how reliable are turbos
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 140
From: Weatherford, TX
Not the ones I've had. My twin Turbonetics ball bearing have been rebuilt twice in 30k and went out again. I replaced them with Precisions, hoping for better luck. These are supposed to have better bearings. How much boost you run is probably a factor. I was cranking them up to 20+psi.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 33
From: McGrady NC
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
I've had factory turbos run over 100K miles with proper servicing. Of course, those run less then 10 lbs. of boost. Perhaps the combination of heat and higher boost pressure contribute to lower bearing life.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 54
From: Raleigh NC
50k+ easy. Depending on the turbos. Turbonetics aren't known for being the most reliable turbos. As long as you run the proper oil restrictor and a proper air filter and you don't have anything going through the blades then a quality turbo will last. Look at all the OEM turbo setups with over 100k and still going (SR20DET's for example)
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 140
From: Weatherford, TX
Right that's what I thought, but we're not talking about OEM. Honestly I doubt there's much in a turbo build that lasts 50k. My car only has 37k miles and it's gone thru 5 motors, 4 trans, 2 diffs, and 3 turbos. Other than that it's been perfect. haha
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 54
From: Raleigh NC
OEM or not doesnt really matter. The OEM turbos on SR20's are just garrets and they do just fine. Hell Ive taken a baby T25 to 20+psi spikes with no wastegate vacum hose and the turbos held up just fine. Now when you start two stepping all the time and trying to show off all the time it starts to cause problems. Or when you dont change your oil or have a turbo thats just not known for being reliable they go out quicker also
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 54
From: Raleigh NC
The smaller the turbo the Harder its working and the more heat its holding. Most of the guys here either have twins or a good sized single. All of the boosted LS's Ive seen barely even break a sweat when they are boosted.
Get a good name brand turbo and change your Oil, run the proper oil restictor and oil return, and don't be two stepping everywhere and they should last a long time.
I literally Ran that T25 for about a year beating the hell out of it in 100deg summer weather and never had a problem. Even took it off and sold it and Somebody is still running it prob without even a rebuild. Garrett has good Journal Bearing turbos that are reliable to 200K+ miles if the motor is taken care of. There are others also. But I see more used Turbonetics being sold needing a rebuild then I do any other turbos.
Get a good name brand turbo and change your Oil, run the proper oil restictor and oil return, and don't be two stepping everywhere and they should last a long time.
I literally Ran that T25 for about a year beating the hell out of it in 100deg summer weather and never had a problem. Even took it off and sold it and Somebody is still running it prob without even a rebuild. Garrett has good Journal Bearing turbos that are reliable to 200K+ miles if the motor is taken care of. There are others also. But I see more used Turbonetics being sold needing a rebuild then I do any other turbos.