I have been patiently awaiting arrival of a 1.8TQ to replace my crashed 1.8TQ in which I had installed a K04. The engine bay was unharmed and I saved the K04, ECU, and manifold for use again. <p>I now have learned that I may be moving to Phoenix. I hear AZ is where many car makers perform hot weather testing. I fear that hot Phoenix and turbos don't mix, especially K04s.<p>Any first hand experience or words of wisdom?

Steve,<p>had a 91 GSX for years until the water pump vaporized on the highway. No temp warning (no water to measure temp on!), just finally blew the head, some pistons, turbo and tranny. <p>Before that no turbo problems, though I broke a timing belt (after a recall replacement on it, go figure), and numerous other non-turbo problems. sorry, off topic rant on that piece of @#@$@. Fun but troublesome...<p>Friend had a tweaked turbo in his 92 eclipse GS-T with no problems for a number of years. Eventually he did blow the turbo, but after 125k miles or so (50k or so tweaked). It would heat up quite nicely too (as I suspect the K04 will). Oh, he had a dark blue, like mine, which was very hot to the touch in the summer. A light color may help (we ordered white) keep it a tad cooler<p>not sure if it really helps any but I figure as long as I dont run too hard in the summer months and run the engine a minute or two before turning it off it wont hurt things. A larger intercooler would be nice too (thinking about it here). Consistent oil changes (synthetic) are a good idea as well, of course.<p>according to local dealer no heat related problems but consider the source...<p>not sure if this helped any but I feel better. <grin>

...and my 1.8T with Wett 1.o bar chip does fine -- just have to watch the lousy gas sometimes (emmission, etc.) When it's over 100 I run "108 octane booster) to keep the performance up. <p>I do track events (and run 100 octane 76 unleaded racing fuel then, $4 a gallon), but that doesn't happen from June thru August (corner workers die from the heat !!!)<p>I am looking at the larger intercooler, esp. due to the track events.