Turbo questions

[steelheep]

I have a Mits and a Garrett, which one would be better to use or would another kind be better. I'm not building a hot rod for now so I don't want anything radical. But I don't know anything about turbos. Thanks..

[1991shelby]

The mits will have quicker spool up but it will move less air and boost levels max between 18-20 psi.
The garrett has a slower spool but will move more air and is a much better performance turbo.
I if I had the choice I would use the garrett. I could quicken the spool by a down shift.

[ol"blue]

In an automatic equipped vehicle, the Mitsu's quicker spool-up helps with drive-ability. The Garrett makes more top-end power at the cost of low-end torque.

[steelheep]

Is the a/r 42 the only one to use without having to change computers?

[steelheep]

It is an auto.

[steelheep]

So mits would be the better one.

[ol"blue]

You didn't state what make/model vehicle, engine size, any other modifications done etc.?

[steelheep]

88 Pacifica, stock motor with k&n air system.

[jim34]

Go with the garret, the mitsu is resrictive to the point that it hurts fuel milage and it is harder on the engine because its almost always boosting

[steelheep]

Looks like we have mixed thoughts on turbos. Need more people to respond for a majority vote I guess.

[moparfreak3]

Garrett FTW. After having both I would never go back to a mitsu.

[EvilcowRoland]

It depends entirely on what you're doing with the car. If it's a daily driver and you don't plan to do anything else performance-related, I'd probably go with the Mitsu and put a full 2.5 inch exhaust on it. The Mitsu spools faster and has good street manners. But the Garrett is definately the more performance friendly turbo. And you can make it spool plenty fast with a larger exhaust. I like the Mitsu on my 2.5 auto Daytona. It's peppy without being too much, so it's comfortable to drive around town. Having the 2.5 helps with that too, so YMMV.

[steelheep]

That's what it would be a daily driver for now. It has the stock exhaust on it also. When I get ready to make a little stomper then I'll put on the garrett. Here's another green question. How do you know when the turbo is bad beside the obvious lack of power?

[jim34]

Normally when they go bad they start smoking badly and if you pull the inlet hose off and grab the shaft it will have excessive movement or it will be hard to spin if the bearings are seized

[EvilcowRoland]

Well, turbos can go bad in a couple ways. 1 is the bearings sieze and it stops spinning. That doesn't happen often unless it's not getting any oil, plus it's obvious when it does.

If the bearings are worn then the impellar shaft can hit the walls of the housing. You can reach into the intake mouth of the compressor and wiggle the impellar in that case. New turbos shouldn't wiggle at all. Older turbos will move a little, but not much. If it moves a lot, it could be smacking the walls causing damage, so it's time for a rebuild or repalcement.

The most common issue is for a seal to let go internally. When that happens, you'll start getting oil or coolant out the exhaust and there will be a nice cloud of smoke every time you boost. If it's bad enough, it can smoke with the car just idling too. That's pretty much it though.

(And apparently I was writing this at the same time as Jim ^. )