Please excuse this post if it may sound a bit "negative" but what you are basically telling all S3R owners is that cracks are normal on any cast manifold and that they should not fret over this issue and that they should perform a cool down period which will slow down the cracking process but all in all everything will be fine and dandy?
Is this your opinion or do you have some type of actual evidence that proves that cracks on THIS exhaust manifold over a long period of time have no negative affects whatsoever?
Sorry but I don't buy the "don't worry about it, all will be fine" theory. To ignore the problem would be ignorant.
First you are defining it as a problem. We do not even know there is a problem. Some cracks will be considered normal in ANY turbo cast manifold. I am saying that just because there are some cracks, it does not mean there is a major issue at work. If you are having large chunks of manifold come off..that's something completely different.
No one said cracks over a long period of time could not have negative affects. Turbo exhaust manifolds crack... if you put 200,000 miles on that manifold and the cracks have gotten worse over time and finally caused an issue are you going to try to trace it back to "they started under warranty?"
This is my opinion. How can anyone have any proof of the long term affects on a stage 3r manifold... has anyone had one for a LONG term?
My comment was in regards to exhaust manifolds as a whole.. and how anyone checking will most likely find some small cracks. This is NO reason to get bent out of shape.
Cracking is cause by thermal stresses (uneven temps) by rapid temp changes. Reducing rate of temp changes will likely prevent cracking.
All of these things I mention are my opinion. But this is not all pulled out of left field. It is my opinion that I have based on the research I've done and the many talented people that I've bothered with hundreds of questions about this and other issues.
__________________
Last edited by thepowertowin : 04-04-2006 at 04:28 PM.
Sorry but I don't buy the "don't worry about it, all will be fine" theory. To ignore the problem would be ignorant.
So where is the "Stock turbo manifold cracked!!!!!" threads??? Almost every stock turbo srt4 on the road has cracks in the manifold, that is not a guess. It is like tires that show wear, of course they will you used them. Why is everyone ignoring the stock turbos cracks if it was a problem? It is not a problem. It is common to how manifolds deal with such huge heat changes. It is not an issue for many cars on the road. Guess there are a lot of ignorant people here.
Randy
Not until the issues with S3R manifolds have come up recently have I heard of stock manifolds cracking. Prior to this NEVER have I heard or read about stock manifolds cracking let alone every single stock turbo srt on the road that has cracks.
Not until the issues with S3R manifolds have come up recently have I heard of stock manifolds cracking. Prior to this NEVER have I heard or read about stock manifolds cracking let alone every single stock turbo srt on the road that has cracks.
I was concerned too when I saw all of the posts. So I didn't post, I researched.. and talked to the "proper folks" about it. I was reassured that my opinion was correct and that cracking is normal. IT's never been hyped because it's never been an issue. I think people w/ the chipped fins are the ones who brought up the cracking as a possibility.. then everyone looked and they saw cracks... and then did was a logical human would... assume the worst.
Not having known that it is common, any reasonable person would immediately draw a conclusion. I don't know how we can know for sure either way... but from what I've gathered, the chipping is "most likely" not the issue.
Talk to anyone who gets manifold/turbo assembly "cores" and ask them which they have more of... good turbos or good manifolds. That's why I get asked the question quite a bit if I can get JUST a manifold. (the answer is no btw.)
Yeah all those posts about the manifold cracks and the chipped fins had me a bit worried. Now its been a few weeks and the posts seem to be dying down. I think the problem may have been blown a little bit out of proportion and I have every intention of bolting this kit up to the car the same week I recieve it. If I do have problems I will deal with them when they come up. Now all I need is my stage 3 kit.
If the cracks and chipped fins are related, you would think there would be more cases? I only sent mine to DCR because it was new and never installed, not for the cracking, for the power. If it were already on, I would have let it ride, but don't take me off their bandwagon just yet. Only time will tell on both.
Sorry but I don't buy the "don't worry about it, all will be fine" theory. To ignore the problem would be ignorant.
That's exactly what I was saying...
My question which will never be answered is what exactly would it take for dcx to do something about the current S3R design? If 100 "broken" turbos are reported will dcx, will they do anything about it? How about 500? I'm guessing we're doomed since the car is no longer being made...
Although some valid points have been made about manifold cracks, I was always under the impression that cracked manifolds were a design flaw, install error, or user abuse. Given how many manifolds are cracked and at low miles and how some have said the install was done properly and how some have said emphatically (SP) abuse was not an issue, I'm still of the opinion that theres a flaw in the manifold design. Given that I have not personally seen any cracks on any stage III's in person, I'll have trust the statements of those who have seen the cracks and have more experiance in working with turbo's. It's still up in the air if the crack is worth getting overly concerned about with regards to turbine failure = no proof on this.
To add one more, failed Parts from anyone should be addressed by the outfit manfucaturing parts.....stock or otherwise. Is a crack a failure or is it expected?????
Last edited by turbojack : 04-04-2006 at 08:36 PM.
I don't believe any of this is design flaw. It's the nature of the beast when running a cast iron manifold. Is there better designs out there? Probably... more expensive? Most definately. For anything to go through the temperature extremes that the turbo cars produce, some cracking will always be present.
I don't know enough either way to say for sure. But I'll stick with my opinion that a crack is not acceptable. I'll stick with saying that I do not think allowing a manufacturer Mopar, or Nissan or Joes Turbo kits unlimited.ect..., to produce a product that cracks so quickly get away with it's acceptable because this is part of what happens with running turbo's.
I also think that telling Mopar or anyone else that we accept this because it's a turbo and a performance part is NOT good either. If that were to happen then it opens the door for everyone to say o well you bought it for a turbo and it's a performance part and that exceptable for these items running in these conditions.
For me, I look at it like we are not holding/demanding the aftermarket to produce stuff that will not fail (again I think the crack in the stage 3 manifold is a design problem). If this is OK then we allow them to dictate whats good and what's bad....a whole can of worms opens up.
Would I still buy stage III again, yes. But would I strongly consider another manufacture with a better warranty or a better product or in particular, would I think twice about who is gonna take better care of me, yes. The selling point of the S3 is plug and play. If a kit manufacturer stands behind their kit (no cracks) and could produce equal or better plug and play system for equal or less $$$ then Mopar is in trouble if they are in the position that a crack in this part of the mani is fine and nothing to worry about.
I don't know enough either way to say for sure. But I'll stick with my opinion that a crack is not acceptable. I'll stick with saying that I do not think allowing a manufacturer Mopar, or Nissan or Joes Turbo kits unlimited.ect..., to produce a product that cracks so quickly get away with it's acceptable because this is part of what happens with running turbo's.
I also think that telling Mopar or anyone else that we accept this because it's a turbo and a performance part is NOT good either. If that were to happen then it opens the door for everyone to say o well you bought it for a turbo and it's a performance part and that exceptable for these items running in these conditions.
For me, I look at it like we are not holding/demanding the aftermarket to produce stuff that will not fail (again I think the crack in the stage 3 manifold is a design problem). If this is OK then we allow them to dictate whats good and what's bad....a whole can of worms opens up.
Would I still buy stage III again, yes. But would I strongly consider another manufacture with a better warranty or a better product or in particular, would I think twice about who is gonna take better care of me, yes. The selling point of the S3 is plug and play. If a kit manufacturer stands behind their kit (no cracks) and could produce equal or better plug and play system for equal or less $$$ then Mopar is in trouble if they are in the position that a crack in this part of the mani is fine and nothing to worry about.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
Linear Mode
