify a manufacturer in the first place, and hence why the original question was :- but hes breaking the car due to low compressions, is there anything in particular i should be looking out for on the turbo itself or associated parts?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Did you read my last post? Are you dense? I think so.

The compression loss cause mode and severity of the engine failure would all play a role in whether or not the turbo would be damaged. The type of turbo kit (which you never mentioned) would also play a role in whether or not the turbo would get damaged, as a top mount kit MAY be less likely to suffer turbine damage.

But either way, if you knew anything about turbos, you would know that any foreign object in the exhaust stream between the engine and the turbo could cause damage to the turbo.

rx8uknoob

why would a top mount become less susceptible to damage? they are not designed differently apart from location? a greddy low mount creates the same amount of boost as a top mount if they are both set to ie 5psi, same amount of airflow?? and i understand the principles of gravity however i don't see how you've come up with that theory? if anything big enough and heavy enough were to sit at the bottom of any pipe (top mount) surely you would be looking at a shattered engine? not just a low compression?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Boost is on the charge side, you really should read up on turbocharging.

Anyway, That is why I said, "MAY be less likely to suffer turbine damage". Often the fragments from a shattered side seal or apex seal that make it out the exhaust port of the combustion chamber are small so it is likely they would still be hurled into the turbine blades of a top mount just as easily as a low mount but I would assume the potential for damage would be less. But there are so many variables that come into play that there is no way to know for sure.

So anyone who blows an engine should be inspecting the turbo for damage despite whatever the failure mode of the engine is, it's just common sense.

Read.

monchie

Used turbo...low compression...please don't

shadycrew31

iTrader: (6)

If its just low compression most liekly the seals haven't popped.

Even if the seals did go its very unlikely that any large fragments made their way out of the side exhaust ports.

What you need to check for on a used turbo are the following

*Bent fins on the turbine side wheel

*Bent fins on the compressor wheel.

*Shaft play (move the shaft side to side and back and fourth), there should be very minimal shaftplay. A brand new journal bearing turbo will have no shaft play at all.

To access the wheels you will need to remove the v-band clamp and the snap ring holding the compressor housing on.

ShellDude

iTrader: (12)

Used turbo alone is bad unless you're getting on the cheap and know someone who can rebuild it for you.

I had a never been used used turbo crap out on me. Its either built with love and delivered directly to me or no turbo.

rx8uknoob

thankyou very much, at someone on here knows how to read a question and answer it in a simple way for noobs,

rx8uknoob

yeah i know, but this guy is selling quite cheap, normally i would only buy brand new however the only half decent "kits" ie turblown emersil etc i can only find in usa and being in uk this could make things very difficult for any returns or faults etc, only kit over here really is the greddy one but in comparison to dynos etc i would rather pay the little extra for turblown or emersil if i could

ShellDude

iTrader: (12)

Given those options i'd still take my greddy.

rx8uknoob

if you dont mind me asking but why?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Look man, you really need to do your home work. I'm not saying it to be a ******, I'm saying it for your own good. If you do not know these things on your own you are only asking for trouble. Turbocharging an RX-8 is a huge undertaking that is often taken lightly and the results are often crap. A used turbo should be rebuilt, the Greddy turbos especially, they just don't last very long and it is a pain in the *** to pull it later on to get it rebuilt and reinstall it.

The Turblown kit (Both top mount and low mount) and Esmeril kit are basically **** (and there many threads on the various issues with the kits) and both of them need a substantial amount of money and labor to get them working properly. Educate yourself. And that does not mean by asking random questions and then expecting us to spoon feed you answers.

wcs

iTrader: (2)

Fixed

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Good catch.

rx8uknoob

he made a choice with which he prefers and so i asked why, is that not the whole point of a forum? its ok looking at data sheets but unless you talk to someone who has done it how do we truly know what they are like, sorry but you are becoming one of the reasons new people like me dont want to/reluctant join these forums, we can only post in new member forums because we are new (not the creator of the renesis) and then you get all arsey because we ask a question

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

uk, calm down. I haven't stopped 9k's responses because he is being hard on you, but completely within bounds, ESPECIALLY because it's information you need to know.

You really do. Take a step back and really think about this. The content of what you are asking is showing us very very clearly that you have no idea what you are getting into. It's a 100% proven recipe for disaster.


Here is my attempt to keep you from falling into folly...

THERE ARE NO TURBO KITS! This is true here in the US, and over there in the UK, or anywhere else in the world.

You can buy packages with piles of parts, nearly all of which need to be modified, rebuilt, etc... to get them to work properly. Not a single vendor has ever produced a 100% ready kit. None. It isn't "easier" over here in the US at all. It's still a matter of buying the parts and having them all re-done by individual shops that you can trust. The names you list aren't trusted over here, simply because they sell products that don't fit, or are half-assed with shoddy materials, or have been shown to use knockoff forgeries.

There is a TON of information already available in the major horsepower section. Just start reading the build threads, of all the problems run into. You won't magically not have those problems.

EVEN IF you pay the 15,000-20,000 quid (based on exchange rate at a guess) to have a solid well built engine with a solid well built turbo installation (and that's with you doing all the installation work yourself) that is tuned 100% accurately, your engine is going to be on a razor's edge, where falling to either side with any slightest hiccup will blow your engine, probably taking the turbo with it. This engine doesn't handle it very well at all, and you HAVE to get every single last thing right the VERY FIRST TIME to have a chance. And no, there is not a single kit that is available in the world that can even get you 80% of the way there. Regardless of if you are in the UK, the US, or Madagascar.

This isn't for the faint of heart OR for anyone that isn't willing to really honestly read, read, read, read, and read some more.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

LiveWire

iTrader: (1)

This is really depressing, I feel my dreams are now a dead horse being beaten repeatedly haha. I am of the personal opinion that more exploration on turbocharging this car needs to be done so maybe, possibly, hopefully (but probably not) we can get something reliable. Because really, turbocharging lowers the life expectancy of ANY engine right?

Rx8uknoob, don't take what everyone is saying the wrong way. They know that you will probably go get your car turbocharged regardless. We just want you to know what you are getting into. We don't want more previous owners bashing the car despite warnings they received. It's weird, but verbal thrashing is like a sign of love here and it gets you do what you gotta do.

Please, please, PLEASE... extensively read about turbo charging this car, and I do mean just about every single thread, because it will cost a TON of money, it will be a huge hassle, and everything may go wrong. That being said, even with short engine lifetimes the Rx7 FD was highly regarded I'm sure this car could be even better than that. Could, maybe, not enough people try to be sure.

Read, ask, try it.

Just my 2 cents.