Glowing turbo after freeway work

[WindeX]

Hey guys last night I noticed my turbo was glowing red(could see it in the gaps between the heat shield) after a quiet run home along the freeway(about 30 mins long). Air temp was quite cool probably around 10 degrees, the intake pipe and intercooler were still quite cold. The oil is at the right level and is about 1000kms old.

Is this normal? I have never really looked under my bonnet after a drive before at night.

 

[brisvr4]

Normal. unless you are running unusually high egt's.

 

[peasoup]

I don't think that is normal. I've only ever sen them glow after a decent period of high load. Cruising on the fwy shouldn't be working it much at all.

 

[OLDIE]

Normal. unless you are running unusually high egt's.

If it was driven gently on cruise then it seems to me that the hotside is a bit small. What do you reckon Tim :unsure:

 

[brisvr4]

As I mentioned about EGT's. Check your timing too, what afr's are you seeing?

 

[JETGSR]

unless you are at boost for 29 of those 30 minutes I really dont think it should be glowing!
amitt the cold will have an effect but not that it should glow!

I would agree either lean, timing or restricted exhaust (I would suggest blocked cat?) as 99% of all other turboed cars do not glow with std exhaust systems so why should yours.

put a timing light on there first! Get a reputable exhaust shop to check the exhaust 2nd then maybe get your self an AF mixture meter you should have one anyway if you are half serious. and dont cheap out TechEdge sell them cheap or AEM - shit you can even get them from jaycar! but even an Autometer Mud guage (AF meter) is better than nothing!

my 2 cents! with rounding thats 0 if you are a tight arse it's 5cents and in the olden days that could buy you a redskin!

 

[WindeX]

Ah, well I will see if I can book it in for the exhaust(have been meaning to get a new one for some time).

 

[ENGINR]

Yeah, I agree with JETGSR, get your timing and fuel mixtures checked.

 

[WindeX]

Thanks guys, I might see if I can drop it down to Springy motors during the week for a little diagnosis, will post back with findings.

 

[WindeX]

Well the timing and mixtures checked out fine, 12:1 pretty much all the way, pulled about 140kw at all four. They found a issue with the fuel pressure regulator not having a boost/vac reference, so I have it booked in to get that looked at next week.
For reference my mods are:
Meek piping kit
K&N panel filter
Unknown catback exhaust
BC 272s + adjustable cam gears(set to stock position)
Walbro 255
Turbosmart BC set to 12PSI

 

[CLuTZ]

They wanted you to book your car in to find a vac source?

 

[WindeX]

Nah, I am just a slack bastard! I asked them to book me in and said I will have a look on the weekend. I havent ever touched anything out that way so it concerns me that it has been running that way all this time.

 

[brisvr4]

12:1??? Under boost or at cruise?
Don't boost it again until you get a vac source connected to that afpr!

 

[evopwr]

They wanted you to book your car in to find a vac source?

I thought I was the only one LOL'ing at this too!

12:1 is pretty lean if that's what is being recorded under max boost.

 

[WindeX]

The guys at Springy said that they would have expected about 11 on a stock car. Its probably been like this for 1-2 years as I havent ever touched that area of the car(unless somehow I managed to knock it off doing a oil change). I have been babying it since I noticed the glowing issue.
I must say that I havent ever noticed the plumes of black smoke that seem to be dumped out by most modded Jap cars coming from mine, which I always thought of as a good thing.

 

[LWNSLW]

12 to 1 isnt that bad its richer than stoic (14.7 to 1), but get the vacum line sorted asap... would be a scary sight seeing a glowing turbo under the bonnet lol

 

[iluszn]

Well. If you are on cruise, and i may be wrong, But it should go into closed loop setting fuel as determined by your oxygen sensor. Perhaps get your oxygen sensor checked aswell. This could be causing your leaning out, though 12:1 isnt to extreme, but i think you should be around the 11.6 - 11.8 : 1 region.

 

[WindeX]

Thanks for the ideas guys! The more I think about it this seems odd, because its not like I am getting amazing economy out of her.

 

[LWNSLW]

Well. If you are on cruise, and i may be wrong, But it should go into closed loop setting fuel as determined by your oxygen sensor. Perhaps get your oxygen sensor checked aswell. This could be causing your leaning out, though 12:1 isnt to extreme, but i think you should be around the 11.6 - 11.8 : 1 region.

the lower the number ie 10:1 is richer then say 17:1 because stoic is 14.7:1 thats what the computer is tryen to obtain all the time. if it was leaning out it would be like 16:1 which is getting bad and into blowing holes in piston kind of lean. closed loop would normally float around 14.1:1 to 15.9:1...

Is it knocking alot??? thats a good indication that its leaning out a fair bit. buy the sounds of it its just running very rich, not so bad really but the cat wont like it for much longer and neither will your back pocket....

 

[iluszn]

Thanks LwnSlw.. Completely aware of what you just said.. But.. If his Oxy is knackered and it thinks its giving the signal for stoich but its actually leaner.. Though, running to rich will light up the manifold aswell. If he was running down 10:1 on cruise.. I would be concerned, As i would if it was 17:1 on cruise..