Just purchased a 97 GSX AWD

[Tsmith]

Just bought my first dsm and first ever turbo car. The owner couldn't tell me much other than they "bought the car this way". Looking to see if anyone can see what has been done so far and where I should start maintenance. I see a lot of leaking around the turbo. Also looking to see if the BOV is atmosphere release or not if you guys can tell from this pic. Definetly trying to do things the right way so I figured I would start by fixing anything someone else done along with some routine maintenance. Thanks for any comments.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[1990talontsi]

You can properly bov to atmosphere if you have either a gm maf and maf translator or speed density.

 

[BoostedinSoFla]

You can properly bov to atmosphere if you have either a gm maf and maf translator or speed density.

Great advice! , the guys asks about maintenance first which is very rare for newbies and you recommend ways for him to vent his BOV?

Just bought my first dsm and first ever turbo car. The owner couldn't tell me much other than they "bought the car this way". Looking to see if anyone can see what has been done so far and where I should start maintenance. I see a lot of leaking around the turbo. Also looking to see if the BOV is atmosphere release or not if you guys can tell from this pic. Definetly trying to do things the right way so I figured I would start by fixing anything someone else done along with some routine maintenance. Thanks for any comments.

It seems that you have some oil leaks and the valve cover gasket seems to be the main culprit from the pictures.

Your BOV (which is a Greddy RS) is already recirculated and should be left as is. I also see hard upper intercooler piping. Does it have a FMIC or the stock SMIC?

The oil on the turbo could quite possibly be the oil feed or actually that same leak from the valve cover making it's way down there over time, which you can also see on the exhaust manifold. General maintenance things are primarily belts, hoses (including vacuum), timing belt and it's accessories, water pump, spark plugs, spark plugs wires, doing a boost leak test, all fluids, oil leaks, changing the oil, tranny-transfer case-rear differential fluid change..etc.

How does the car run? I didn't see a boost controller in the pictures so it might be on stock boost and that turbo could quite possibly be a 14b or a 16g (which flows more). Is there a boost gauge in the car?

 

[talon1990TSi]

As for upgrades I see turbo (14b or 16g) hard IC piping with greddy bov. does it have a fmic or is that just piping going to smic? looks like you need to get a new valve cover seal. I would do plug wires, plungs ( NGK bpr6es ), change the oil , flush the coolant. because who knows when it was done last.

 

[-Boosty-]

Your BOV looks like its recirculated back into the intake, thats the rubber tube going back into the intake tube in pic 4. As far as the leaking goes, i can tell from pic 5 that your valve cover is leaking, mine did the same thing and kept blowing oil all over the header, and everything else under the hood. Get a new gasket and some black RTV sealant. Make sure you get every bit of gasket, sealant, oil and whatever else may be on both the head, and the valve cover, then lay a smooth thin layer of RTV on both the head and the valve cover dont forget around the spark plugs, rub in all over with your finger keeping it consistent, dont use too much. I like to clean my bolts with a wire wheel and put a small amount of RTV on all my screws when putting them back in and i blow out the screw holes to make sure all the oil is out of them. Clean it up a bit and see if your still having the problem, i know i had oil all over EVERYTHING from mine leakin in the exact same spot. Good Luck man.

 

[bombDSM]

I would change that air filter to a k & n. Fix those oil leaks and then boost leak test to get it running the best you can.it doesn't look like you have too many mods there. You have a greddy bov recirculated which is good and what looks like a 14b. It wouldn't hurt to clean up that engine bay either . Good luck.

 

[-Boosty-]

Another thing to consider thats often overlooked is to do a coolant flush, and check the timing belt while u got the cover off to fix that valve cover leak, if u suspect even in the least that it needs replaced, do it.

 

[preludeachris]

change out that valve cover gasket (easy) buy factory OEM (rubber) then do your maintenance... clean up that oil with some break cleaner spay and see if it leaks any more also if the turbo has been changed might be a good bet that screwed up the feed lines...I hate those words..."I bought it like that" good buy man.. lucky you got the GSX hard to find around here good luck keep us posted

 

[etay89]

It has a jdm valve cover. It could mean the motor was swapped. Also the radiator looks to be swapped. Usually with 2gs...the radiator inlet is in the center...this one is moved to the far left...so I'm beginning to think this car has a few swaps under its belt (either a 6 bolt or jdm 7 bolt swap)...I could be way off...but the thermostat housing looks as narrow as the one on my evo 3 head

 

[JusMX141]

I see a knockoff 16G, a cheap eBay air filter....it appears the only valuable aftermarket part under the hood is that Greddy BOV.

 

[zcoh2gdsm]

picture 5 is showing a boost leak, plug that little nipple coming off the IC piping if you already have a vacuum line running from a boost source (j pipe or compressor housing) to your wastegate. otherwise hook that line up.

 

[JusMX141]

You mean the boost control solenoid nipple on the intake pipe? That's causing a tiny amount of unmetered air to enter the system....nothing that would cause a poor running condition. It should still be capped regardless, but it's not a boost leak seeing as there is no actual pressure in the intake pipe.

 

[Tsmith]

Thanks all. It has a FMIC.

I like the fact its recirculated BOV jsut wanted to make sure that was the case. Gonna leave it alone.

A lot of good advice and a great starting point for me.

Will post more daylight pics when I can and try to get better turbo pics.

 

[lumberjackracing]

Welcome to the dsm world. A couple people mentioned timing belt I would start there and the oil leaks.

 

[jed344]

least who modified the car was halfway smart i see timing belt cover, recirculated bov, one thing i dont see is there a line going to ## wastegate and is there a boost controller on the car?

 

[Tsmith]

No boost controller and I dont know where the line would come from or go to the wastegate. I looked all around but didnt see too much. I had to work today and didnt have much time. I got tomorrow off though. Anyone doing anything tomorrow night? Lets get a meet going.

Edit: sorry forgot I wasn't in the Regional forums. I doubt any of you are cruising to Colorado Springs tomorrow.

 

[zcoh2gdsm]

You mean the boost control solenoid nipple on the intake pipe? That's causing a tiny amount of unmetered air to enter the system....nothing that would cause a poor running condition. It should still be capped regardless, but it's not a boost leak seeing as there is no actual pressure in the intake pipe.

your right, i didn't see it was the intake pipe i assumed it was the ic pipe

 

[Turbotsiawd]

I would ditch the eBay turbo and buy the stock t25 or better 14b
Iv heard sooooo many horror stories with eBay turbos

 

[Tsmith]

How does the car run? I didn't see a boost controller in the pictures so it might be on stock boost and that turbo could quite possibly be a 14b or a 16g (which flows more). Is there a boost gauge in the car?

Car runs fine. Turbo lag from standstill until about 4k rpms though. I was at a standstill with an Olds Alero today and when the light turned he got about 1.5 car lengths ahead of me before the turbo spooled and I started pulling at all. I felt very ashamed at that time. On a good note from a 15 mph roll I was barely pulling on a Turbo Wrx today. I felt kinda proud there.

There has to be a way to not get so much lag from a stop light. If it had been a drag race tree I would have floored it when I saw the first yellow light and may not have gotten a DQ. (small exageration there but you get the point). Anyone else have the same problem with it being very sluggish until spooling? Again I understand that there is a big difference once the spool happens but I just think something is wrong until that time.

Oh and yes I have autometer phantom boost guage which at WOT and "full" boost it dances between 10-12 psi.

 

[TJCTalon]

I see that your local.

If you ever need help wrenching or just want to bullshit hit me up 3-2426286

 

[danielbo91]

Nice way of explaining your spooling issues with street racing, mod in here dont like people talking about street racing you can get a warming from them watch out when you explain stuff in here.

 

[Yelwarc-]

Maybe they were both in a hurry to work, stopped at the light and upon the light going green they both accelerated quickly to 60mph. Just happened to run into a wrx in a hurry. I doubt the mods have anything against going the limit

 

[WES_393]

Your lag could be from the cheap turbo. If it is in fact an Ebay turbo, I can't tell from here. Boost leaks can also cause a bit of lag, but I think the thing that is hurting you most is the Spectre filter. The adapter is very restrictive.

 

[Tsmith]

Nice way of explaining your spooling issues with street racing, mod in here dont like people talking about street racing you can get a warming from them watch out when you explain stuff in here.

Srry man I never said I was street racing for one. Secondly I am 31 years old and don't need to be told right and wrong. I have read all the rules and understand what I can and can't talk about. Not once was I talking about hitting fuel cut or a 60 mph roll on side streets. Don't be so quick to judge just because I am a newbie to this forum.

Back to topic. I looked at the "different turbos" thread and tbh I can barely see my turbo under the manifold. Maybe with more years of DSM'ing I would be able to see something I am not but for now I am sticking with I can't tell what turbo it is.

TJ - yea man definetly looking to meet peeps and get more into the scene. Went down to Revolutions and Jacks Trans today just to see where they were. Talked with them and got some info but I know they are busy and the info they have isn't exactly something they want to "give" out. I have only been researching dsm's for about 5 weeks and have barely grasped the basics. I would take any help you could give though at the moment.

 

[TJCTalon]

Well first thing Id suggest is do a boost leak test on that thing. If you dont have an air compressor I have one at my house. Ive owned dsm's for a few years now, so if theres anything I couldnt help you out on I know the guys who can.

What have you done to it already?