I don't think I could deal with a chipped B5 S4 ...
02-15-2004, 07:09 AM
#2
Re: I don't think I could deal with a chipped B5 S4 ...
I think there is more to it than a chip. I think the driver and owner care needs to be questioned. Improper turbo care will easily blow a turbo that sees higher boost...
02-15-2004, 05:26 PM
#7
I wouldn't let the K03 scare you away (my thoughts)
Most failures are caused by boost leaks on these cars. It's well known the TBB is a very common failure. If the TBB blows you will blow the turbo because the it is forced to overspin to give you the "requested" boost. Same happens with any boost leak in the intake system. That's the only design screw up Audi made, IMHO.
There were some "issues" with oil passages in the early models and a later change helped the issue to some extent. All this change allowed is a little hartier turbo, one that can handle a little more overspin. In the end, a boost leak the issue that gets the ball rolling.
As these cars age and more informed owners purchase them the number of failures will decrease. Any S4 should have a boost gauge installed right away. If you see a change in boost or notice the car is slower; a pressure test needs to be done. Careful owners will routinley perform a pressure test, I suggest one every other oil change unless symptoms require an earlier test. Right now you have a lot of "warranty owners" that aren't concered about longevity, the next owners will be different.
K04's are not the answer either. They suffer the same problems as the KO3's. You will not get 450hp out of a K04, they just can't provide that much air flow. K04's fail due to boost leaks as well, they are just larger turbo's so it takes a bigger leak to overspin them. You don't see a lot of failures because of the above statement AND there's a lot smaller sample to fail. They do fail too though, don't let people fool you.
It all really depends on what you want. The K03 is not your "typical" turbo. I've seen them called "torque-assist" turbos. This is very accurate, IMO. They are there to give you early torque (large V8 feel) and then are set to taper boost off as the RPM's rise, thus HP "falls" some in the upper range. A "typical" turbo will raise boost, or at least hold boost, until redline to give you high HP. The K03 was not designed for that and if one expects that they should have done more research. KO4's are larger and thus can be set to act more "typical".
There were some "issues" with oil passages in the early models and a later change helped the issue to some extent. All this change allowed is a little hartier turbo, one that can handle a little more overspin. In the end, a boost leak the issue that gets the ball rolling.
As these cars age and more informed owners purchase them the number of failures will decrease. Any S4 should have a boost gauge installed right away. If you see a change in boost or notice the car is slower; a pressure test needs to be done. Careful owners will routinley perform a pressure test, I suggest one every other oil change unless symptoms require an earlier test. Right now you have a lot of "warranty owners" that aren't concered about longevity, the next owners will be different.
K04's are not the answer either. They suffer the same problems as the KO3's. You will not get 450hp out of a K04, they just can't provide that much air flow. K04's fail due to boost leaks as well, they are just larger turbo's so it takes a bigger leak to overspin them. You don't see a lot of failures because of the above statement AND there's a lot smaller sample to fail. They do fail too though, don't let people fool you.
It all really depends on what you want. The K03 is not your "typical" turbo. I've seen them called "torque-assist" turbos. This is very accurate, IMO. They are there to give you early torque (large V8 feel) and then are set to taper boost off as the RPM's rise, thus HP "falls" some in the upper range. A "typical" turbo will raise boost, or at least hold boost, until redline to give you high HP. The K03 was not designed for that and if one expects that they should have done more research. KO4's are larger and thus can be set to act more "typical".