Red hot muffler?

[perrenial151]

I was driving on the nj turnpike last night doing 120mph bouncing off the limiter for like a minute (i know stupid, it was tempting). Pushing 14 psi, the car was running amazing. Then I let off, in my rearview mirror I saw sparks flying everywhere, like I was riding on my rims. I pulled over to check, and the muffler was glowing red, the sparks were coming from the muffler I think, then I popped the hood and the manifold and turbo was glowing bright red/orange. It looked cool, but I was scared. Is this normal? Has this happened to anyone before? Its a stock sr20det, with a full 3inch mr catback, no cats. Car still runs amazing.

[jon@af]

It means you're running your car harder than you should and need to respect your vehicle a little more. I've heard of turbines turning red/orange from people running them so hard (which, by the way is a bad idea since it can cause cracks in your turbo), but I have never heard of someone's exhaust glowing.

I would either sell the car to someone who will respect it more or not do that anymore, to be completely honest.

[perrenial151]

but no one is gonna buy it for 12 grand, then I won't have a car to get to work. And I'm upgrading the turbo and other stuff anyway. I only ran it hard for like a minute.

[jon@af]

I think you missed what I was getting at. Even if just for a minute, it was something that could have been potentially harmful to your car. Pending upgrade or not, it's showing a lack of respect for something that a lot of other people would love to add to their cars. "Oh, I'm upgrading my turbo, so whatever, doesn't matter if this one gets trashed." Come on man I bet there are guys on this board who would buy or know someone would be interested in buying a turbo, if only for a few months of use to get them to an upgrade.

I don't mean to be a douche that gives a lecture, but I just see so many people not take care of some of the stuff they are fortunate to have in the first place. A lot of the guys on these boards work pretty hard for their cars. Ask them about respecting their vehicles.

[Miles Prower]

It wasn't the revlimiter it was the speed limiter.

Speedlimiter on SR20s works by dumping fuel until it doesn't make power. your EGTs went through the roof and you ran it long enough to get the muffler red hot.

The sparks were the muffler packing coming out and burning.

[perrenial151]

Thanks miles, thats exactly what happened. J swigz I owned my 240sx for 5 years before I was able to afford doing a swap. I am very fortunate and I love my car. It like the lamborghini where I live, in the projects.

[GrimL3]

yeah no offense... i dont think its anyones place to tell them they disrespect their car and that they should sell it .. just cause they were driving it hard. i spent nearly all of my money on my SR lol did all the wrenching myself.. i definately respect it.. but she puts out for me whenever i feel like getting some if you know what i mean

[jon@af]

I understand. I do suppose my comment about selling it was a bit much, so I apologize for that. I think it was just the nonchalance with which he talked about it that got to me, sort of that "eh, doesn't matter," vibe.