Bought a 1996 V6 2 Door Coupe Turbocharged Mustang, what should I know?

[Mr 5 0]

I'm no expert on turbos but I'll tell you what I can to get you started. The brand name of the turbocharger should be on the unit. It's usually very visible. Once you have that - and, hopefully, a model number - you should be able to Goggle it and find out the specifications for the unit you have. There really aren't that many companies making turbos for the 3.8 engine, anyway.

Basically, a smaller turbocharger is best for low-end, around town driving and a larger unit is more impressive at high speeds and the track. Either way, a turbocharger gives your Mustang a lot more power than stock, even in a 6-cylinder model. A blow-off valve and a boost control unit are items you should have and if the turbocharger is putting out over 4.4psi, you should be running an intercooler. A larger, 'true' dual exhaust system and bigger fuel injectors are also common modifications with a turbo. Your Mustang may already have these upgrades. Synthetic oil - and only synthetic oil is a must and should be changed at regular service intervals.

At 72,000 miles, yes, the turbo may have prematurely 'aged' the V-6, depending on how much boost it puts out, how long it was in the car and hard the car was driven. In fact, almost any serious engine performance part will 'age' an engine to some degree. That is the trade-off for the extra power and the fun of having a fast V-6 Mustang. Frankly, considering the inherent problems a poorly installed turbocharger could cause, I'm a bit surprised a dealer even bothered with this car. I would have passed on it if I didn't know the facts about the turbo and who installed it and when. However, since you now own it, I would make an attempt to locate the previous owner (you did run a CarFax on it, didn't you?) and find out what you can about the length of time the turbo was in the car and so on.

Best of luck with your Mustang.