Weak points on turbo K20A3

[gtolio]

What's up guys.

As some of you know, I'm currently running a bone stock (head and block) K20A3 with a 60-1 Turbonetics Cybernation kit. The car is currently making 322whp/268tq at 8.5-9lbs of boost. I have the fuel cutoff set at 7600rpm (8k readout on the stock tach), because I'm concerned with the stock valvetrain keeping up beyond that.

What I'm wondering, from the people who actually know and HAVE EXPERIENCE, is what would the weak points of that motor will be if I was to turn the boost up (10-12 range) and update the tune. I want to know so that we can plan the tune around these issues as much as possible.

It is my opinion and has been my experience that the A3 is a highly underrated motor. People regularly say that they can't handle more than 300whp, but I have been doing that all day for 4 years with no issues (recent compression test came up fine) To me, it's all in the tune. I have a feeling that a lot of people have blown them because of bad tunes or other issues

If/when this thing blows up, I'll do a K24A1, but I want to see what it can do in the mean time, so please spare me the "just swap it" comments. I'm well aware of what other K-series motors can do.

Sorry for the dissertation, just wanted to give as much info as possible.

[AUTiger]

the usual response and past results have shown that it is usually the rods that are the weak link. I watched Ebizzle blow his motor at the track with 338hp on his a3. The rod made a big a$$ hole in the block.

[gtolio]

the usual response and past results have shown that it is usually the rods that are the weak link. I watched Ebizzle blow his motor at the track with 338hp on his a3. The rod made a big a$$ hole in the block.

I assume the root cause was the rods themselves and not the rod bearings? What was he revving to? Was there any sign of detonation?

[superchargedk20]

What type of dyno were u tuned on?

[gtolio]

What type of dyno were u tuned on?

Dynojet

[MugenReplica]

Shoot Tai from Corsport a PM. He was running pretty much exactly what you are asking, had a good tune, and EVENTUALLY (not as fast as other did) blew the a3, but it was around quite a long time that way from what I recall. I'm sure he'll be able to answer most of your questions.

[sleepy ep3]

Rods, rod bolts, valve springs.
You're welcome

[Tortoise]

Valvetrain is deff a weak point on a3s....I blew my stock motor at 39000 miles after having the hondata reflash for about a year and a half. Junk

[ebizzle361]

I'm unsure of any detonation. I am sure that it ran awesome at 307hp for a while, then we put meth on it and retuned it and made the power stated above and didnt run for very much longer after that. I think the rev limit was set at 7600, if that. Dont really recall. But it ran hard after the tune. Then slung a rod. Didn't inspect too much beside the fact that a rod broke. I say, if you have plans for that k24a1, then turn the boost up and have fun. Do some testing for yourself and see what the results are. maybe they'll be better for you. Then when it happens, which I ASSUME it will, put that a1 in there and have some more fun. Good luck and let us know what happens!

[gtolio]

Thanks guys.

[Draw7Seven]

Yeah by the time you upgrade the number of internals in the A3 that would need attention, you'd be at least halfway to the price of a K24a1.

[monjarassi]

I have a good friend of mine that has a boosted a3 still and motor is still holding up just fine. He doesn't beat on it everyday and hardly drives it but still going strong

[Dreadknotz1025]

I have a good friend of mine that has a boosted a3 still and motor is still holding up just fine. He doesn't beat on it everyday and hardly drives it but still going strong

looking forward to hearing similar reports as yours. any idea of the power he is maintaining?

[NZGuy88]

I'll let you guys know how i go in 2weeks when i get my ecu back and i take it to get tuned. I live in new zealand so gotta wait for my ecu to get back here from the USA, sooner the better lol, if i make 350whp i will be so happy, its only my daily driver so i wont be taking it to the track or anything, is 12psi safe on the A3?

[dcjive]

If memory serves me correctly, from this forum back when I had my 1st ep, back in 06, I'd read that one of the weak links in the a3 was the oil pump, which can't keep up with revs above 6900 rpm. Its a problem unique to the a3, and it doesn't take much imagination to come up with the list of problems that can cause