How to make/Keep an SR reliable

[240SXer]

I'm about to have an S13 Blacktop swapped into my S14 240. I want my car to be fast, and reliable. I did do a search and cant' find anything specifically dealing with this subject. First of all I think I need rocker arm stoppers to keep me from destroying it incase I miss shift, an aftermarket radiator to keep it cool, and a turbo timer to keep the turbo in good order. Other than that what is important? Should I get a greddy oil pan? External oil cooler? Water injection? I plan on running stock boost mostly, but occasionally 14psi. It's not my only car, but I want to be able to drive it anywhere with no problems, and drive it hard without problems.

Thanks,

David.

[S13240]

Dude, just take care of the engine/car like you would any other car. The sr20 isn't a $20k motor that needs a lot of attention. As you noticed, someone brought up a topic about any problems with sr20s in this same forum and no one has had any problems with them.

[240SXer]

ehh.. Not really my point. I know it's a normal OEM engine. But i'm going to be pumping lower octane than it's made for, etc. Plus I plan on racing a lot. I just want to make sure there is nothign i'm overlooking.

[SCOOBYSHAG]

why are you pumping lower octane gas? You want to talk reliability but then you want to go against the manufacturers recommendation for gas. Turbo motors need higher octane.

[Nathan]

He probably thinks that the US has lower octane gas than Japan...the difference is actually pretty negligible as far as I know because we use a different rating system.

[SCOOBYSHAG]

yeah US gas is actually higher octane than Japan. However regardless you always want to run highest octane available on a turbo motor in my opinion.

[ride4lame]

Just run premium, change as many gaskets as you can while the motor is out. Changing gaskets once the motor is in is bad...and harder

search around for recomended ones to change, i would personally definitely recomend the one between the exhaust manifold and the tubo, if you can do th head gasket as well. Do a complete tune up when you put the motor in, flush old fluid like coolant out. And don't be cheap about anything. Also use a turbo timer to keep your turbo in good shape.

[Movingviolation240]

don't forget not to be cheap on the IC, fuel pump, filter, ect. I know it's all basic stuff but it's a good idea to do.

Make sure you run 15w50 synthetic oil, nothing else.

Paul

[240SXer]

It's worth getting synthetic? 15w50? No 10w30 or anything like that? How often should I change the oil?

[Movingviolation240]

you want heavy oil to keep the bearings in the motor and on the turbo happy. I change mine once a month no matter how many miles I put on it, but 3,000 miles is a good number (unless you beat on it every day).

The best advise I can offer you is don't ever hammer on your motor till the oil (not the water) comes up to temp. That will make it last longer than anything else you can do to it.

Paul

[Hijacker]

my morning ritual involves me letting the car idle for 10-15 minutes of the morning. i'd rather have a heated and happy engine than a cold start one that enjoys jerking me around in the lower RPM band

[240SXer]

Thats what i'm getting a turbo timer also. I won't be able to properly turbo time it without one. I'm getting the blitz dual. How should an SR be properly warmed up?

[Hijacker]

like any other car. go out, start it up, walk away. i pump the gas to get air flowing through the pipes otherwise it will take a while to get the air pressurized properly. a turbo timer helps you at shutdown by idling your engine after you've removed the ignition. if you get one of those, kiss your car alarm goodbye if you use one

[Movingviolation240]

I don't use a turbo timer, havn't ever had any trouble because of it either. I guess thats one more reason ball bearing turbo's and some self disipline are better.

Paul

[SCOOBYSHAG]

I will be installing the HKS Type 1 turbo timer soon. Other than the obvious turbo timer benefits you also get a speedometer, voltage meter, stopwatch, 0-60, 60 ft, 1/8 mile, and 1/4 mile timer as well. So there are a lot of benefits with this thing.

[SideWays Silvia]

if your still running the stock turbo, there really is no need to get a turbo timer b/c generally the stock turbo doesnt heat up the oil to the temps aftermarket turbo's do. But it never will hurt to have one

[240SXer]

I plan on eventually going to a larger turbo. Why wouldnt the stock turbo need a timer? Even nissan recomends turbo timing the cars in the FSM (the silvias). I'm used to just turning off the car and going, I still want that ablility, yet I wanted it timed correctly so I don't hurt anything.

David.

[RobDET]

the stock turbo will heat up the oil a lot more than an aftermarket one (it gets outside it's effieiency range quicker). It glows red at night after hard driving at 12 PSI. (my elcipse did it too)

Also in japan there was a stock turbo timer for the silvia at some point.

And about the warming up thing... just turn it on and wait... if you revv it you've kinda defeated the purpose.

Also a good radiator is a big plus on top of everything else.

[240SXer]

Ya.. I'd think that ANY turbo would need to be turbo timed correctly, turbos get all hot. Especially since the turbo was made for .5 bar, and i'm going to run it as high as .9 bar.

[SCOOBYSHAG]

well the factory SR turbo wasnt "made" for .5 bar that is just what Nissan has it set at from the factory. The turbo can run up to about 10-12 lbs efficiently with no problems. so I would say the turbo was meant to be ran anywhere inbetween. you could run around .8 bar and be perfectly fine.

[240SXer]

What would be the max time the car would need to be turbo timed?

[SCOOBYSHAG]

im thinking 30 secs to a minute

[S13240]

Been running my stock turbo for 3 yrs now and I don't turbo time it all the time. The only time I turbo time it is if I drove it hard or if I drove long distance. No shaft play or anything yet. Still boosting constant 6-7 psi too.

Stock turbos are made out of the factory not to be turbo timed that's why they're watercooled too. Who in their right mind would make a turbocharged car to have the driver sit in there and turbo time the car each time he/she drives it somewhere? I'm sure Nissan, Toyota, Porsche, Mitsubishi, and other car companies that make turbocharged cars had the intention of making turbo cars for the average joe on the streets to not turbo time so they made it reliable enough not to.

Most aftermarket turbos use oil for lubrication only.

[RobDET]

uhh the turbo timer makes the driver not have to sit in the car. I'm not saying its required i'm just saying that a turbo timer is stock in some turbo silvias. Also the stock turbo will glow red... thats damn hot. I always drive the last 5 minutes to my house nice and easily staying in vacuum. by then the turbo is cooler and it can just be shut off

[240SXer]

Nissan recomends turbo timing all the Slivias according to the Manual.

[S13240]

It's weird because my turbo never turns red hot even when I'm boosting at 14 psi.

[Onizuka]

regardless, i think the point is, is that turbo timers help with keeping the turbo in better condition Its all about cooling and periodic fluid changes (with proper oils and coolents) if you want to keep a healthy motor.

-matt

[RobDET]

s13240 is it the stock T25? if so go for a really hard drive and stop on a very dark road no street lights or anything and jump out and look under the hood. You'll see it glowing. It looks awsome

[S13240]

Just did that tonight and didn't turn red at all. I know that the stock ct26 on my 90 Celica Turbo All Trac use to turn red after a hard drive though. It definitely was visible even in daylight.

[240SXer]

When its that hot will it cool down in just 1 minute? It seems like it would take more like 3 or more..