t25 hard to spin with my fingers

[mkory]

Upon further checking out the front clip, I realized that the turbo is hard to get spinning with my fingers. I know with my t3/t4 I had for my KA-T, it would spin pretty easily and stay spinning for a while, while the t25 that came with my redtop is really stiff.

Solutions?

[240DRFT]

upgrade

[mkory]

Anybody with a good idea on what my problem is?

[Fenvy]

seized turbo

[okevolution]

I had the same problem, only I could barely spin it. Just upgrade or get it rebuilt like I did for around $300.

[da40]

seized turboman its no good anymore time to upgrade unless u just want to fine a t25 around here they dont go more then 150$ for a farily good one ,sorry man it happens

[mkory]

Is seized the right term? I mean I can turn it a little myself, isn't the exhaust pressure stronger than my index finger?

The turbo should be guaranteed as the entire clip came from Phase2

[Fenvy]

no it is not guranteed, check their term and details, their term is for the motor itself to be in healthy condition, good compession.

old turbos are expected to seize, die, crap out, just suck it up and upgrade

[myees13]

Is seized the right term? I mean I can turn it a little myself, isn't the exhaust pressure stronger than my index finger?

Yes, the hot expanding exhuast gases are more powerful than a finger, but that is no excuse for frozen up turbine/compressor wheels.

That turbo needs to be rebuilt or replaced

[mkory]

I didn't know if it was one of those things that would work itself out with a little cleaning.

What inside is actually seized?

[Fenvy]

I don't know but honestly, it is not worth keeping, t25 is crap. You can always find another cheap since so many people want to upgrade to s14/s15 t28 or GT28 series turbo

phase2 did my swap, the turbo seized and I bought another used turbo from them. They been RELLY good to me 'till today even though our initial transaction was 2~3 years ago

I'd just suck it up, inform them about it and probably ask for a few discounted parts in the future. Last time I checked, t25 used worth around 100~150$ only

[da40]

just get a NEW TURBO ,while ur at it u can get a new j pipe and maybe a new turbo manifold too ..just saying ....well good luck on the turbo delima man

[ser2102]

hey dont worry about it, i speak from experience on this. when i first got my clip, i imediately put a megan racing manifold on the turbo. the turbo, like you say, didnt spin with just my fingers. however, i took it all apart again after the bolts backed out. once i had it undone, i was able to spin the turbo freely. it was a huge difference. this was after about 2K miles on the motor and one oil change later. its just some gunk built up inside, probably from the oil and just sitting around over time. mine would barely spin at first, and when i put it all together, was making 13 psi no problemo. trust me, its not blown.

[da40]

hmmmmm...i guess that can happen but ive seen to many descirbed turbos like this one that are bad,and it sucks to put everything in the car and crank it ,and come to find out that the turbo is bad ,then u have to go threw all that trouble getting the turbo off,when u could have done it while the engine was out just my two cents bro

[mkory]

The motor is already in the car. I had figured it was just some build up. I'm going to clean it best I can, I know for a fact that the oil is VERY nasty. Phase2 told me the same thing, just build up. Hopefully after some carb cleaner and fresh oil it should work itself out. If not, they're going to help me get a new one.

PS, it's much easier to say "buy a new one" when it's not your money. I just dumped 3 grand into a clip, and am not in any position to spend a few hundred more on a new turbo.

[mkory]

Also, there is absolutely no shaft play, either direction, and the turbines make no sound what so ever when they do spin, it's just difficult to get them moving.

[Luke]

Give it a chance. If this is the first time it's been used in a while, chances are it needs oil to be able to spin freely. Mine was like this before I put my SR in.

[mkory]

More good news... Thanks guys.

All I'm waiting on now is the wiring, which will be here monday. Also have to remove the clutch "squish box". Any tips on how NOT to kink the hardline when I bend it?

BTW... $40 in cheap fluids I'm going to change in a week SUCKS.

[jr_ss]

More good news... Thanks guys.

All I'm waiting on now is the wiring, which will be here monday. Also have to remove the clutch "squish box". Any tips on how NOT to kink the hardline when I bend it?

BTW... $40 in cheap fluids I'm going to change in a week SUCKS.

Rent or buy a brake line bender...

[Fenvy]

I just use my hand to bend it, a lot of peopel use that too since you don't need it to be in a nice 90 degree bend like the ones shown near the fire wall.

If you can get a brake line bender, great! if not then just use your hand to make a big round bend

[mkory]

Yeah, I just kinda forced it with my hand... it eventually bent close enough to hook the soft line to it.

Fluids are in, minus all of my power steering fluid and some coolant. I'll probably just use water to flush the system, and I didn't want to put it in today and let it set overnight since my friend's water sucks at his house.

With the power steering fluid, will the air work itself out?

[karmakaze]

With the power steering fluid, will the air work itself out?

yes

[mkory]

Got the harness in today, motor is running! Sounds good at idle and all through the rev range. I didn't go past about 4k rpms though because I'm still running regular unleaded (what's left in my tank) and I know there's quite a bit of gunk buildup in my motor. Turbo spun a little when it first idled up, I sprayed more carb cleaner in it, then when I hooked up the maf and reved the motor the first time it's like everything broke free, and she runs great.

Problem though... When I drive it, I feel like there's very little power. You know the feeling like you're rolling at idle with the clutch out and mash the gas? It feels like that all the time and I dunno why. I can hear the turbo spool and BOV blow off, but the whole time it feels like a motor does at only 1k rpms. There's just not any power.

I'm thinking it has to do with the turbo not spinning the greatest right now, lotsa back-pressure and also some intake resistance. Any input is welcomed.

Thanks.

P.S., I'm probably going to make a new thread for this to get some more exposure.

[teddy]

Check out the timing? Could be off. Change your plugs? Gap them correctly?

I would run some seafoam through the engine if you think it's got a lot of buildup and gunk in it. You never know how long that motor has been sitting and could always use some good maintenance.

[mkory]

Wasn't there a good sea foam writeup around here somewhere?

[Luke]

Here ya go sir.

zerothread?id=120868

Tip for when you search, i didn't find any good writeups until I searched the "Archived Content."

[spider_slayer]

i'd check for boost leaks if anything.

[mkory]

On the way to have my exhaust done today it seemed to really open up. Still very little power down low (maybe it's just an SR thing I'm not used to... what were your first impressions?) but around 3-4k it seemed to really open up. The turbo is still a little gunk'd up, I can feel it and hear it (sounds almost like a BB turbo with the bearings under as much stress as they are)... lol

Anyways, I'm going to seafoam it if this 4 hour drive tomorrow doesn't work everything through. I know a roadtrip probably isn't the best idea, but I'll go easy on it (no hard driving at all) since, unfortunately, I have no other choice.

[Neil]

STOP TRYING TO SPIN THE TURBO WITH COKED UP OIL BETWEEN THE SHAFT AND THE SLEEVE BEARINGS. edit: i didnt even read that the motor was running, before i raised the flag.

Properly lubricated the T25 should spin freely, but have a slight degree of drag... this is the nature of a sleeve bearing turbo. If you measure Absolute 0 shaft play, i would be worried.

I wouldn't necessarily call the T25 "crap", I'd call it "outdated". I've had a lot of fun at ~14psi for the past year with mine but I cant wait to try out a stock 2006 S15 turbo.

DID you check the timing? that definitely will mess with power, and how safely it runs.
Modified by Neil at 9:55 PM 9/27/2006

[da40]

are we still talking about this ..dude the turbo is gone!!!there not that expensive to begin with just get a new one and thats the end of that good luck on finding one shouldnt be that hard to do so they sell them everwhere