Full Blown Turbo Kit Owners Topic

[Reaper]

He would have had a boost leak. It HAS to be coming in through the air filter.

[King Tut]

Can we get a picture of how you mounted your filter? Have you made sure it is even still attached to the intake pipe?

[blackfireball5]

Originally Posted by King Tut

Can we get a picture of how you mounted your filter? Have you made sure it is even still attached to the intake pipe?

Everything was tight. There were no loose couplers anywhere along the system. I checked and pulled on everything and inspected it. Yes the air filter was attached...

I really wish something was loose. I wish it was that easy. Because then I would know what to fix. But there are no clues as to how the water got in there other than the water sitting near the air filter under the hood.

[blackfireball5]

The silicone coupler there is a T that goes to my Radium catch can setup.

[King Tut]

Originally Posted by blackfireball5

The silicone coupler there is a T that goes to my Radium catch can setup.

I wonder if it is condensation coming in from your Radium catch can tube setup.

[Reaper]

Yup. I bet it is. And it slowly filled the intercooler with condensation. I just dealt with almost the exact same problem on a hayabusa that had 6 Oz of water in its crankcase.

[blackfireball5]

Originally Posted by King Tut

I wonder if it is condensation coming in from your Radium catch can tube setup.

First, it's clear pure water, no fuel or oil residues. Second, the volume coming out of the intercooler piping was way more than anything that could have been recirculated. Third, I check the level of the catch cans often and they haven't needed to be emptied yet. I'd think they would also be full of water is something weird was happening like that.

I'm gonna do some tests this weekend. I have a microfiber clothe laid underneath my hood just above the air filter. I'll see if it gets wet while it sits in my driveway. I'll also try that paper test to see if there is a gap between the hood.

I'll try to post videos of any of my tests if there is something interesting to show.

At this point, i'm still feeling fairly confident it came in through the filter.

[Reaper]

That's not how condensation works. The heat and moisture (vapor) coming from the can hits the cold intercooler and turns back into water. Any oil that came with it stays in the intercooler. Any fuel vapor gets burned off. I'm telling you I just had almost the same thing happen to my hayabusa race motor. 6 Oz of crystal clear water in the crankcase from condensation after moving it in and out of my shop a few times in the cold. Hot oil/fuel/water vapor got sucked in under cold start and turned back into water. Thankfully i got it to seperate.

[blackfireball5]

Originally Posted by Reaper

That's not how condensation works. The heat and moisture (vapor) coming from the can hits the cold intercooler and turns back into water. Any oil that came with it stays in the intercooler. Any fuel vapor gets burned off. I'm telling you I just had almost the same thing happen to my hayabusa race motor. 6 Oz of crystal clear water in the crankcase from condensation after moving it in and out of my shop a few times in the cold. Hot oil/fuel/water vapor got sucked in under cold start and turned back into water. Thankfully i got it to seperate.

Why would the water not condense into the catch cans? They have metal screens that allows the moisture to condense onto and then once it condenses it doesn't leave the can.

Either way, I still had a decent amount of sitting water on hte black bar under the hood where the seal sits between the hood and the bumper. That much water sitting right above the air filter leads me to believe it's coming from the seal.

Like I said, i'll do some tests and post back when I can. We currently got hammered with a snow storm today so I don't know when i'll be able to test these things yet but it is supposed to warm up Sunday.

[Reaper]

An oiled air filter should have trouble passing water through it. I don't agree with ANY catch cans that return to the intake or block.

In fact the wrx and sti catch cans made by Crawford had such a huge problem with dumping water back into the crankcase they had to run a coolant line to the can to keep it hot enough that water vapor wouldn't condense in it.

[Reaper]

Running a turbo off road truck through feet of water and I've never filled a intercooler with water unless the filter was submerged. But I have filled a crankcase with water from condensation.

[blackfireball5]

Let me be clear, i'm not trying to say you are wrong. I appreciate your input and help. I'm sure what you are saying is completely possible. However, i'm saying that there is also unexplained water sitting near that seal. And in my specific case, i'm thinking water is coming in from there. Maybe my tests will prove me wrong. I hope not though, as a flawed catch can setup is more annoying to fix than a bad seal being made near the hood.

[Reaper]

Sure. I'm also not trying to come across as an @ss. I just know for a fact that much water wouldn't cause it. Think about the ram air setup on a bike ridden in the rain. It's literally being force fed water. Or anything else with a scoop. I've driven in the rain with no front bumper and I didnt have this problem. Good luck and keep us informed.

[blackfireball5]

Originally Posted by Reaper

Sure. I'm also not trying to come across as an @ss. I just know for a fact that much water wouldn't cause it. Think about the ram air setup on a bike ridden in the rain. It's literally being force fed water. Or anything else with a scoop. I've driven in the rain with no front bumper and I didn't have this problem. Good luck and keep us informed.

On the flip side though, I can't be the only person with a recirculating catch can setup on a turbo car. WOuldn't this be a much more prevalent problem? Maybe i'll contact Radium and ask them if they've had this problem with their setups before.