Mods = problems down the road?

[sexehtopper]

I have heard people discussing how the more mods you do to your DSM the more problems you can run into. I was wondering what the maximum mods (listh them) i can do without putting myself in a financial bind. I already have the boost restrictor thing remoived, and i hacked off intake pipe. Let me know.

 

[paranoidTSi]

I think a modded car can be as reliable as a non-modded car to an extent. DSMs become unreliable and have problems when:
a) the driver abuses them
b) they upgrade their vehicle without the slightest clue

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

Agreed mods can cause problems down the road IF:

1.they aren't installed properly
2.they aren't tuned properly
3.people install cheap shit

 

[blcknspo0ln]

werd. all i have to add is maintenance. installing the best stuff and not taking care of it doesn't do sh*t to help it stay reliable

 

[SpeedFreak03]

My opinion on this is that when somebody mods their car they will drive it harder, then when the car breaks they will assume the mod did it, when it was (probably) their new driving habit. Now adding performance does add stress, but I think its more stressful when the car is driven too hard.

 

[sexehtopper]

what do you consider hard driving, i mean honestly ill get on it once or twice a day, i love the sound of that turbo spooling, plus power is great, but i dont boost on like cold start tho, i wait for a good 10 min driving till engine is good and hot

 

[Jimmy Jr.]

Use common sense here. Romping on a motor with 210 horse is nothing like beating on a motor that's putting out 400. There's twice the power being applied to all the components. Luckily we have well designed and built motors that can handle quite a bit of power before needing reinforcement. On a 2g I wouldn't put any more than 300 to the wheels without building the motors internals. Especially with a daily driver.

But how it's driven is the determining factor. If you don't know how to shift smoothly or you constantly launch it then it will break and break quickly. Think of it like this. You've probably ridden a bicycle, when you start pedaling you apply a lot of torque on the pedal arms and the chain as well the drive sprocket and the bearings. Increasing the power output on a motor would be like you gaining weight thus increasing the force you put apply to the pedals. Launching your car is like getting on your bike, lifting your foot and slamming as hard as you can and with all your weight on the pedal. It might hold up the first couple times you do that but something will eventually break.

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

I drive and spool the turbo also.

I think "beating on it" refers to always going 100% throttle anytime you have an opening, lauching hard at every light stuff like that.

 

[sexehtopper]

would just adding a BOV be hard on it at all, would it make a difference, and would i need some sort of boost control with the BOV to keep boost at 13 where its at, i heard you can get crazy spikes.

 

[mitspro]

only reason mods are bad is like people are saying driving hard puts more stress on the car then what its made for

 

[greenmachine97]

BOV....you should be fine. pretty much any mod that you do, and do properly, (with the exception of running obscene amouts of boost), will not harm an engine any more than usual. (in the scheme of things). it is that extra gas that you have to give to hear that: "blow of valve", or "that spool louder", or "that mean exhaust note" or whatever. it is not the mod, liek stated above, but rather how the driver drives the car in order to remind him the mod is there. Just be good to it, and it will be good to you! There is a thing called, "CARma", if you beat the shit out of it, you will pay dearly later. also known as karma.

 

[Dreamneos]

hhhhmmm....guess mine isn't goin to last much longer

 

[SpeedFreak03]

I would say someone who beats on their car does something like this: launches at least once a day, takes it over 5K RPMs every shift, boosts while crusing (there is no need to be boosting in 3rd gear going 80MPH on a highway!!!!!), going WOT for long periods of time, just stuff like that. Remember its okay to have fun, but the better you treat the car, the better it will run! It's a tradeoff. Now if you boost moderatly, shift at 3.5-4K (or less), and don't launch (unless your racing cause it is REALLY hard on the whole car, everything from engine to axles) then you will be fine with any mod in reason (under 300HP at the wheels should keep you at the stock reliability level).

 

[Defiant]

I have heard people discussing how the more mods you do to your DSM the more problems you can run into.

If you're modding to get better mileage and a quieter car, you'll be fine.

If you're modding to get more performance out of an already-hot setup, well.....

Mits did a good job of leaning in this engine to start with. 100hp/liter isn't trivial. More power is more stress, so it's only a matter of physical strength..

I was wondering what the maximum mods (listh them) i can do without putting myself in a financial bind. I already have the boost restrictor thing remoived, and i hacked off intake pipe. Let me know.

You're about done, so far as reliability is concerned. I don't see a boost gauge listed here...

 

[Powers_Vang]

So sexehtopper....you're boosting without a BOV in a 2G? That could cause your turbo to over work itself. Read that on MachV tech board. Upgrading your BOV would help save your POS T25 turbo. hehehe... No harm intended I said that cause I have one too & it is a POS. If you get an exhaust you're either going to have to put that resistor cylinder back or get a boost controller.

More power = more maintence.

 

[sexehtopper]

well i have an opporotunity to buy a greddy type s BOV flanged to hard piping for 175. should i go for it? and another thing, after i took that lil ring out of boost restrictor, and i hacked off pipe, i never hear my BOV anymore, NEVER ill full boost and let off and no chirp, no whistle NADA, that cant be good.

 

[Powers_Vang]

well i have an opporotunity to buy a greddy type s BOV flanged to hard piping for 175. should i go for it? and another thing, after i took that lil ring out of boost restrictor, and i hacked off pipe, i never hear my BOV anymore, NEVER ill full boost and let off and no chirp, no whistle NADA, that cant be good.

The stock BOV can't hold over 12psi so you're probably forcing all the pressure out with your high boost. You should still hear it...if not then time for a new BOV or Turbo. hahaha....

 

[Defiant]

well i have an opporotunity to buy a greddy type s BOV flanged to hard piping for 175. should i go for it?

Only if you're going to sell it. Just get a 1G BOV instead.

And yeah, BOV noises change.

 

[sexehtopper]

i dont see how it can only hold 12lbs when i peg 14 lbs. hmm ok.

 

[Powers_Vang]

i dont see how it can only hold 12lbs when i peg 14 lbs. hmm ok.

Yup 12psi...Some will hold just a little more than others. Even with your stock showing a 14psi that doesn't mean that its holding the 14psi actual boost. You could be boosting 18psi & 4psi is leakin out. You have no resistor remember? With my HKS BOV & Dejon tool pipe & with the vacum cylinder removed, I pegged 25psi PEAK on my Autometer Pro Comp gauge. So yea...you're losing a lot of boost just to show a measly 14psi.

 

[sexehtopper]

no one has really answered one of my main questions, would i need a boost controler with the BOV to prevent from running 25 psi, i dont want to un that high, its my daily driver. or would i be just fine with just BOV?

 

[Defiant]

The BOV doesn't regulate boost, it only releases it at closed throttle. Boost level is controlled by the wastegate, an MBC can be used to control the wastegate.