Air Intact Fell Apart When Driving Today

[Cam]

I noticed a sound when driving today so I stopped at a servo and had a look.

The pipe that runs from the turbo to the black plastic pices with "Turbo" on it had fallen off.

It is held in with 2 hose clamps - so I put it back in place and all is OK.

I dont know if I'm atypical but I seem to be having a few problems with the engine!!

[Ninka]

The increase you felt in power could be caused by less resistance by the piping and air cleaner element, as the pipe you describe having fallen off is the turbo suction pipe.

I haven't had any such problems myself

[Guest kryzak260]

Yes, that would be the case ninka, but it isnt good obviously.

You would be sucking un-filtered air into the engine if I understand correctly which pipe has come off.

[Ninka]

Yes, that would be the case ninka, but it isnt good obviously.

You would be sucking un-filtered air into the engine if I understand correctly which pipe has come off.

Of course you are right, thanks for pointing that out.

I did not intend to give the impression that this was a way of obtaining more power

[Cam]

The pipe was in intake pipe - and as soon as I realised I put it back on myself.

Im not sure what the extra power came from as there are a few factors

1. No resistance from the filter and piping - just stright into the turbo

2. Intake air would probbly have been hotter without the intake piping

3 Was a cold and overcast day....

Anyway I have put it back together and the dealer is going to checkit out ot the 3000Km service (sorry inspection)

[mickq]

If the pipe that came off is the one at the front of the turbo (ie towards the front of the car) it is the turbo's OUTPUT pipe. It goes from the front of the turbo up to the top of the engine.

It is not the turbo intake pipe.

That is good, because it means unfiltered air was not sucked through the blades of the turbo. (At 100,000rpm+ it doesnt take much to ruin them!). If it was the intake pipe it would be a different story. However you would still have been sucking unfiltered fuel into the engine...ok for a short time so long as no big bits get sucked in!

The car still goes well with the pipe off, but it does not go better. What it runs like is a standard (non turbo) XR6 with a very free flowing intake system. Sometimes faster throttle response too because of that. Aside from the free intake, it also would have resulted in mild turbo boost still being applied as the pipe usually doesnt move far and part of the turbo's output would still be pushed up the pipe.

The increased noise is twofold. You can hear the blades spooling much more as they are open to the air. No doubt you saw them there when you reattached the pipe. Something spinning at 100k rpm in the open air sounds kind of cool. In addition you would have noticed a louder popoff sound when you backed off the accelerator. This can be caused by parts being exposed (ie less noise reduction) and also because depending where the turbo pressure sensor is located, the engine may have thought the turbo is putting out too little pressure, and bumps up the turbo output to compensate...leading to a much louder popoff when it happens.

Put the slightly sharper throttle response together with still adequate performance and the quite cool sounding turbo spool-up noises and popoff sound, and it DOES feel faster...I grant you that. But in reality, it isnt faster. How do I know? Its happened to me and I did a fair few tests!

[Cam]

Well that was the pipe that came off - the one towards the front of the car.

I thought it was the in side as it looks like it is connected to the airbox across the top of the engine.

I guess looks can be decieving.

[rjs]

Same thing happened to me, the car felt like it lost power and had no boost, it sounded quite loud as well. I just reattached the pipe and tightened up the clamp.