P0011, a check engine story

[Power6]

I just pulled the DP off and checked the turbo today...its all done, lots of shaft play. I am pretty sure it was fine until the P0011 fun started. Good reminder not to drive the car if you can when this happens.

Off to find a good used turbo...

[Stella Blue]

Originally Posted by OregonBP9

I did away with the OEM oil feed altogether and went with one of these. Retains filtration to the turbo while eliminating risk of banjo bolt filter clog.

IP&T Filtered Turbo Oil Supply Line Kit

I also did away with the OEM oil feed and i replaced my turbo with a BNR turbo, which i highly recommend!!


BNR Supercars - Bryan Nickell's Rotary Supercars - Subaru Legacy GT/Subaru Outback XT

[OregonBP9]

Originally Posted by Power6

Off to find a good used turbo...

If there is such a thing. Takes a lot of faith in the previous owner, and even then he won't know whether it has 1k or 50k left in it. You'll probably spend $400 for a takeoff when you could get a 16G from BNR for $725 and be done with the IHI turbo failure risk forever. Not that the TD05 can't ever fail, it's just known to be more reliable than the OEM. And you'd be getting a brand new CHRA fitted into an OEM housing.

[Power6]

^^Agreed it all depends on the personal situation. For me:

-Its an automatic outback XT my wife drives it, don't care one whit about modding it for power, so any turbo that gets into a tune is out. Already BTDT with my WRX.

-We are considering getting out of it for a newer car without the turbo because honestly we really shouldn't have bought a turbo for what we wanted out of a vehicle. My fault I got too excited about the turbo wagon ;-) The bearings in this turbo are gone, the fins have hit the housing and the motor has ingested some amount of aluminum flakes. That has taken some life off the motor, added risk we don't really want. Wife is about to go on maternity leave so won't drive the car that much. Least cost to get the car through the next 5 months is my plan we'll deal with it later.

If we were in this for the long haul no doubt I would be on a new turbo, Sixstarspeed will sell a reman'd VF40 for $600. You know if i was going to mod I might be inclined to go TD04 ha, lower the HP but eliminate the lag!

I did find a used one under $300, plenty of miles but at least one of the guys at Infamous Performance has checked it and gave it the thumbs up.

[Power6]

Follow up: I had the turbo swapped yesterday by Motive Autoworks (excellent Subaru perf shop in Woburn MA BTW) and picked it up today. I had them put a new inlet in since the old one looked a bit haggard.

Car runs great again, idle is much better I am thinking the inlet had a vacuum leak, that does make me feel better about the valves and ringlands.

Car has just over 100k, I put in a good VF40 with 100k on it, lends some credence that lack of maintenance is the cause of turbo failure. I'll certainly keep this thread updated with the lifetime of the new-old turbo.

Next to fix the valve cover gasket leak. I am thinking I should change out the trans fluid soon.

[OregonBP9]

You installed a used VF40 with 100k on it? Brave.

[Power6]

Hey I gotta take one for the team, so we can see how long these things can last ;-) The turbo was in great shape at least, working good so far!

[Power6]

Update: 100k mile used turbo still working great.

Motive auto works fixed my passenger side valve cover leak, had them put in new plugs and check compression/leakdown since I have been concerned about the life of the car. Tests came back fine so I feel better about the longevity. Still idles a little shaky in drive but hey its got 100k miles. Otherwise running great. Now I am feeling how long will this turbo really last, should I replace it next year maybe?

While I was at Motive another Outback XT showed up on a flatbed, apparently didn't catch the turbo in time and it blew, heard the estimate at the Subie dealer for a new block and turbo was 9k.

So another reminder to inspect that banjo screen, watch for those AVCS codes, check that turbo, change your oil often...