Just curious...there are a bunch of threads on this forum about turbo kits.

Are any of you afraid that, especially since both the kits and the cars haven't been around all that long (the cars, the turbo kits have yet to be) that the cars you are still paying on/have under warranty might end up with blown-up motors/transmissions or a car that doesn't last?

I'm not knocking the turbo kits in any way...I'm on the fence about getting one myself (once the early adopters get the bugs worked out.) I just wanna see what you guys are thinking about reliability/long term use.

 

Would deffinately void the engine warranty and may even void the tranny one as well but only if they knew about it;)

If you keep the boost at a moderate level, have it very well tuned and run the proper fuel and do not hammer it every mile you drive it, it should last a very long time. We have a very stout motor in our cars and there is already a history of running some very serious power on stock internals withought failure. So, if you run moderate boost levels and are a reasonbly moderate driver, do proper maintenance, etc. I expect you should not have to worry to much at all;)

Rick

 

Plus if you blow it up there are camry motors all over the place to replace it.

 

I forgot to mention that;) When my boost controller failed and I hit 15PSI in my Matrix it stretched a couple of rod bolts which caused a mild rod knock. $500 later I had a very low miles used Corola motor in and running just fine. I ran it at 13PSI for 10K very hard miles, sold the turbo and the car, $50k miles on the motor now and it does not use a drip of oil, runs just fine.

Rick

 

Hadn't thought about a replacement motor being easy to get/cheap...wonder what a NEW replacement motor would cost?

I just think the tC is one of the prettiest cars on the road right now...especially in silver. And to have one making 300hp at the wheels would be great...just worried about having an unreliable car (when this is supposed to be my daily driver) and wondering why none of you are.

 

I dont know about the rest of the members but this is my 3rd turbo car so to me it doesnt matter. My tC is tuned running at 5psi and I dont push it and even if I did 5psi is fine. Consider this Toyota designed the engine to have a super charger bolted on later so the engine was designed to have forced induction sooner or later it can handle it man what you really need to consider is the extra gas usage i get nowhere near my stock mileage anymore out of a full tank i used to get well into the 300miles for a full tank now i average about 280 to 300 if im lucky. I got a t3/t4 set up and I am pushing 215hp with a full apexi exhaust system. I am sure I could push more power out of my car but I dont want to blow it its kinda my daily driver.

 

Taquito, you are way under utilizing your power potential, you could make much more and still be reliable;)

cpa5oh, a new motor would cost far more and not be a rational thing to do if you look at the big picture. Toyota motors last forever, especially in the cars they mostly come in, a Camry, mild mannered drivers almost always. So, you pick up a used motor for practically nothing that has very low mileage, one that is designed well enough to last 2-300k miles, drop it in and good to go.

There may be a slight difference in mounting up to the tranny, my Corola motor was an auto(which most Camrys are) and one bolt did not fit, just a simple drilling of a new hole fixed that problem.

Rick

 

i am not too concerned about the warranty. i plan on installing my kit in november or december for a variety of reasons.
1. by that time my basic warranty should be up(36K miles)
2. enough money to get lsd, clutch, flywheel, brake upgrade(either wilwood 4pot or just a stoptech stage 2 kit), basic electronics, new tires, and whatever i need at that time.
3. also have an extra 4K lying around(after i get everything listed in #2) just in case something happens to my motor.

Also, im deciding on whether or not to get a boost contoller. I have the zpi stage 0 on order and the wastegate have a 6-7lbs spring. i don't ever plan on boosting above 6-7lbs until i get some internals done. is there another way to avoid boost spikes? EBC or MBC? i have heard some negative things about EBC and should avoid them. anything you provide would be helpful.

 

if longevity and warranty are a worry, don't get a turbo kit. turbo kits are a lot more focused on people who want to wrench away and work on their cars...

 

I have to agree, you want to play, you have to pay;)

Rick