Rs4 K04 failures...

**Audi_S4** · 06-23-2008 09:05 AM

couple of questions regarding K04 RS4 Turbos

- why do these fail so quick ? here in europe we have many RS4's with +75.000km that run fine on stock turbo's, I can understand a turbo fails after 100.000km or 40-50.000km of abuse and + 22psi but I've been reading alot about K04's going in a year or even faster after 5000-10.000km.

- Are they using crappy material these days for the new k04's or does it have something to do with installation?

- Is it better to buy 2nd hand RS4 turbo's and have them rebuild with all new stuff inside?

- Do RS6 Turbos fail as quick as K04's or are these better made?

**Dowskeet** · 06-23-2008 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by Audi_S4

couple of questions regarding K04 RS4 Turbos

- why do these fail so quick ? here in europe we have many RS4's with +75.000km that run fine on stock turbo's, I can understand a turbo fails after 100.000km or 40-50.000km of abuse and + 22psi but I've been reading alot about K04's going in a year or even faster after 5000-10.000km.

- Are they using crappy material these days for the new k04's or does it have something to do with installation?

- Is it better to buy 2nd hand RS4 turbo's and have them rebuild with all new stuff inside?

- Do RS6 Turbos fail as quick as K04's or are these better made?

Now I would suggest you take any post with a grain of salt because failure issues can stem from alot of different issues but the most problematic problem is poor installation. Usually if K04's fail its because there is a leak somewhere on the turbo or inlet lines and that basically doesnt lube the turbo enough and ends up seezing/broken. (but those failures shouldnt happen if the install has been done correctly and safely)

They have been more and more common these days for some reason.. A few stories here and there. But K04's are very reliable and should be taken into consideration if your thinking of a nice reliable setup. Buying them brand new allows you to have a little less worries about whether or not they are going to die but buying them second hand and having them rebuilt can be a more cost effective way to make a kit. So its a more cost vs. (worry factor) for me, and you should think whats best for you.

Alot of people are starting to run GT setups. Either from companies well known like AutoSpeed or running custom kits from board members like GenerationJDM. Gen's kit are awesome and for the price to hp gain its an incredible deal without a doubt. If your thinking this might be an idea just contact him and I am sure he will give you prices on kits and you can go from there. GT turbos should be alot more reliable than K04's since you can get them in dual ball bearing instead of thrust bearing or journal bearing. The GT turbos themselves are also much more cheap than getting the Borg Warner KKK versions. Plus having the wastegates external you can diagnosis problems a little bit better and replace an issue more effectively then just replacing turbos with integrated wastegates together.

If you have anymore questions I am sure someone will chime in more experienced and let you know.

Cheers

**generationjdm** · 06-23-2008 02:18 PM

Bottom line, the rs4 turbos are 40+ year old technology and was never designed to be abused to the extent that there being abused at.. These turbos are being pushed way past there intended design, ya you will have some that say they've been taking a pounding for years, but that sure is a lot of money to hope they work out... I here quality control is part to blame, but who knows...

**alias747** · 06-23-2008 03:34 PM

I think the real problem is that out of the thousands of people that use k04's, your only going to hear about the ones that blow on the forums and are more than likely the people that had them installed wrong/cold boosted the crap out of them/didn't use sythetic oil etc...

**generationjdm** · 06-23-2008 04:11 PM

And theres all the ones that don't belong to any forums that popped turbos you will never hear about either...

**Audi_S4** · 06-23-2008 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by generationjdm

and Theres All The Ones That Don't Belong To Any Forums That Popped Turbos You Will Never Hear About Either...

**andream88** · 06-23-2008 05:39 PM

OT Are you ready with your kits, jdm?? /OT

Cheers

**hyperlight944** · 06-24-2008 07:54 AM

ahem ..... correct install, fully synthetic oil since the car was bought and before that, always let the oil and coolant heat before boosting and always let them cool and they died in less than a yr .. probably like 600 miles

soo gen gt kit here i come hehe :)

ohh and stage 3 minus on 15lbs of boost only lol

cheers
---daniel

**Dowskeet** · 06-24-2008 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by alias747

I think the real problem is that out of the thousands of people that use k04's, your only going to hear about the ones that blow on the forums and are more than likely the people that had them installed wrong/cold boosted the crap out of them/didn't use sythetic oil etc...

There is always going to be a few bad oranges in any batch. There is risk in any modification.. But for the price there are alot of options when doing a turbo upgrade.

**Audi_S4** · 06-24-2008 10:01 AM

yeah but it's fucked there aren't any GT turbos you can put on stock manifolds and downpipes , then everyone would go GT.

I am not aiming at BIG power, I have 270 @ wheels right now and I like it but after 3th gear it does not pull enough anymore... , with +- 320-340 whp I would be very very satifsfied and it's silly to spend 7k to get there...
I have AWE downpipes / new larger SMIC's and a new passnger side K04RS4 lying in the shelf and allready have a dual cat back. so a RS4 clutch,injectors and remap and I would be settled but it's a hell of a job to get the suckers in and it will cost me like 1500€ for the work only! and if they blow after 5-10.000km I'll kill the S with a chainsaw! ! !

are they stronger with RS6 chra?