Tom25666
08-05-2009, 10:23 PM
This is a list of used car buying tips as transcribed from the August 2002 edition of Super Street Magazine. Some very good ideas. Input is welcome.
-Stay away from high-mileage cars. Ditto cars that have already been heavily modified, so you don't have to worry about the quality of someone else's work.
-Check for oil leaks from the turbo. If you see blue exhaust smoke after the car has warmed up, chances are good there's a leak in the shaft seals. Another way to check: Disconnect the pipe from the compressor and wipe inside.
-Another oil tip: Since oil is the lifeblood of your engine (and especially the turbo), check the condition of the crankcase oil. If it looks dirty or needs replacing, it might be a sign that the previous owner didn't take good care of the car.
-Pull off the compressor's inlet pipe and check for foreign-object damage to the wheel's blades. This is especially important if the car's air filtration system has been removed.
-With the inlet pipe disconnected, reach in and spin the shaft. It should easily turn by hand. Pull back-and-forth and up-and-down on the shaft to make sure the bearings are still healthy. There should be minimal play.
-Some OE turbos are water- and oil-cooled. Check for signs of rust around the water fittings. If rust gets inside the housing, it can ruin the turbo internally.
-Any signs of overheating could spell potential turbo trouble. White hair-line cracks on the exhaust manifold are a giveaway that the engine has been run hot and lean.
-A leak-down and compression test will alert you to sealing problems between the head and engine block.
-Even well-cared-for turbos may need replacing if they have enough miles on them. Try to buy the car after the previous owner spent the bucks on a new turbo.
-Stay away from high-mileage cars. Ditto cars that have already been heavily modified, so you don't have to worry about the quality of someone else's work.
-Check for oil leaks from the turbo. If you see blue exhaust smoke after the car has warmed up, chances are good there's a leak in the shaft seals. Another way to check: Disconnect the pipe from the compressor and wipe inside.
-Another oil tip: Since oil is the lifeblood of your engine (and especially the turbo), check the condition of the crankcase oil. If it looks dirty or needs replacing, it might be a sign that the previous owner didn't take good care of the car.
-Pull off the compressor's inlet pipe and check for foreign-object damage to the wheel's blades. This is especially important if the car's air filtration system has been removed.
-With the inlet pipe disconnected, reach in and spin the shaft. It should easily turn by hand. Pull back-and-forth and up-and-down on the shaft to make sure the bearings are still healthy. There should be minimal play.
-Some OE turbos are water- and oil-cooled. Check for signs of rust around the water fittings. If rust gets inside the housing, it can ruin the turbo internally.
-Any signs of overheating could spell potential turbo trouble. White hair-line cracks on the exhaust manifold are a giveaway that the engine has been run hot and lean.
-A leak-down and compression test will alert you to sealing problems between the head and engine block.
-Even well-cared-for turbos may need replacing if they have enough miles on them. Try to buy the car after the previous owner spent the bucks on a new turbo.