# Why do Ka-t's not last long? **URL:** \ **Category:** SON240sx Automotive\ **Created:** [December 18, 2005, 9:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270 "2005-12-18T21:58:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matty](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/matty/32/5043_2.png) [@matty](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/matty)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 9:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/1 "2005-12-18T21:58:12Z")
After doing some reading i see that ka-t have a tendency to be short lived. why is this? ---
**Author:** ![AppleSauce](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/applesauce/32/5521_2.png) [@AppleSauce](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/AppleSauce)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/2 "2005-12-18T22:01:45Z")
Because people get impatient. They don’t budget their time or money properly. They start rushing shit, and don’t properly tune the car. For most people it’s their first turbo project/car. ---
**Author:** ![Altima\_boy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/altima_boy/32/5516_2.png) [@Altima\_boy](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Altima_boy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/3 "2005-12-18T22:13:55Z")
Shit ive known of a Ka-T that ran 60000k Trouble free at 8psi… No problems ever. ---
**Author:** ![alesserfate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f6c823/32.png) [@alesserfate](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/alesserfate)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/4 "2005-12-19T00:17:24Z")
its a idiot rumor. as long as you do it right you be aight ---
**Author:** ![Gonad](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gonad/32/5481_2.png) [@Gonad](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Gonad)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 4:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/5 "2005-12-19T04:48:17Z")
8psi is nothing really to brag about 🤣 The motor just isnt built for high boost levels. If I knew in detail why, I would but all I know is the internals aren’t all that great when it comes to forced induction. And even at 7 or 8psi, it really won’t last all that long. This is all on stock internals mind you. Build it up top to bottom and you can have a pretty stout motor. ---
**Author:** ![jjm\_240sx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@jjm\_240sx](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jjm_240sx)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 5:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/6 "2005-12-19T05:29:54Z")
i when 3 year on stock block end never had a problem. Its all about tuning and your fuel managment system. ---
**Author:** ![spilner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@spilner](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/spilner)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 8:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/7 "2005-12-19T08:34:58Z")
it wont matter what motor you have, if your a dumbass, it wont last long. ---
**Author:** ![Titan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Titan](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Titan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 9:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/8 "2005-12-19T09:13:37Z")
> [@Gonad](#): > > 8psi is nothing really to brag about 🤣 > > The motor just isnt built for high boost levels. If I knew in detail why, I > would but all I know is the internals aren’t all that great when it comes to > forced induction. And even at 7 or 8psi, it really won’t last all that long. > > This is all on stock internals mind you. Build it up top to bottom and you > can have a pretty stout motor. If you even remotely knew what you were talking about, then perhaps your comment may have some merit. First off, PSI means NOTHING without AIRFLOW. We’re talking dynamic pressure here, which has components of both pressure and airflow. This is why 7 psi on say a T25, is COMPLETELY different then 7 psi on say a straight T4. This is also why air tools are not only rated for a certain pressure, but also a certain airflow rating (CFM). Otherwise they will not operate at peak efficiency. Secondly, > [@Gonad](#): > > If I knew in detail why, I > would but all I know is the internals aren’t all that great when it comes to > forced induction. Where do you get this from? Are you a mechanic? Do you have an engineering degree? Have you ever worked with the internals first hand while having an unfaltering understanding of the effects of additional stress? Didn’t think so. In other words you are basing this on hearsay, which is absolutely worthless to a factual discussion. Thirdly, > [@Gonad](#): > > And even at 7 or 8psi, it really won’t last all that long. Again, read above. Where do you get this from? I don’t like to cite other people’s experiences, but if you have read over any forums, [kat.org](http://kat.org) namely, you would realize there have been several ka-t’s running 300 rwhp on stock internals for over 3 years. This is all while competing in several autox events throughout the year. As for personal experience, I just happen to have built my own KA-T setup from scratch. I took my time and did it right. My motor currently has 195,000 km, that ladder 10,000 have been boosted at 6 psi on a 60 trim T3, with NO problems. As others have mentioned, do it right and it will last as long as any SR. ---
**Author:** ![Gonad](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gonad/32/5481_2.png) [@Gonad](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Gonad)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 10:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/9 "2005-12-19T10:35:09Z")
Titan: I agree with what you said. My comment(s) were fairly naieve (surprise surprise) but you are right on comparing PSI vs. CFM. Just that majority of people run T3/T4s (or bigger) so it’s fair to say most do start out in the 6-8psi range on these units. But I guess it’s also fair to say that the majority of people doing KA-Ts shouldn’t be doing KA-Ts, what with their limited knowledge of tuning and such. ---
**Author:** ![s14\_2Nv](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/s14_2nv/32/5476_2.png) [@s14\_2Nv](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/s14_2Nv)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 10:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/10 "2005-12-19T10:51:55Z")
^^^ I wouldn’t say most run T3/T4 or bigger. there are lots of ka-t guys on here that run smaller actually. I haven’t had any major problems related to going ka-t either, I’ve been turbo for a while as well now. ---
**Author:** ![absolum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@absolum](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/absolum)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 11:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/11 "2005-12-19T11:44:41Z")
Not true , ka-t can last as long as you own your car , change the oil more often and let the car cool down and dont overboost , In my case , my car still running but without turbo , all that because I got too lazy to hook up the water line :shock: . I should be boosting before christmas :lol: . ---
**Author:** ![ADAM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@ADAM](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ADAM)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/12 "2005-12-19T12:04:23Z")
3 years + RACING on a KAT at 15psi+ on a t3/t4 bottom end is still perfect… ---
**Author:** ![Gonad](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gonad/32/5481_2.png) [@Gonad](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Gonad)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/13 "2005-12-19T13:12:17Z")
Man, I feel so schooled. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![s13Junkyard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/s13junkyard/32/5502_2.png) [@s13Junkyard](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/s13Junkyard)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/14 "2005-12-19T13:18:52Z")
stock bottom end? ---
**Author:** ![s14\_2Nv](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/s14_2nv/32/5476_2.png) [@s14\_2Nv](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/s14_2Nv)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/15 "2005-12-19T13:30:42Z")
> [@Avery](#): > > stock bottom end? Everyone except for ADAM afaik. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bing/32/7211_2.png) [@bing](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/16 "2005-12-19T13:52:53Z")
its all about fuel management and tuning. if you just bolt a turbo on to a 15 year old engine and start beating on it then the engine SHOULD blow up. if you do it properly it will be fine. the problem is that very few people do it properly, they try and do it on a budget and try to cut corners. ---
**Author:** ![Lith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/fbc32d/32.png) [@Lith](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Lith)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/17 "2005-12-19T14:01:11Z")
Isn’t that the whole idea of doing a KA-T bing? To be as cheap as possible 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gonad](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gonad/32/5481_2.png) [@Gonad](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Gonad)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/18 "2005-12-19T14:03:47Z")
> [@Lith](#): > > Isn’t that the whole idea of doing a KA-T bing? To be as cheap as possible 😃 No, I think that’s the mentality of the majority of people actually doing it. ---
**Author:** ![DarkForceJackal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@DarkForceJackal](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/DarkForceJackal)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 2:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/19 "2005-12-19T14:39:21Z")
I’ve been running 5-7 PSI for 4,000kms+ with no issues. I spent a lot of time trying to set up every detail just the way I wanted it, it wasn’t rushed. It’s not a marvel of a setup by any means, but it was thought out. Another thing to consider is listening to general advice as far as starting out with a healthy, preferably lower-kms, engine that’s not burning a ton of oil etc. Thanks to Titan for clearing up some good info on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Happy240sx](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/happy240sx/32/5515_2.png) [@Happy240sx](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Happy240sx)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270/20 "2005-12-19T16:44:33Z")
> [@s14\_2Nv](#): > > ^^^ I wouldn’t say most run T3/T4 or bigger. > > there are lots of ka-t guys on here that run smaller actually. > > I haven’t had any major problems related to going ka-t either, I’ve been turbo for a while as well now. But aren’t you on motor number 2? [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/why-do-ka-ts-not-last-long/91270.md?page=2)