hp_pants

Man, n00b is spelled with zeros, not os. DO A SEARCH!!!!!

Yeah, this forum seems more laid back-it's not filled with idiots calling each other N00B and demanding that someone search...

Which would mean a lean mixture vs a rich mixture. Yeah, if there was a way for him to check his afr-tailpipe sniffer, etc..

yeah you would think there would be a CEL....try to pop off the air intake and at least rule the turbo out, too....

well, because I am a turbocharger rebuilder, it's always the turbocharger. The problem, as I see it, is that the turbo is going to be worn at that mileage. Turbos are like brakepads-they wear and need to be serviced at about 30,000 miles. They will hang on until 130,000 or more, but if we get a turbo in the shop, it allways shows wear. I think it's important to rule out any electrical or sensor problem, and I wish some mechanics would chime in, because a turbo, with this kind of mileage, will be in need of service, but without a bigger picture diagnosis, we can't say that the turbo is the source of the problem.

well, the turbo is a pain in the rump roast to get to on those engines-if you can get the air inlet hose off the turbo so you can inspect the compressor wheel and give it the shaft test I would....

Well, if it smoked, something was going on. I rebuild and sell turbos for a living, so I know a few things. A turbo that is out of balance due to wear will show imbalance (and poor performance) at a certain RPM range. If a turbo is completely gone, it will show imbalance at every range, but if it is just worn, it will fail to perform either at low RPM, mid RPM, or high RPM. So, a worn turbo will lose power usually at low RPMs or high RPMs, but usually not both. Doesn't mean it's your turbo at all-do you have a K&N filter by any chance?

Yeah, you can lose 2-3 quarts past a worn piston ring in a turbo. Your piping before and after the turbo's cold side should have a little bit of oil, but if there is a black deposit, no bueno.

My thoughts exactly-the TD04 turbos are starting to wear, finally, on the WRX/Foresters. Do you get any smoke at startup or idle? Most people don't see the smoke, so it's best to get out and look.