Pistons N/A vs. turbo

[evolutionmovement]

Is anyone positive that the turbo pistons are stronger than the dingleberry-balls licking N/A pistons?

Finally was able to look at my car again - 0 compression on #3 and little bits of what looks very much like piston came out with an exploratory rubber hose I stuck in the cyl. The spark plug had metal fused all over the electrode.

I have no idea why or how this thing just blew with no noise at all or smoke and no other indication as to why. Never got a CEL, so I suspect maybe the knock sensor is no good. Either way I think I should've heard or felt something more than what felt like a bad pug wire. If I had heard something, my best guess would be that due to my recent rise in oil consumption (that didn't seem to be coming out the exhaust) I had damaged a ring land. This could've created a hot spot that caused a catastrophic detonation. With this I don't know, but I suppose it just could've been damaged and then the little bits or localized heat broke down the rest of it.

I really would feel much better knowing what caused it, but it finally let go after holding relatively high rpm (~5k) around a tight onramp and accelerating onto the highway to 85 (something done everyday).

The only mildly decent thing is that I'll just swap everything over to the kitchengine and I'll get A/C back as it'll give me a chance to install the new compressor I've had hanging around. There seem to be few mechanical issues switching over - I'll have to reuse the N/A valve covers and the whole top end, plus the turbo lower radiator hose.

In case anyone cares, the bits of metal I pulled out are non-magnetic.

Steve

[93Leg-c]

Wish you the best in switching over -- hope everything goes well.

The only time I blew an engine was in my VW Bug. I was accelerating in a residential neighborhood going to a friend's house when I felt the engine let go. I never had experienced it before but I knew right away the rings in one cylinder were gone. Smoke coming out the back, drastic reduction in power. Pulled the engine -- compression ring was in 21 pieces, IIRC. That's when I installed forged pistons, cam, carbs, 3-angle competition valve job, etc, blueprinted the engine, and what a sweet engine that was!

Hope your end result with the ej22t turns out similarly!

[evolutionmovement]

So do I!

Yeah, I've seen blown engines and slow burn engine deaths and this thing never blew any visible smoke which is why I was almost surprised. I did have a feeling that the engine was on borrowed time, though. It was running great and returning ever better mileage (up to 30 mpg without babying it), but I just had this back-of-the-mind voice like the one that warns me of speed checks and other dangerous or negative situations telling me I needed to get a job damn quick and finish the kitchengine.

So here's some gin and juice to the little voice.

Steve