Possible Air-Air TMIC.

[BlackMale]

I am unsure if I actually have a trouble shooting issues however I will see what others think.

I placed an air-air TMIC and BOV on an EA82T. Obviously the unit was installed correctly (well I have no reason to believe that it wasn’t) and there was no dyno testing nor any adjusting of anything else – Eg Advancing the timing. – so if there is anything that I should have done in conjunction with this I am willing to hear them.

Now I was going to go with a “through seat of the pants” for the performance increase however, unfortunately this unit installation has coincided with some warmer weather making it difficult to ascertain any significant performance increase/gain if any – bugger it!

Anyway what we have noticed already is that ;
1) the seems to turbo spools up a little quicker with the TMIC.
2) the reduction on turbo lag.
3) the BOV makes some real noise (which I also would have expected with an atom BOV).
4) the turbo has a high pitch whistle which is a little more noticeable (no other modification have been made to air induction).
5) a possible lag of performance in 5th gear – without changing gears and putting my foot down the turbo spools up however I do not think that its converting it into the power I would have expected.
6) May or may not be related… shortly after installation sometimes in 1st gear (and sometimes in 2nd gear) there is some kinda grinding noise which I can not place - (edit i now think that it is related as after 2 days the grinding noise is not there anymore).

Things I have already though about doing and/or changing.
6) Before I see the feedback to this I will attempt to make sure that the system itself is not leaking... hmm may fill it with water and see what happens.
7) I will change 1 of the rubber hoses as 1 of them is a little softer then I would have liked.
I think that I will wrap some components in some heat shielding tape (eg both hoses, and the turbo heat shield).

Note At this stage I have removed the TMIC and replaced the original plenum as I was unsure about the system leaking.

Now that you have endured all my ramblings any other ideas and/or suggestions.

Thanks.

[Subafury]

for 4) it does sound like their is a leak/hose not done up tight enough.
and 3) what kinda of bov is it?

when i got this ea82t with the IC i did notice a bit of a power increase but its nothing to write home about.

lets see some pix

[BlackMale]

The BOV is an atmo BOV.

Pics of this set up will not help as the original Plenium is back on atm.

The power increase is not the major concern (lets face it its only an 82T) its the fact that the turbo would appear to be spooling up hard (eariler then usual - which is ok) but did not appear to be transfering to actual power.

This was only really noticed (and exaggerated) with a recent beach run where we could hear the turbo going nutz we needed to keep constant revving at 4tho and the temp gauge would not return to quater-half temp without stopping and letting it cool down (note tyre preassures were down and the other car with us had a smaller NA capasity engine and little or no issues with temp and/or engine reves once they had deflaited).

I am well aware that soft beach work is some of the most stress an engine will see and any minor issues will be noticable/exaggerated in these conditions.

The real concerns surround points 5 and 6 - point 6 even more now as the grinding noise has dissapeared with the return of the original plenium.

[AndrewT]

I would expect the grinding noise is somehow related to the physical positioning of the intercooler. Part of it may be knocking on the body as the engine moves around. Are there any parts that look a little close?
This would be consistent with 1st gear and possibly second because that's when the motor will twist and move around the most.

Edit...

I'm guessing you've transferred this setup from the lifted RX sedan to your wagon? This might backup my above idea....the RX is 3" lifted and your wagon is 2" correct? This means the intercooler will sit further up in the wagon's engine bay - could be knocking on the underside of the bonnet?

[BlackMale]

Yes its off the RX. I have thought that MAYBE it’s grinding on something however chances are slim as there is HEAPS of space under there, the ONLY thing that it could be touching is a small lip on the heat shield covering the turbo (which I can now get to to grind off now) however I was not convinced that this was it – VERY intermittent though, and was not consistent with hard/soft launches (and Di heard it WAY more then I ever did).

[AndrewT]

Give me a call one evening if you like. I've had good luck at tracking down strange noises in the past, might be worth comming for a burl around the block as a passenger. Lemme know sometime when you have it all fitted up again.

[Suby Wan Kenobi]

Your grinding noise may be related to the cross over pipe. It may be starting to fatigue around the flange where the turbo base bolts to under the heat shielding

[Subafury]

jaffa- with the overheating prob- sounds similar to what happens to me, even on road (like 100km/h+)when turbo is goin nuts i get a higher heat reading (like over half) .this is since ive had the rad re-rodded too. so maybe thats normal? also with like 5) i dont get a lot of noticeable boost power when going fast in 5th either, just the noise of it goin nuts.

i only just fixed the rattle of my cooler too- wasnt so much a grinding noise tho, half of it was coming from the loose engine stayrod so check that out too.

[BlackMale]

It would appear that after some very close inspection Andrew could possible be correct about the grinding noise… it looks like the back on the IC has been kissing the spare wheel mount in the engine bay every now and then as there is the tinnies bit of paint missing, and a small make on the back of the IC – that’s what I get for not having a look before I post I suppose.

The other issue (number 6) I think that I will have to trial. The car it not overheating in ‘normal’ driving conditions only the sand. I think that through writing these post I have actually though through what needs to be done – which is replace 1 of the hoses so it is a lot firmer and possibly get some heat shielding tape on it.

As for the 5th gear thing the pick up in 5th IS there with the original plenum back on and she will easily go from 100 to 115-120km/h with little to no effort with no down change – this did not appear to be the case with the TMIC on.


Oh and thanks for the offer of support Andrew.