I'm planning on purchasing an SR20DET (S15) soon because I'm finally selling my 1999 Nissan Altima, but before I did this I wanted to know if I made it my daily driver would I have any trouble or problems I'd need to know about it and what i'd have to do to take care of it since it is turbo?
And if I were to upgrade the turbo would that cause any problems?
BTW I drive about 50-60 miles a week at most usually no more then 2-3 miles a day going to work and school then around 20-30 on the weekends.
If there's anythings I missed about making an SR20DET a daily driver (which is everything) that I need to know and be prepared for when i go to purchase it i'd really appreciate it, I already sent an email to a near by place which installs them, and another to a guy I know but I figured I'd get more replies from everyone here.:help
Daily Driving an SR20DET
I'm mainly posting this because I know the engine is turbo stock, and planned on upgrading the turbo. I really have no idea what to do to maintain a turbo'ed engine, that was the real purpose for the post, that and just the basic and not so basic things i should do to keep it in top condition
BTW - those S15's are 99-02 (or was it 01?)
BTW - those S15's are 99-02 (or was it 01?)
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ItzGenX
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I put about 500 a week going to and from work plus the 100 on my days off just doing things. I probably have about 11k on the motor since the install, and it has been strong. I change my oil every 2500 miles, check my plugs every 5k (clean them, check the gap and of course read them), clean my MAF at every oil change, and of course pump gas into the tank when it reads anywhere at 1/4 tank or below. There isn't much to keep a turbo engine going as long as it is in working order. The checking of my plugs and cleaning the maf is to keep my gas mileage good (24mpg city).
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Hijacker
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As long as you change the oil in consistant intervals, you'll be fine. Forgetting an oil change can be detrimental to a turbo engine.
If you leave the engine stock and do an intake and exhaust, you'll have an extremely quick car with very little hassle. The only concern I would have is getting the VTC serviced. I don't know how similar it is to any of the US implementations. But most S15 engines are low mileage anyways, so it shouldn't be a problem.
If you leave the engine stock and do an intake and exhaust, you'll have an extremely quick car with very little hassle. The only concern I would have is getting the VTC serviced. I don't know how similar it is to any of the US implementations. But most S15 engines are low mileage anyways, so it shouldn't be a problem.
Give the stock turbo a chance. You'll be able to make over 300whp with that turbo...in a sub 3000lb car, that's really fast. Unless you're planning on building a drag car, with the stock turbo you'll be very fast and very reliable. Once you start upgrading to bigger injectors, bigger turbo, & more aggressive tuning, you're reliability will go out the window. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is take it one step at a time. Don't be so quick to upgrade...IMHO at least.
What's the VTC?tenkawa_akito wrote:As long as you change the oil in consistant intervals, you'll be fine. Forgetting an oil change can be detrimental to a turbo engine.
If you leave the engine stock and do an intake and exhaust, you'll have an extremely quick car with very little hassle. The only concern I would have is getting the VTC serviced. I don't know how similar it is to any of the US implementations. But most S15 engines are low mileage anyways, so it shouldn't be a problem.
Reliability on the car all together or the turbo, once i start upgrading?Dori Dori wrote:Give the stock turbo a chance. You'll be able to make over 300whp with that turbo...in a sub 3000lb car, that's really fast. Unless you're planning on building a drag car, with the stock turbo you'll be very fast and very reliable. Once you start upgrading to bigger injectors, bigger turbo, & more aggressive tuning, you're reliability will go out the window. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is take it one step at a time. Don't be so quick to upgrade...IMHO at least.
One thing where a rubo is different than a regular car is the ehat the engine internals and the oil are subjected too.
Be sure to use a strong oil espeicially in summer, like a Mobil1 15w-50, even in winter I would recommend using oils that meet the newer VW specs ar VW ebngine are hard on oils and oils that meet those are strong.
In winter I may stick with the thick Mobil1 ( am in KY) or go to M1 0w-40 or the new 5w-40 so called SUV oil.A NICO Search on MB229.3 (in title) will yield a list of brands with strong base oils ( even tho that list is for NA cars so go a thickness up to those mentioned.
Fred..
Be sure to use a strong oil espeicially in summer, like a Mobil1 15w-50, even in winter I would recommend using oils that meet the newer VW specs ar VW ebngine are hard on oils and oils that meet those are strong.
In winter I may stick with the thick Mobil1 ( am in KY) or go to M1 0w-40 or the new 5w-40 so called SUV oil.A NICO Search on MB229.3 (in title) will yield a list of brands with strong base oils ( even tho that list is for NA cars so go a thickness up to those mentioned.
Fred..
What are VW Specs?PalmerWMD wrote:One thing where a rubo is different than a regular car is the ehat the engine internals and the oil are subjected too.
Be sure to use a strong oil espeicially in summer, like a Mobil1 15w-50, even in winter I would recommend using oils that meet the newer VW specs ar VW ebngine are hard on oils and oils that meet those are strong.
In winter I may stick with the thick Mobil1 ( am in KY) or go to M1 0w-40 or the new 5w-40 so called SUV oil.A NICO Search on MB229.3 (in title) will yield a list of brands with strong base oils ( even tho that list is for NA cars so go a thickness up to those mentioned.
Fred..
Jala:Sorry about all the typos...:oface
Anyway some VW specs are 502.00 and 503.01 published by Volkswagen as approved for its engines to include the 1.8T.
VW engines tend to be hard on oils so an oil that meets them is likely a good choice for any turbo engine.
The specs refer mostly to stability of oxidation, volatility control, and HTHS all 3 being crucial specs for any turbo engine.Other good specs for an oil to meet are the MB229.3 specs and the Longlife version 229.5 (extended drain)
A good oil for a turbo (especially in summer) will be from a brand that meets those specs.
Fred..
Anyway some VW specs are 502.00 and 503.01 published by Volkswagen as approved for its engines to include the 1.8T.
VW engines tend to be hard on oils so an oil that meets them is likely a good choice for any turbo engine.
The specs refer mostly to stability of oxidation, volatility control, and HTHS all 3 being crucial specs for any turbo engine.Other good specs for an oil to meet are the MB229.3 specs and the Longlife version 229.5 (extended drain)
A good oil for a turbo (especially in summer) will be from a brand that meets those specs.
Fred..