Weird Noises From My Engine Bay :(

[EvilINGT]

Hi guys

I have a pretty stock SII R33 Sedan, BATMBL split dump and metal cat, xforce S/S 3in, pipercross high flow panel filter and a Turbosmart E-Boost 2 set for 8 PSI, 140K KM regularly serviced. Yesterday after after giving it a bit (6K RPM gear changes, was only up to 70 Km/h on a highway with no other cars) i heard a strange sound, then when slowing down to turn onto my street i heard a high pitched whine coming from the engine bay, i pulled over straight away and popped the bonnet, and could hear what sounds like exhaust gas leaking from around the turbo heat shields. It sort of sounds like when i got to drive my car with just the front pipe and cat with no catback on. I can hear what i assume is the turbo spinning up but really metallic whiney.

Is my turbo stuffed or is it more likely a blown gasket, im hoping its the turbo/dump pipe gasket, as im sure i can hear the turbo clearly. Or probably more likely snapped studs in the manifold, and thats leaking, as the roads where i live are not the best and fairly rough.

I have a highflow R34 turbo ready to go on, but no supporting mods if it is the turbo , would that be safe to run at the standard boost level. I realise it wont be the stock 6-8Psi if the wastgate is set that way, and that airflow is relative to the turbo itself.

I was thinking if it is the manifold gasket / head studs then i might send it away to be extrude honed and high temp paint coated. Who does this again?

anyone experienced this, have any comments?

cheers

Evil

[ULOOOK]

Sounds like a gasket man.

Take your heat shield off and have a look around.

You will be able to tell if the seal has blown out by the soot on the surrounding area.

[R31Nismoid]

It'll be manifold gasket, 140k km's... its prime time.

Get it checked, but thats likely it.

Also ensure ALL manifold studs are replaced when they change the gasket, this is very important.

Also change out the other gaskets, turbo/dump etc. As you dont wanna have to do it all again in 6-12 months

[EvilINGT]

Cheers guys thanks for the replies. I will try to check under the heat shields tomorrow. If it is the manifold gasket, will it be safe to drive around like that for a little while? As i live in broome and i doubt they will have all the gaskets available straight away, and this is my daily driver. Are SI and SII R33 exhaust manifolds the same?

Good advice on the gaskets and studs Nismoid, i will do that

Anyone got a rough idea how much the 3 gaskets and the manifold studs (how many are there?) will be? and roughly how long it should take to do this work? assuming no snapped studs or other complications.

cheers

Evil

[R31Nismoid]

It'll probably be around $500-650 once its all done i believe, as a stud or two is bound to break on removal so its a pain of a job

[EvilINGT]

Went to the local nissan dealership and ordered the 3 gaskets plus the exhaust manifold/head studs/bolts. Its gonna cost around $230 just for the parts. One of the guys from the service dept had a look/listen and reckons its likely the manifold/head gasket, Im still hoping its the turbo/dump pipe gasket . Gonna get a service done at the same time, cheaper to check spark plugs with the x-over pipe off already .

Evil

[EvilINGT]

Update

Took the car in and they ended up charging me $497 (with an oil change, basic service, i supplied the oil, thats including the gaskets and studs) to tell me they didnt know what the problem was and they reckon its the turbo on its way out. They couldnt find any signs of exhuast leak anywhere . According to this thread http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...howtopic=160702 it sounds like we have a similar issue. Anyway looks like my GCG highflow will be going on next week at a bigger cost to me , no supporting mods though, so i hope it will be safe.

cheers

Evil

[EvilINGT]

Turns out it was my stock SII Turbo. A piece of turbine wheel came off unbalancing the shaft and rooting the bearings sad.gif. Good thing i had a GCG R34 Highflow waiting to go on. All fixed now, and more powah and more noise sad.gif. Must remember highflow with no supporting mods is a not good (for the wallet) wink.gif.

Cost me another $400 to replace turbo, a few seals, and radiator flush. They charge $95 an hour for labour.

cheers

Evil