My stock turbo crapped out on me pushing oil like crazy. found this out while installing my new FMIC this weekend. so i figured good time to upgrade while i have to right. well found a good deal on a K04, and had a few questions. my car has a intake, a FMIC, a Neuspeed engine snubber and H&R springs. i know the turbo is a direct replacement, but wanted to know what else was "necessary" to run it. i know an aftermarket exhaust and a chip would bring it to peak performance, but i dont think you have to run them to run the turbo. these are things i will buy in the near future anyways. whatsyou alls take on this? can i bolt it up and drive off?

 

oh the car is a 2002 A4 Quattro with a 5-speed.

 

you dont need anything, a test pipe or a hfc is highly reccomended because of the stress the factory cat puts on the k04 can cause premature failure

 

cool, i was hoping i was pretty much free and clear. a test pipe...anyone get busted for running with no cats, and can the test pipe hook up to stock exhaust?

 

You sure your turbo is bad? It's normal to have some OIL in your SMIC hose... just seems strange for it to be bad on a non-chipped 02.
But yeah, you can bolt it on and drive away... you just won't see much of a horsepower gain until you get the chip for it.

 

test pipe will hook up to stock exhaust...its a pita tho to install. you have been forewarned...but you will want the other $hit for the ko4 once you know what it is capable of.

 

yeah it was quiet a bit of oil, all the way up to the throttle body housing! do you agree with the test pipe comment as well? pita even if the turbo is off? what was difficult?

 

The turbo being off wouldn't help much, I don't think... Getting at the rear O2 sensor was the biggest problem with my HFC (high flow cat)... I'm sure it's not really fun with the test pipe.
But the worst part, likely, is getting the bolts in and out of the bottom of the cat/test pipe. They are definitely a bitch.

And I've heard of a lot of people having a substantial amount of oil... I'm really questioning whether your turbo is really shot. How many miles on your car?

 

car has 48,000 miles on it. runs great but the oil seems a bit much to me. the seals are definately bad though.

when you run a test pipe is it alot louder?

 

Yeah, it will be louder. A lot of people say it's alright, though.
I've got a HFC and my car is quiet... well, aside from the exhaust leak it has currently :P

I was thinking about a TP... but I'd get owned by the man, if the law found out I had it.