Hey everyone,

The issue I am having with my 2007 R56 MCS is that the peak turbo pressure (psi) is not as high as it normally goes. This started to happen after I had the cylinder head cover replaced due to the breather system leaking oil all over the place. Since this install (done by a Mini Dealership), the maximum turbo pressure on boost is around 13.3 psi and hovering around 12.0 psi after that peak during full boost. Before this problem started, it would peak around 15.1 psi and hover around 13.9 psi or 14.0 psi. I am wondering what would cause this peak boost to be an issue? I definitely notice a decrease in the pick up, the turbo spool speed, and the overall quickness. The issue does not go away with an alta accessport tune, where the peak used to be 19.2 psi on my car it is now around 17.5 psi. Any help here would be appreciated, as I have no clue what could be causing this.

The second issue is since I have been running the car hot trying to get some psi numbers on the boost, every time I bring the car home, I notice that the turbo itself (under the heat shield) is glowing red. Now this alarms me because I don't believe I need an oil change (just got one earlier this year) and I am worried it might not be getting enough oil. Is this normal, has anyone else seen their turbo glow after a hot run?

Thank you guys for all your help, this is my first forum post but I have enjoyed all the help and assistance I have received from other posts. Happy motoring!

 

The turbo also receives a supply of coolant as well as oil, which (IMHO) would have a greater chance of causing it to overheat if faulty. You may want to check that.

Spridget

 

Thank you Spridget. Is there a way I could check that myself besides making sure my coolant levels are correct?

 

Make sure there aren't any hoses pinched off from when they did the valve cover install. Ideally just take it back to the dealer and tell them they broke it they fix it. Where does your boost gauge tap into the intake piping? You could have a leak between the turbo and intake manifold causing you to not reach peak boost. It also could cause the car to run really lean which would raise EGTs and cause your turbo/exhaust to get really really hot. However, I would think you would get a CEL or something from a lean cylinder.

 

Your turbo glowing red doesn't have to do with the oil or coolant plumbing. The coolant only cools the turbo shaft housing. The oil lubricates and cools the bearings. If you're running at 19psi continuously, it is normal under EXTREME load cycles for the turbine side of a turbo to get extremely hot and to the point where there is a very very very slight glow. It should not be bright cherry red at these levels. That could indicate another in-cylinder problem. I'd probe at what your EGTs are and talk to Alta, but they may or may not be able to help you.

 

maybe your cat is clogged?

are you throwing any codes?

 

I was thinking the same. The cat being blocked would increase backpressure and a lot of heat. You can have the cat tested for back pressure at a shop. There is a gauge that screws into the O2 sensor hole.

 

Thank you guys for your help. I checked, and right now I am not throwing any codes. However, I am planning on changing the down pipe in the near future, that could help out. I am also taking it back to Mini and telling them that it was their install that caused the problem so they should at least diagnose it, and fix it. I'll be sure to check the O2 sensors and codes again before I take it in, and I'll be sure look at all the lines/hoses around the area they installed the cylinder head cover. Thank you!

 

my experience with a glowing turbo was, there was a leak in the pressure side of the intake system. (after the compressor) a tube blew off. dumping boost pressure overboard. the turbo glows red not because of being lean it glows red because the computer still supplies the engine with fuel. the un burned fuel ends up burning in the turbine section causing the turbo to glow red. when this happens the compressor wheel and turbine wheel obviously heat up. when things heat up the expand. they could or have the potential to rub the housing. in my case it actually bent a turbine blade slightly and caused the compressor wheel to rub the compressor housing. at the same time the oil going in is actually boiling and creating coking inside the bearing housing and oil lines. it litrerally cooks it. BE CAREFUL !! dont let that thing turn red any more. and the more you get into boost the red'r it'll get. check all the boost tube hose clamps. i also have been putting a ton of mods on my car as we speak. i also found a cracked intake behind the throttle body that was leaking also. i think it might have been from all the heat that is generated when this happened to me. it didnt happen once, it happened twice to me. the problem was i was in the middle of no where and had to drive to get tools to fix it. becareful with this one brother. it can cause serious issues

 

Thank you for all your help guys. I have decided to not drive it until I take it into the Mini Dealership next week because these issues only started after the work they did on the car. I agree that with the turbo running so hot, it could really damage the whole system. Thank you for your help and I'll let you know what happens with the fix!

 

Just like the summer...... Stay cool my friend and happy 4th !!