rb20 turbo problems

[240_hawaii]

hey guys
i have a rb20 in my s13 coupe and i keep going thru turbos like they were free:down: so im on my second blown turbo and kinda wondering where to go from here. any help would be nice:x:
1. i could put a holset hx35 on it i can get one for cheap but would need a new mani and a down pipe
2. find another used rb20\rb25 turbo and hope it doesnt blow
3.someone told me that a z31 300zx turbo will work? is this a direct bolt on or has anyone done this before?
4. buy e-gay turbo and hope it doesnt break:jerkit:
5.sell the car:wtc:
like i said any help would be nice and please dont tell me to search because i have been and i stil am
thanks guys

[Big Bronze Rim]

Are the turbos "blowing" because they are old and used or is there someting else wrong with your setup. It is possible that you have 2 bad used turbos - its also possible that they are starving for oil. I would confirm oil flow through the turbo before I bolted anything else on.

[SHIFT_*grind*]

If you're going through turbos, buying more turbos isn't going to fix the problem. What killed the first 2 is probably going to kill whatever you buy next.

-Is your turbo getting enough oil? What's your oil pressure like?
-Have you ever bent the oil feed line when putting the turbo back on? I used to have an RB20 S13 but I don't remember much about the lines; however, if they're anything like SR lines, they're a sonofabitch and easy to bend out of shape.

[240_hawaii]

yeah they were a bitch to put back. when i first got the motor the turbo was pretty much gone ie blowing smoke and hard time starting i bought a used rb25 turbo and as soon as i got it running it smoked. i donno if its the oil seal or what. how would i check for oil pressure? put a gauge or is there any other way? i just bought a holset hx35 and im thinking of putting that on now. any one done this yet? thanks for everyones help

[drifter808]

hope you like the hx35.

[sblack13]

don't wanna jack your thread. But I have a perfect condition rb20 turbo for sale, replaced it for a R34 RB25 turbo.

[blasting_speed]

Check lubrication to the turbo first. Maybe its running on dry.

[Yellow4g63]

Better yet how much boost are you trying to push? over 12 your playing with fire. Just get a real turbo those ceramic turbos are meant to be on shelf or the trash can.

[240_hawaii]

haha yeah i was trying to run jus a little bit more than 12. i was kinda hoping for 18psi max so hopefully the hx35 will do the job! also does anyone no what the compression should be for the rb20? thanks

[Yellow4g63]

It's 8.5:1 for the RB20, Get some bigger injectors too. I maxed my stockers out at 14psi on the stock turbo.

[dsc4130]

have you gone over 14psi or even 13? that would be why the keep craping out. 14 is when the turbine wheels let go and shoot into you intercooler(dont believe me ask my hks, took 4 hours to get that shit out) and im sure 13 isnt any better. if you wanna run boost like that go with something after market

[Yellow4g63]

I started at 10psi stock, then went to 12psi. Then I added the Rips intake manifold and FMIC and went to 14psi. I didn't drive it at long periods of time tho. Just dynoed, and little racing vs my friends RB25 S13. It did spike to 16psi one time but the my EVC4 killed the boost back down to 10psi lol so I don't think that counts.

[240_hawaii]

ok but will the block handle 18 psi. i just did a compression test and it went like this
1-60
2-90
3-90
4-90
5-100
6-160
now that doesnt seem right to me so i did it wrong or the rings are shot im not sure which? anyways where would be a good spot to order rings from
thanks guys

[240_hawaii]

basic parts list for my car:
fmic
255lph pump
cockpit chipped ecu
safc
lm-1
ebay turbo mani
boost controller
stock bov
stock injectors but im gonna change those soon will sr injectors fit?
i think thats about it

[slider2828]

Yup looks like you rings are gone. Do a leak down test to double check though. Go buy some bigger injectors and used turbos are not the way to go. More time swapping them out the driving on thm. Send the money and do it right. Sorry to say but you said it started smoking when you got it, well trash in is trash out.... So just save ome money and do it right. You can get rings probably from like phase2 maybe, or courtesy... I think there are some prety good sources.

[dsc4130]

yep like he said time for a rebuild.

[Yellow4g63]

ok but will the block handle 18 psi. i just did a compression test and it went like this
1-60
2-90
3-90
4-90
5-100
6-160
now that doesnt seem right to me so i did it wrong or the rings are shot im not sure which? anyways where would be a good spot to order rings from
thanks guys

ouch looks like it might be done, Like he said get the leak down test done 1st. Maybe it's just a bad headgasket.

[240_hawaii]

how hard is a leak down? i mean if its a headgasket i might jus tear it apart because i plan on running more than stock boost and do everything one time while the motor is out
thanks for everyones help

[bardabe]

a leak down test is kinda like a compression test, exept you are pumping air into the cylinder with an Air compressor and seeying how much leaks out, and from where.

if you tear it down, whatever you do don't cheap out do it right the first time, and enjoy that holset. it will do 18psi no problem just be sure to get the proper fuel mods, www.deatschwerks.com sells bigger injectors for the RB20 that are drop in plug and play, your other best bet would be the RB26 or DSM injectors, but both require you to wire in a Resistor, but can be had considerably cheaper.

[DarkPhoenix]

A quick way to see if it is your rings that are causing the low compression, put a teaspoon on oil into the cylinder before you do the compression test. If you compression rises, than it's the rings that need replacing.

[240_hawaii]

yeah from what you guys are saying i think im fucked haha its ok now its jus a reason to make it better i just ordered alot of stuff from compulsive horsepower. does anyone no where i can get all the tq specs and stuff like that so i can put the motor back togather. thanks guys

[slider2828]

FSM, I think zeryon.com might have it....