Topic: Turbo Outlet Elbow Leak

[Ben L]

Hello all:

I have been autocrossing the GXP over the past two weekends.  Transitioning from the Cobra definitely takes some getting used to.  Its like starting from square one.

The fog and totally wet pavement yesterday at the SCCA WDC region Solo season opener at FedEx Field was interesting.  As in Chinese curse interesting.

I have to run in street prepared class, due to the intake and tune.  

Its sort of silly on the factory stock street tires, and stock suspension, running against cars with unrestricted suspension and intake/exhaust mods, and R compound tires on unrestricted wheels.  

I got my ass kicked but did not finish dead last.  I did manage to beat a prepared 240 Z and a prepped Miata, and had four clean runs, each successively quicker.  

Anyway, I am noticing more soot, and now even a tiny bit of heavy black grease of some kind, seeping around the elbow pipe flanges on the turbo inlet.  I cannot see a gasket between the flanges.

Obviously, some kind of leak.  I have re-torqued the fasteners, and that did not stop it.

Does anyone know if there is a gasket or O-ring in there?  If not, ideas on what the problem/fix might be?  Flanges warped or something?  Is this a known issue?

Just curious about your ideas.  Looking forward to seeing everyone soon.

[DeepBlueGXP]

Cheers is selling his Eibach lowering springs.  The exhaust side by the cat has a o-ring style mesh gasket that you can't see unless you take it apart.  I think you are talking about the the upper elbow intake side.  I haven't had that taken apart.  The manual doesn't describe it since the turbo is a complete assembly.

[Ben L]

Yup.  Its the upper.  I would not be surprised if there was a similar metal O ring in there.  I wonder if a call to parts desk at Koons would smoke that out??

Need to get the bodywork/paint and wheels ordered on the coupe before I start the beefing up the GXP.  Budget priorities.  So if someone comes along and wants the Eibachs, Cheers, sell 'em.  Thanks for thinking of me!!

[DeepBlueGXP]

Dave @ DDM had them apart before.  He can tell you

[Ben L]

Good plan.  I will give DDM a buzz. . . .  I'll report what I find out.

[Ben L]

OK, talked to Dave at DDM.  He returned my call within the hour, and was amazingly generous with his time and knowledge. 

We are lucky to have such a great resource.  Thank you, Dave.   

Anyway, here's the deal:

(1)  The 90 degree elbow pipe is actually on the EXHAUST side.  Duh!

(2)  There IS an O-ring in there, and despite the high temp environment, it is not metal, but some kind of rubber.

(3)  He never heard of one blowing out before, so it is likely it got pinched or busted on install.  I have never had that particular piece off, so this time its not my fault. (yet)

(4)  Replacement is Part No. 12595593.  I ordered a few in case anyone else runs into the problem.

I will document the R&R surgery with pix, when the part arrives.  Hopefully, I will not encounter something else more serious than a busted/chipped O-ring.

[spicy3480]

SOLO also has gaskets for that exact spot.  I had a leak there and there was exhaust soot all over the suspension directly below it.  I put a SOLO gasket in and the problem was gone...those four giant bolts are really tough to completely tighten.

Ben L...if you give me ur address through a PM, I might have an extra that I can send to you in the mail.  I really think I do have one extra in my garage...I will look later tonight for it.

[Ben L]

Thank you Spikey!  I will take you up on that. . . PM on the way. . .

[DeepBlueGXP]

No Steve, I believe been is talking about the left top elbow coming off the inducer.  See attached

[Ben L]

As usual, Joe is right.  Full stop on looking for/sending me that part. 

Save it for my cat replacement (coming soon).  Soot is on top, too, not blowing down onto the suspension.

[DeepBlueGXP]

You have an aftermarket intake, it may have been oiled, I'd pull the pipes and wipe them out before you throw a MAF or other code.

[spicy3480]

Ahh thanks Joe...I though he was talking about the exhaust side.  Oh well...I found one tonight, too...just the wrong gasket...sorry Ben.

[Critterman]

Hey Ben,
You might want to check the hub assy bolts, where they mount to the A frames, several members have reported those bolts coming lose after runs.  Since you are crawling all over the car anyway.

[Ben L]

Cheers --

I will pull the fronts before the next event and check the torque on all front suspension/brake bracket fasteners. 

The poor F1 street tires are really getting a scrubbing.  And its not even hot yet.

The sooner they wear out the sooner I can get some decent 'close to R compounds.'  Advans, Direrrezas, or Potenza RE-01Rs.  They will be gone by the end of April at this rate.

Anyone have the torque specs?

[Ben L]

OK.  My seals arrived yesterday, and I had enough daylight when I got home from work to replace the old one.

It is a funny looking rubber or silicone O-ring with a series of rectangular raised blocks around the outer circumference.  It fits halfway into a groove milled into the end of the elbow pipe.  The other half sticking out of the pipe gets squashed onto the polished flange surface of the turbo outlet.

When I pulled the other one, I noted a slight trace of burnt oil.  I guess it might be coming from the oiled filter on the Fajita intake, as some have suggested.  Very faint, but enough to make the O-ring shiny, and to smudge onto my finger.  Haven't thrown a code. . . yet.  Probably should look for a non-oiled filter element.

I also noticed that one of the larger "blocks" had a little nick in it.  I am guessing that, combined with the softening of the seal by the oil, caused a "pinhole" leak.  Excuse the blurry photo, but maybe you can see?



Anyway, put the new one in.  We'll see. . . . I got two extra seals in case this happens to anyone else.

[Frank I]

When I pulled the other one, I noted a slight trace of burnt oil.  I guess it might be coming from the oiled filter on the Fajita intake, as some have suggested. Very faint, but enough to make the O-ring shiny, and to smudge onto my finger.  Haven't thrown a code. . . yet.  Probably should look for a non-oiled filter element.

(Image removed from quote.)

Ben:

I believe the Fujita filter is a dry filter, (non-oiled)

You may want to consider pulling the Fujita pipe by disconnecting the clamp holding the pipe to the front of the compressor cool air inlet housing.  Look at the impeller/compressor wheel and check for wet coking on the wheel.  If it is just soot, no problem, but if it is wet and coked, you may want to investigate the cause?   

Frank I