Has anyone had a chance to install their Sxth turbo inlet. I got mine installed today and since I did charge pipes and intercooler a while back I wanted to smoke test everything to make sure I didn’t have and leaks. Install went smoothly. No hiccups. I got the Sxth inlet installed and put on my smoke machine and not even 5 second of it running the Sxth inlet is leaking right around the where the metal flange meets the plastic pipe. I know the inlet side of the turbo is normally under vacuum but since this is after the maf I can’t imagine it’s supposed to leak? Anyone have any insights. I reached out to Sxth but being the weekend I likely won’t hear back until next week. I did install everything and drove it around. It drives fine and no lights. It’s dark and rainy so I didn’t get a chance to datalog it. But I’ll try and get a datalog tomorrow and send it to cam to see if he sees anything funny.
SXTH Turbo Inlet leaking
- Thread starter drray81
- Start date
That sucks! Is the o-ring in the flange or possibly rolled and crushed or maybe slightly out of alignment with the holding part not in the groove?
I normally coat them dielectric grease (Rubber safe) to help hold them in place for whenever there is an o-ring and to help lubricate them and prevent rolling or damage to the o-ring during install. I assume this kit removes the turbo inlet housing and replaces it? Looks like the O-ring is more of a specialized o-ring with a holding tab to help keep it in place during install?
I normally coat them dielectric grease (Rubber safe) to help hold them in place for whenever there is an o-ring and to help lubricate them and prevent rolling or damage to the o-ring during install. I assume this kit removes the turbo inlet housing and replaces it? Looks like the O-ring is more of a specialized o-ring with a holding tab to help keep it in place during install?
- Thread starter
- #3
It’s not leaking between the turbo and turbo inlet flange. It leaking on the Sxth turbo inlet itself. Where the plastic tube meets the turbo inlet flange. I double checked the oring. But the smoke isn’t coming from where the O ring would be.
Can you show us on this view?
Notice in the 2nd pic on the flange it looks like there is a relief cut (@ the bottom of the flange) in the o-ring groove to the outside.
Not sure why, but it’s there for a reason.
Notice in the 2nd pic on the flange it looks like there is a relief cut (@ the bottom of the flange) in the o-ring groove to the outside.
Not sure why, but it’s there for a reason.
Well either way it's not good, unmetered and unfiltered leak which will make it run leaner and ingest dirt directly onto the turbo compressor wheel.
- Thread starter
- #6
Again the o ring is seated correctly. The inlet mates fine to the turbo. The issue seems to be the inlet itself. The inlet is made of a 3d printed plastic tube which is then bonded or somehow glued to the metal flange that holds the o ring. It seems the smoke coming from the plastic tube joining to the metal flange
- Thread starter
- #7
Here’s a photo of where it’s leaking
- Thread starter
- #8
The metal flange is attached to the plastic pipe by one hex bolt. The metal flange has a Machined ring where a rubber o ring sits. The one bolt just can’t apply enough clamping pressure to create an air tight seal. Also the end of molded plastic pipe then mating to a perfectly flat flange is just impossible unless the molded plastic is machined post production. Really poor design IMO. Buyer beware. Went back to the OEM for now. Waiting to see what Sxth says. Just can’t be good to have unmetered air post maf but pre turbo entering the system.
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You’re spot on, & great job diagnosing!
Appears once the intake tube between the turbo inlet & air filter housing gets installed you’ve got applied torque connecting the engine (moving a bit on motor mounts) to the fixed position air filter housing, & that’s going to contribute to the seal leaking exactly at the spot you found. Sorry you got caught in middle of SXTHs design issue. Anyone in the Tacoma world noticed yet? From cheap seats looks like they need another boss molded in the bottom of the intake, with nutsert, for a 2nd bracket 180 degrees from upper mount. Interesting to see how they respond & correct it.
Hope the return goes easy back to them
Appears once the intake tube between the turbo inlet & air filter housing gets installed you’ve got applied torque connecting the engine (moving a bit on motor mounts) to the fixed position air filter housing, & that’s going to contribute to the seal leaking exactly at the spot you found. Sorry you got caught in middle of SXTHs design issue. Anyone in the Tacoma world noticed yet? From cheap seats looks like they need another boss molded in the bottom of the intake, with nutsert, for a 2nd bracket 180 degrees from upper mount. Interesting to see how they respond & correct it.
Hope the return goes easy back to them
- Thread starter
- #11
I purchased from Off Road Place and sent them en email to get a refund but they have a policy where they won’t refund installed parts but this seems to be an issue with the product so hopefully they make an exception. I also reached out via email to Sxth and sent them the videos as well. Hopefully the mfgr or vendors step up and make this right.
Been following these intakes for a project I was doing. As an option to the SXTH offering, AFE makes a turbo inlet that has a pressure fit & band clamp, & description says billet turbo mount & silicone black reinforced pipe. Banks confirmed they are about to release a T24A intake system, but they didn’t say if components will be sold separately.
Drray81 - Also, if you’re interested I did find an aluminum throttle body inlet. If you do the CAI, turbo inlet & charge pipes in/out of the intercooler, the throttle body would be the last thing to clean up. Looks like it would be some fun to trying to install. 15HP peak, 10HP across the board is something to consider.
www.amsperformance.com
Drray81 - Also, if you’re interested I did find an aluminum throttle body inlet. If you do the CAI, turbo inlet & charge pipes in/out of the intercooler, the throttle body would be the last thing to clean up. Looks like it would be some fun to trying to install. 15HP peak, 10HP across the board is something to consider.
AMS Performance Toyota T24A Billet Throttle Body Inlet - AMS Performance
Bigger bore. Less restriction. More boost delivered.
www.amsperformance.com
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- Thread starter
- #13
I saw the ams throttle body inlet but the install looks annoying for a very minimal gain.
I'm very interested in what you hear from SXTH...so no problems with the exhaust pipe? I ordered my exhaust yesterday.
- Thread starter
- #15
Sxth has a Facebook thread that they either started or are a part of. Long and short. The engineers are saying that they tested this on their own vehicle and it does not cause any issues. The smoke test is obviously under pressure and the inlet is designed to be under vacuum. Any potential leak would be negligible and if significant would cause a CEL and in their testing they did not get a cel nor any irregular fuel trims. So they don’t outright say it does or does not leak. To me the fact the plastic part of the inlet moves is an issue. When the engine is running it naturally move and any movement between the engine and intake tract could make the leak better or worse. Also if there is a vacuum under higher boost. Any water could potentially get sucked in as well and the area where it’s leaking is lower than the actual air intake. Either way i wont be reinstalling this. Also dont bother smoke testing it. Every single inlet will leak with a smoke test. I posted in a 4runner6g thread as well and there’s another member confirming his leaks as well.
Again, really nice job on your due diligence!
Scale/size is exactly the issue w/ many aftermarket companies, yes their part can be validated to show fitment or performance improvement, but very few have the engineering resources to do long term R&D for DQR - durability, quality & reliability. End of the day I try not to add anything that doesn’t in my own opinion meet/exceed OE quality. No reason to add a weak point in a already complicated machine.
Keep us posted on what direction you decide to go on the intake.
Scale/size is exactly the issue w/ many aftermarket companies, yes their part can be validated to show fitment or performance improvement, but very few have the engineering resources to do long term R&D for DQR - durability, quality & reliability. End of the day I try not to add anything that doesn’t in my own opinion meet/exceed OE quality. No reason to add a weak point in a already complicated machine.
Keep us posted on what direction you decide to go on the intake.
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