I'd Bet its at least one turbo, what do u think?

[ColinGruenfeld]

As I was taking a buddy for a ride yesterday, I floored my 2000 S4 with a 18PSI Chris Tapp tune on K03's @ 102K miles and for the first time, a cloud of blue smoke coming out of my exhaust. This didn't happen during acceleration, but as soon as I let off the gas. This morning, on the drive into work, I noticed something else. It seemed like the driver side turbo was making the dentist drill noise, but it disappeared once the car began to warm up. Once again, I floored it once the car was warm and sure enough, noticed a cloud of blue smoke coming out of the exhaust. The car has always had a very slight smell of burning oil, but now it has gotten noticeably worse. In the mean time, I have switched back to the stock tune because this is my daily driver. Since then I haven't noticed any smoke upon acceleration, but I am still going to get a 2nd opinion from someone outside of the car. I'm sure I'm not the only one to know how bad this hurts

Few questions for you guys:

1. Would you agree that these are typical symptoms of a dying turbo?
2. Is there any way to test the turbos (specifically, which one is problematic)?
3. About how long can I hope to have these turbos last on a stock tune now?
4. Can someone tell me everything is going to be alright? Cuz I highly doubt it.

Thanks in advance.

[haus4]

Listen man, from reading your post I hope you have some money in your piggie bank...

[Mantis]

Count those turbos out.

[phit]

Some people would discribe turbo failure noise like a sirien. If that what you are hearing it does mean "you overspun the bearing" this sometimes will cause smoke out of the exhaust depending on how bad.don't replace just one its not worth the labor. on a stock program it will depend on how you drive it. watch out for the high speed downshifts, thats where the problem starts! now is the time for the k04 swap if you wanting to do so not much of a price difference between k03 & k04's.
Good Luck!

[ColinGruenfeld]

Some people would discribe turbo failure noise like a sirien. If that what you are hearing it does mean "you overspun the bearing" this sometimes will cause smoke out of the exhaust depending on how bad.don't replace just one its not worth the labor. on a stock program it will depend on how you drive it. watch out for the high speed downshifts, thats where the problem starts! now is the time for the k04 swap if you wanting to do so not much of a price difference between k03 & k04's.
Good Luck!

I wasn't planning on replacing just one, just curious so I know it was either one or two. I'm already looking for a set of K04's here on AZ, and will be doing research on the swap. I've done a turbo swap on an A4 before, but nothing like this. On the other hand, my brother (SchnellB5) has swapped his whole a4 motor and built it, so I'm sure his help would be appreciated.

Correct me if I'm wrong guys, but I should be planning on buying the following:

- K04's
- K04 Inlets
- Stage III- tune

I can't afford fueling at this point.

I'm not even going to get into questions about the tranny at this point (I'm a stock tip) - I'll search the threads and get back on this one.

[Go_S4]

id say skip the stage 3- tune and just save up do be a full stage 3....

[ColinGruenfeld]

id say skip the stage 3- tune and just save up do be a full stage 3....

Money's an issue here. Cant go straight full Stage III. At this point, I have $3000 saved up as for I was expecting this to happen. And this is my daily driver so I cant just put it on jacks and drive another car in the mean time.

[Go_S4]

I feel you, but are you planning on doing the work on your own? because changing these turbos is a PAIN and can cost you $$$$ for labor....... but best of luck,

[Daness373]

If your gonna do 3- you are gonna need K04's, Inlets, hardware, Piggies/DP's, Catback, 5bar fpr, stage 3- tune or tweek a stage 1 tune(if money is an object you don't have to) if you have to and you should take it easy with that set up untill you can go full stage 3. Chances are you will run a little lean so be easy for most of your driving. You might be able to find a used fueling kit in the classified for about 1k or less if you can do that. That will pretty much be the cost of your 3- tune (i think Giac 3- is $795 off the top of my head.)Also you may want to do timing belt/water pump while the engine is out to save on that. I'll prob be doing this in the near future when my K03's die so im piecing it together as money comes through right now. Good luck though

K04's $2200 (about)
-Labor $2000
Inlets $599 (Genuine RS4) or $375 (O34)
Hardware $135
Catback $400-1000 or SSAC 445 shipped w/dp's
GIAC 3- Flash $795
Bosch 5bfpr $198
Piggies - Free or $400 (cheaper if found used)
Engine Mounts RS4 $280 (set)
TB and Water Pump $395
-Labor while engine is out about $250
New Fluids (oil,coolant etc) $100
-Labor Free or about $100

[ColinGruenfeld]

I feel you, but are you planning on doing the work on your own? because changing these turbos is a PAIN and can cost you $$$$ for labor....... but best of luck,

I'd be doing the work on my own. I am going to be looking forward to it for this reason: The more I work on my own car, the more I feel a stronger connection with her. It truly is a give and take relationship, very similar to a girl. This is probably the reason why I whore around instead of dedicating myself to a single girl - Because I already have a girlfriend, and she happens to be AWD!

[ColinGruenfeld]

If your gonna do 3- you are gonna need K04's, Inlets, Piggies/DP's, Catback, 5bar fpr, stage 3- tune or tweek a stage 1 tune(if money is an object you don't have to) if you have to and you should take it easy with that set up untill you can go full stage 3. Chances are you will run a little lean so be easy for most of your driving. You might be able to find a used fueling kit in the classified for about 1k or less if you can do that. That will pretty much be the cost of your 3- tune (i think Giac 3- is $795 off the top of my head.) I'll prob be doing this in the near future when my K03's die so im piecing it together as money comes through right now. Good luck though

Really appreciate the input! That's the answer I was looking for -

I plan on making fully catless piggies (gutting primary AND secondary cats, I'm emissions exempt to why not?). Already have a UUC VM1 Catback (sounds amazing), and have a EuroDyne tune credit - Chris Tapp has always been happy to help me with testing and retuning my car (he has sent me a total of 4 tunes now to keep me satisfied). I can imagine that he would be willing to help me with a Stage 3 tune, or even a tweaked stage 2 tune that will get my by until I get a chance to purchase tuning. So...

K04's
Inlets
5 bar FPR
Tune

I have been doing a lot of research all night (its a little past midnight) and I have heard alot of horror stories about K04's lately. Specifically RS4 K04's. If I'm going to want these turbos to last a long time, and not wear the crap out of my stock tip transmission, should I tune them for 14PSI (OEM RS4 boost pressure)?

By the way, my tune was still peaking 17PSI and holding 16psi on the Eurodyne tune, it just started to smoke. I dont think its smoking now with the stock tune. I got a good deal on the car, and could probably put her back to stock and sell it for what i paid for it, assuming the turbos hold up on the stock tune. What do you guys think at this point? As you can imagine, I have a lot of things going through my head right now.

Thanks for all of your input.

[Daness373]

Well you should wait till they blow completely if you are trying to save up for K04's obviously and leave the stock tune and drive conservatively/try to avoid high boost. If you have the money for all the parts put back on your tune and let them blow completely or just start your install and pull the motor. I think you said you have 3k so you should have enough for parts. Your piggies are free. Turbos are around $2150 or so, inlets from 034 are $375, 5bar is $200, and the rest you should be able to use for extra mounts fluids etc you want to use. You will be ok with your current tune (17psi) with the K04's till you get your stage 3- tune or go full st3. Make sure you warm up/cool down properly and wait to get into boost till oil temp is up about 1/4 way or more. Other than that you should be set to order parts and good luck with the install.

[ColinGruenfeld]

Sure enough, brought the car to AutoBahn motorsports in Denver and after taking a look at the car, they said that the driver side turbo is spewing oil, and both are very unhealthy.

K04's here I come - Now I just don't know what to do about the damn tranny.

[GetAwayFromMe]

If you want the turbos to last you a while i would go stage 3- set the boost at 14 or less psi and you will be just fine. As far as the tranny goes, dont beat the crap out of your car and she will be just fine.

[ColinGruenfeld]

Something along those lines is what I was planning. The guys down at AutoBahn suggested a 21PSI to fade to 18PSI tune and a new torque converter. I figure if I do a 14PSI tune, it should be not too much more powerful than the K03 tune I had at 18PSI. I've searched online and found a copy of a bently manual for the car, does anyone have any suggestions on which manual or write-up to use? They all seem to include each step, but none of them seem to go into detail.

[Tfreestyle]

I used a print out online and also bought the bentley cd, I can copy and paste the bently run down for you. Just read through it first. some stuff you really dont have to take off since you will be disconnecting the wiring harness and flopping it over the engine(about 10 sensors and shit I didnt need to take off, so annoying when I read that).

[code7rpd]

I just finished my stage 3 install and it was not bad.....just time consuming. How did those Samco hoses I sent you work out?

[enigma1406]

I think you accidentally your turbo!