[tikiman7]

Originally Posted by EvoZero

The 4G63 is a great engine with a couple of Achilles heels. The first is the bolt for the cam belt tensioner, which can back off, causing the belt to slip and subsequently making your valves all bendy. Later models (from the second-gen DSMs) have a crank-walk problem, where the crank will actually start to move back and forth. This will make your engine go kaboom, although it is relatively uncommon. The final one (and this applies mostly to older 1G versions) is leaky valve seals. It'll cause a lot of oil smoke and consumption, but isn't really dangerous to the car's operation. It will cake your turbo with oil, though, and ruin it after a while.

Those are the main problem areas. Despite that, they're actually great engines, and the stock bottom end on the turbos can handle 400 hp without breaking a sweat.

Thanks for the reply. My car is a JDM RVR - minivan w/ VR4/EVO drivetrain. It's a '95 model and is slightly detuned (225hp v 250hp) from EVO specs. I'm not sure what "G" the engine corresponds to, but it faces right when viewed from the front. Any recommended upgrades/fixes?