Ok, so Sh*t happens, and I am well aware of that but I do have one question.

Being I am running meth at 11-12PSI with the Greddy Turbo kit am I more likely to blow a Headgasket?

What I dont understand is that the water turns to steam in the combustion chamber so isnt that creating A LOT more pressure? Water is not compressible so yeah it creates more power and reduces the TEMP of the Combustion but am I also increasing the chances of blowing my HG?, or am I actually lowering the chances due to the COOLING effects of Water/METH

Thanks fellas

 

I think as they say it's all in the tune, there are people running 14psi on the stock HG. There are people who blew the HG at all sorts of psi, and there are people who have blown there motor and scored the wall of the cylinders. I think the colder temps make your turbo better/able to run higher psi but the tuner usally tunes for worst case, they get the car real hot after multiple runs. I think you have less room for error as say someone running say 8 psi. But as long as you take care of it and you have a good tune and monitor your car you should be OK. I think the smaller turbo cause a bit more strain on the engine down low, but I can't remember where I read that.

 

hmmmmmmm interesting, yeah I am wary to keep my car at 12psi in the hot summer , I guess well see, although I guess thats the point of the Water/Meth (as in cools down temps significantly).....

 

The greddy manifold and very small turbo are very restrictive and cause a lot of exhaust reversion on the S2K because there is so much overlap in the cams. This exhaust reversion kills power causes detonation. The 'safe' power level on these cars has everything to do with the turbo kit (manifold and turbo specifically).

 

I would worry about a meth failure and burning pistons more than a head gasket.

 

It seems the stock HG is pretty stout as long as you have a good tune. Joey, as long as you arent running aggressive timing and you are keeping the afr's in check i bet youll be alright. The greddy turbo and manifold are restrictive but you arent making a ton of power and the meth will help keep things cool.

 

All these head gaskets that are blowing are mostly thicker head gaskets and not stock ones.

They (thicker gaskets) seem to have a pretty crappy life unfortunately.
I was thinking of going head gasket, but I dont want to deal with pulling the head every 15-20K miles cause the thing blows out. (my car is my daily driver)

 

Well, my timing is advanced to the point if my METH stops there will be some trouble, however my tune is pretty rich hardly see 11's............. and this is in COLD COLD weather, mostly mid to low 10's maybe 10.5 ar redline

 

For the BMW guy's it was common to hear them use the OEM head gasket but use ARP head studs to really torque them down to the head. This seem to aleviate most people's issue, this of course and you NEED ot have a decent tune. Any S2k guys using different head stud kits with sucess? Or is that a non-issue.

 

My gasket failed because the previous owner did not re-torque the head bolts of the head (he had the first HG leak a bit last year, after 20,000 miles of no issues, and replaced it). The bolts must be re-torqued after 500 and 1000 miles (per the HELMS). My head was just "loose" as a result, probably lifted a tad with the boost, and screwed the gasket. Virgin engine's don't need to worry about this as much... Their bolts have never been broken from the factory setting.

I did not have ANY heat related issues, as I caught it early enough (hopefully...).

I am going to use ARP studs when it all goes back together (got a new set just sitting here that I never used, so why not?).

John