So yesterday I am driving to work, I accelerate down the on ramp and just cross over into the 15psi range happy as I can be because my AF was reading 11.5 and my egt was below 1500 and murphys law hit.
I heard a loud pop from under the hood and the boost went away but the car kept running.

I had blown an IC coupler. It was the 90 degree one coming out of the turbo. It split completely in half.
Normally no biggie these things happen and I had a spare but the problem is that there was oil inside the blown coupler and enough to wet my finger inside the intake piping. I just had my upper IC pipe off a few weeks ago and there was no oil in that and it doesnt smoke but still, it looks like it is time for a rebuild.

I have read corbins write up on how to rebuild a s16g but could there be another problem.

Maybe I should use this as an excuse to have it rebuilt into s20g specs.

nevermind
i just went outside and checked it and the turbo shaft on the intake side wiggles.

What causes this so it doesnt happen once it is rebuilt?

This turbo is like 4 years old now could it just be worn out?

Yes, but is it wiggling in & out (left to right), or side to side?

I don't have an answer on why it wiggles (supposed to in & out only after breaking-in), but there's nothing wrong w/ it either (in & out only). If it's wiggling side to side, then it's time to get worked on.

- J

They all have some play. It's normal. As long as its not in-and-out play (thrust) its usually fine.

Check your return. Kinked / restricted returns can cause oil seepage past the turbo seals.

I guess I am ok then,
it has about 1/8 inch +/- side to side with no left or right.

plus i talked to brad at hahn and he said that some oil seepage into the upper intake piping is normal.

His advice, leave it alone unless it starts blowing so much oil that the car smokes or i hear the blades screeching against the turbine housing.

I am just so used to this car crapping out on me once i get it running good that i got paranoid. Then again I have been looking for a reason to upgrade to the S20g so secretly I was hoping for the worse.