How can I tell if my turbos are starting to go bad? I'm beginning to think they're the problem for my car. It's leaking oil now...very minimal amount but upsetting none the less. Sometimes when I hit around 3k rpm my car chugs a little bit. I don't know if this is just because that's when the turbos are beginning to kick in or what. Sometimes, when i'm gunning it from first and go into second, i don't really get that feel of the turbos but more a constant increase of speed.

Let me know what you think...

 

Most likely a vacuum hose, control solenoid, or actuator problem. There are "newbie" stickies with lots of links, plus do a search on these items and you'll find lots to read about that may help you diagnose your problem.

 

Do you have a boost gauge? If not then get one.
Also have you upgraded or eliminated the stock AST?
Do you have a downpipe?

It's sounds like you just have the standard 3k hesitation.

 

would have to be standard then, no upgrades done to the car...pretty much stock other than cat-back exhaust.

 

There is a lot of info on the 3K hesitation in the stickies and other posts also. Ground problems often seem to cause the 3K hesitation (again, search). Slow turbo response could still be one of the things I mentioned above.

 

where do you see the oil leaking from?

 

Myself and many others here HIGHLY recommend these three mods:
Boost gauge
AST upgrade or elimination
Downpipe

A boost gauge lets you and your fellow forum members diagnose turbo control issues, which you more than likely have. The stock AST (Air Seperation Tank) is plastic and tends to crack and leak your coolant when it gets old. The downpipe not only helps your turbos breathe more easilty, but the stock pre-cat (which is replaced by the downpipe) tends to clog up and rob your car of power. The stock pre-cat also retains a large amount of heat and this will heat up your engine bay and bake your wires and vacuum tubing.

 

Oh yeah, those were actually on my list for first upgrades. I can't tell where the oil is leaking from...it's leaking onto the ground....very small amounts. looks about mid way under the front of the car. Just enough to **** me off and make me save money to put the car in the shop.

 

Oil pan leaks are common... There are a lot of threads on that also.