Just finished the install of my new winter present for myself. A shiny new forge intercooler and NM cold and hot side tubes from Way Motor Works which only took 2 days to get to me. On one note, the old intercooler R/H side mount was actually broken off when I took off the front bumer. No idea when or how it broke, but now the new one has metal tabs, not plastic. European Car Magazine did a test and said the install would take 1.5 hours, at least for just the intercooler. For me, it took 6 hours to do all three items. The tube on the intake side was VERY hard to remove. Figure I'd change the hoses for the NM ones since I was working on the engine anyway and didn't think they would help much, but couldn't hurt. Results are very positive. Without a tune yet, coming soon, the factory settings now pulls hard all the way to redline just as advertised. I don't feel the drop off like I used to do at high RPMs. On ramp speeds now are about 10 mph faster when I finally merge onto the highway at say 90 mph. On a side note, I asked the dealership, and they said it was normal. When I pulled off the intercooler, there was a minor amount of oil at each fitting end, very minor. Is this really normal? I figured it should just be air and oil was a sign of failure in the turbo seal. But then, it could just be from the exhaust. I've got 38,000 miles on my car and haven't had any problems. Had the timing chain changed, etc. Any thought? Next overtime check will be an RMW tune from Sneeds Speed shop here in North Carolina! Can't wait! Want to see the before and after dynos.

 

I think you meant to say when you merge on the Racetrack

 

My mistake, it was at the merge on the south course at VIR from the pits.

 

The oil is "normal". It comes from the PCV system on the valve cover and flows through the turbo inlet valve. An OCC will help to get rid of that, and it is also possible to delete the one running to the intake manifold to prevent the dreaded Carbon Buildup.

-Brian

 

Yep, you should get an Oil catch can, here is a link to a quality made dual can

http://www.saikoumichi.com/DC3_page.htm

 

Merging on to the race track. The ONLY time to be going 90!

 

Or the Autobahn!

 

Would have LOVED to have had a Gen 2 MINI on the autobahn! My time there was the late 80's though...