FP18g or PTE3231 - help me decide

[dsm-onster]

The 18g compressor wheel is under-rated and over-achieves from my experience.

If it ever blows, look at the hx35 or h1c. The h1c flows as much as the td06h 20g or t31 50 trim on both ends but spools faster than an evo3 16g. What BB turbo can come close to that!? And it's durability is uncanny. Justin is right about modern journal bearing tech from my experience. This turbo has been through 2 blown motors with metal shards galore. It bolts on with the bep housing, outflows the 18g and spools faster than the 16g.

The hx35 is even better, same spool and proven to go over 500whp on several occasions.

Borg-Warner turbos are the same story.

For every MHI or garrett turbo there's a holset or BW turbo that matches flow and spools 500rpms faster.

 

[joyfil2001]

So the 18g is on the car. I broke me oil feed line so I ordered a new one which should be in tomorrow. Everything went pretty smooth. Getting the nut on the O2 housing stud was the biggest PITA! I haven't been able to remove the old oil feed line from the oil pump housing so I went out and bought the Craftsman extra grip 19mm wrench and should be able to get it off tonight.

QUESTION: Should I fill the turbo with oil before I start cranking (not starting) the motor? How much oil should I put in there?

Also, I just fill the coolant at the thermostat housing right?

 

[BoostedinSoFla]

No need to "fill" the turbo with oil. Just make sure you "prime" it before startup. Remove the engine fuse and crank a few times.

 

[joyfil2001]

Which one is the engine fuse?

 

[BoostedinSoFla]

Pull the 20 amp MPI fuse from the underhood fuse box (it's the one marked Moteur). Crank the motor over in 10 second increments 3-4 times to prime the oiling system. Reinsert the fuse, start the motor and you're done.

 

[joyfil2001]

And you are POSITIVE that I do not have to put oil in the turbo first?

 

[dsm-onster]

I've had the feed line port on the head wide open by accident and cranked the motor over. No oil came out of the port until the motor started. 250rpm starting speed may not be enough to build oil pressure in the head.

 

[joyfil2001]

That seems to be the way everyone does it though. Do you know another way?

 

[dsm-onster]

Pour oil into the turbo as you mentioned.

 

[joyfil2001]

Ok I am finally done! Everything is installed and the car runs great. I am really glad I got this turbo. It gets full spool right around 3600rpm. It gave me that low end torque I was really looking for while still packing a pretty hard punch on top end. I brake boosted it once last night and it hit 15psi instantly. I drove it 55 miles to work today with no issues. Temp gauge is right in the middle and oil pressure is good. I am running 22psi and I have no knock. Im proud of myself for being able to do this without anyones help.

 

[eclipseGSTud]

Joyfil2001, congrats on the successful turbo install! How does your car feel at 22psi on the 18g compared to the 20g you had before? What fuel type of fuel are you using?

 

[joyfil2001]

Well for one it spools WAY quicker. It definately pulls hard if not harder. I now feel more torque down low then I ever have. And the damn thing moves on the highway too. I am very happy I got this turbo. I am using 93 octane pump gas and I haven't seen a hint of knock. My next mod is definately going to be an external wastegate though because the intenal one won't hold 22psi to redline. But it is fast.

 

[dsm-onster]

Good review. Which 20g did you have, td05h, td06sl, td06, td06h?

 

[joyfil2001]

I had the Ebay TD05H 20g. Due to the internall Chinese parts it was way heavier than the FP18g. It was very laggy. But it did have alot of top end though.

 

[joyfil2001]

Quick question: I am getting DSMlink soon and will be going in for a dyno tune. Will me 650cc suffice or should I just bite the bullet and buy 850cc injectors? Looking to efficiently max out this turbo.

 

[delta448]

Depending on how efficient your setup is and how good you can tune, 650s should be enough for around 400hp.
RC fuel injector calculator >check the bottom of the page.

 

[joyfil2001]

I used that calculator and to get 400 crank hp I would need 790cc injectors. I am looking to get between 375-400whp. Should I upgrade to 850cc or is there something I am missing on this flow chart?

 

[delta448]

The RC calculator always oversizes a little. If you plug in 0.55 BSFC and 90% IDC, you need 646cc injectors to hit 400bhp. These are not unreasonable values. I seem to remember CanadianTsi hitting almost 400whp with 650s.

 

[joyfil2001]

Ok thanks for that info. I think I will just upgrade for piece of mind and more room for later.

 

[dsm-onster]

Yea, from my experience, the 650s will put you under the potential of the 18g compressor. But I don't think more than 750s are neccesary.

 

[joyfil2001]

Thanks for the advise. I think I am just going to get the 850cc since they cost the same. That way if I upgrade in the future I will have some room.

 

[joyfil2001]

Just posting an update:

I have been running the 18g on 650cc injectors for a while now. I fouled my spark plugs but I swapped them out and the car runs great. The boost is set at 21psi and pulls strong with no knock. I am going to keep the 650's on the car until Ibuy DSMLink and am ready to dyno tune the car.

 

[JusMX141]

I am going to keep the 650's on the car until Ibuy DSMLink and am ready to dyno tune the car.

DEFINITELY wait for Version 3. You'll be happy you did!

 

[joyfil2001]

Right now I'm just waiting for my wallet to fill up. . But when do you think version 3 is coming out?

By the way, I saw pics of the turbo. Nice work man. I can't believe that's the same one.

 

[JusMX141]

Yeah it turned out pretty good for an eBay special 20G. The compressor wheel just kissed the housing a little bit....didn't do any damage though. We caught it JUST in time!

V3 was supposed to be out in time for the Shootout...it keeps getting pushed back as it's more and more refined. It will be killer- GM MAS compensation (no need for a Translator), tons of other goodies. There's a 38-page thread about it on the Link forums.

If you're planning on buying a Translator in the near future, DON'T!