2001 Legacy B4 - what turbos? URGENT!!

[boostin]

So what's it doing? What are the symptoms? 

[A_J_T]

I've updated my first post cause it made no sense. 

 

 

Pretty sure a 32 will bolt on but as I said in my other post its not worth worrying about. the performance difference between a 27 and 32 is not enough to worry about.

19 hours ago, FaceAche said:

 

Thanks for the response. Secondary has been diagnosed as bad by two different independent mechanics (one a Subaru specialist).
 

I understand that with secondary turbo's pretty much any of them will bolt on except for a 14. Initially organised a 31 primary and 32 secondary from SubTech, but they weren't happy with the 32 so didn't want to supply it - have swapped it out for a 27.

 

Going to get both of them done, and keep the 31 that's currently on the vehicle as a spare, just in case. Putting aside the single-turbo conversion for the time-being; probably going to be too expensive and time-consuming for me.

 

 

12 hours ago, boostin said:

So what's it doing? What are the symptoms? 

+1 Whats it doing, I question how they diagnosed it. usually there are clear signs as to whats gone wrong when a turbo is on its way out.  

 

[FaceAche]

Initially noticed smoke coming from the engine bay (just wispy smoke, not clouds of the stuff). Checked it out, and it was coming from the driver side of the engine, smelled like oil dripping onto the exhaust.

 

My normal mechanic checked it out, said it was oil coming out of the turbo on that side, dripping onto the exhaust. Said it was either 'blowback' (whatever that is), or that the turbo was on the way out - they couldn't tell without pulling it all apart, which would be more costly and the car would be off the road for however long it took to get a replacement. Booked it in to Collins Automotive in Hamilton for a second option, where a guy named Todd (who used to race Subaru's) checked it out for me. Confirmed that the turbo was leaking more oil than expected, was noisy, and needed replacing (quoted me $2125+GST+Labour for a brand new genuine Subaru turbo).

 

Figured that as the car has done 150,000k's and is 16 years old, i'd get both turbos done. Concerned that if the secondary was stuffed, the primary might not be far behind. Quoted $600 labour to do each turbo separately, or $900 to do both (due to the intercooler etc already being out at the time).

 

Confirmed that i had a VF31 as primary, but unsure of secondary - understand that i can pretty much use any of the standard secondary turbos, bar a VF14.

 

SubTech have sent me a VF27 as the secondary, and a VF26 as the primary (which they say is the same as a VF31).

 

So that's where i'm at. Still don't really know what i have as a secondary, but hope the VF27 will be okay. Also hope that the VF26 will be okay as a replacement for the VF31, and that there isn't much difference in performance between what i have and the VF26 and 27 that i'm getting installed.Really don't want a downgrade if i can help it.

I work in IT, so i'm technically minded, but don't know a lot about car mechanics, turbos etc, so have to rely on what the professionals tell me. What do you guys reckon about it all?

[boostin]

Probably blowby, which is excess gas leakage past the rings into the crankcase, that then picks up a lot of oil mist and carries it out through the breather system back to the intake where it condenses and finds somewhere to leak out. Possible, but you'd be looking at an engine rebuild or replacement there, not turbo.

If the turbo was leaking externally, I'd be looking at the oil drain hose (common), or the drain pipe gasket (not common). A leaky turbo normally leaks internally, ending up with an intercooler full of oil, or lots of smoke out the tailpipe.

Noisy turbo, well have you noticed a noise? Some turbo will just be noisy in operation and happily keep boosting hard for years.

 

Basically narrow down the exact cause of the oil leak first. None of this could be this, could be that S***. Do things properly and don't throw parts at it and hope.

[Guest]

Guy I bought my bh5 rev d off had a receipt for 2k to decarbon the turbos...said his family had used the garage for years and they really looked after them.  

 

Looked like the turbos had never been off just the intercooler which had silicon in every hose join...recipe for disaster.

[FaceAche]

So the final outcome here is that i got both the turbos replaced. VF 31 and 32 with VF 26 and 27.

 

Whilst i don't know a lot about the mechanical side of vehicles, having had the car for around 10 years now, i know how it drives; it all seems a hell of a lot smoother, gear changes are less jerky and it's running great.

 

Not sure if you can tell, but i have the old turbos from it, and i'd be happy to take photos of them if anyone was interested in having a nosey?

[boostin]

On 29/07/2017 at 8:17 PM, FaceAche said:

Far out - do any supposed professionals have any idea what they're talking about?

 

I've had two Winger Subaru's tell me the primary turbo is on the drivers side, another Winger actually get it right along with my normal mechanic, and a second opinion from Collins Automotive.

I've just re-read this whole topic. So you're assuming that every Winger employee is an expert on every single model ever made? Our shop rarely sees gen 4s in for service now, never gen 3s or earlier. You can't expect someone who's been working for Winger for only a year or two to know the ins and outs of a 15 year old model.

[Guest]

26 minutes ago, boostin said:

I've just re-read this whole topic. So you're assuming that every Winger employee is an expert on every single model ever made? Our shop rarely sees gen 4s in for service now, never gen 3s or earlier. You can't expect someone who's been working for Winger for only a year or two to know the ins and outs of a 15 year old model.

 

Not to be a dick but if you dont know something taking a guess isnt wise. If I don't know something when talking to a customer I sure as S*** dont stake claim without knowing its 100% accurate. Nobody will ever know everything thats a given better to be honest than get caught out...

[boostin]

Fully agree with you, but OP can't assume that everyone with a Winger shirt on knows everything there is to know about Subaru's. A lot of people work there just to take home a pay cheque at the end of the week. 

[Guest]

Just now, boostin said:

Fully agree with you, but OP can't assume that everyone with a Winger shirt on knows everything there is to know about Subaru's. A lot of people work there just to take home a pay cheque at the end of the week. 

 

Agreed, unfortunately its a common trend most places.

[swamp]

Replace turbo for cheap like for like second hand (first verify that it is in better cond than your current one)

See if it fixes problem

If no then probably a more expensive issue