Posts by VIPNiSS

  • The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about my last couple of months with my new turbo

    Quote from rabtech

    Gas is a real concern. I "try" to only fill up at name brand stations. But it's almost impossible to do that every time. And I know each pump has a screw on filter to catch particles. I still won't fill up at a station that I can see receiving gas from a tanker... I just think about water and other stuff being swirled around.


    And remember ,,,,, if you get off somewhere and are running low you can put a few gallons of regular old 87 octane unleaded in. Just keep your foot out of the gas till you can fill up with super unleaded... If u have a boost gauge try to keep it in the vacuum side and you will be ok till you get that gas completely out of the system... It will take a couple of fill ups of 92/93 octane to purge it all out.

    I normally fill up at QT(quiktrip)

  • The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about my last couple of months with my new turbo

    Quote from FFShawn

    The factory intake manifold has a direct connection to the crankcase system through the pinhole port that Alpha has you drill out. In NA form, this small hole sets a very specific amount of crankcase vacuum, based off that orifice size, allowing only a set amount of vacuum/vapor to be pulled through that provision specifically for ring seal against the bore. Enlarge the hole, expect more oil and vapor to pull through that port. In addition to allowing more vapor/oil residue through, it also increases the vac pressure to the crankcase system. The biggest thing overlooked here is that connection is just a wide open port, no check valve, or butterfly valve of any sort. When the turbo gets in boost, positive pressure is blasting through that breather port in a quick fashion and putting positive/boost pressure into the crankcase system. This is a big no no for ring seal. Get out of boost back into vac, vacuum is quickly reapplied to the crankcase system and the rings are sucked back the opposite way. When you have too much positive crankcase pressure, it will cause a portion of the oil in the pan to stick more to a vapor state then returning to solid oil increasing chance of it being pulled past a ring (and into smoke out the exhaust). With ring flex from the positive, negative, positive, negative back and forth from the changing crankcase pressure, rings and more importantly ringlands will be stressed (isn't this a common failure point of this engine?) time and time again. In reality, this pinhole port in the intake manifold either needs a check valve to still properly be effective as GM intended, or it needs to be plugged, and then valve cover connection breather needs to be well thought out to supply constant vac to the crankcase system at all times, boost or not. I'm not sure this is the ONLY issue causing smoking on these setups but I believe it is a big factor in it.
    Just my 2 cents

    my little brain had to read that several times to somewhat understand.

  • Not a Sunday Funday!

    Quote from Street Doc

    I must admit posting was a bit hard to do as I don't want to look like a dumb ass (or a Shemp) I am ignorant to the world of boost and have only dabbled in upgraded naturally aspirated. This was an expensive lesson for me that I really can't afford right know, but everyone one here has been so non-judgmental and willing to share information, it made it very easy to admit I was an naive dumbass and blew the motor. My hope is that I can save someone else the same trouble and hopefully save them from injury. I was lucky and running on a straight stretch of US41 in the middle of the Everglades and not on a mountain hairpin.

    @Street Doc don't feel that way. It's all apart of the learning curve and unfortunately an expensive one. This boosted world is new to me as well and I'm glad I keep active on the forums. This has taught me something I didn't know as well in regards to low rpm/high load. Looks like I will be downshifting more often when I want to get on it.

  • The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about my last couple of months with my new turbo

    Quote from GTS1998

    I have smoke at idle with my Alpha kit. It seems to start a minute or so after starting it, while warming up. It seems to go away after a short drive, but comes and goes when I'm stopped at a red light, etc. I've had the intake drilled, it seems to not have made a difference. One theory I've heard is that the oil isn't draining well through the return line from the Turbo to the oil pan, causing the smoking. The oil return line seems to have a round about way to get back to the pan. No sure why it's not more of a direct gravity path. It fills my garage with smoke sometimes. it is annoying.


    Made me feel so much better. I'm glad I'm not the only having this issue.

  • The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about my last couple of months with my new turbo

    Now this kind of scares me! I also have the alpha turbo kit and had some really bad smoking issue once. the day after the install it was smoking pretty bad for about 15 seconds but since has gone. It still smokes a little and I can smell a little bit of what I think is oil burn or maybe it's just rich exhaust. I keep frequently checking my oil as well as pulling the plugs to look at it. Maybe I'm just worrying too much since I was their the day I saw this happen on rabtech sling. I was there installing an alpha kit the same day that rabs sling blew up.


    Anyone else running an alpha kit and getting a little bit of smoke?