5 psi is here....and I'm not impressed

[MarkEmark]

Well, my setup has been "working" for about 3 days now, I'm running it at 5 psi non-intercooled, i'm waiting for an intercooler. But according to my boost gauge, most of the time it's only at like 4.5 psi, no more than 4.5 psi, and I have the wastegate adjusted so I should be getting 6 psi....and it's not coming close to 6 psi, and even at 4.5 psi the car does not feel that much more powerful than it did n/a. Now the only thing I can think of is the catalytic converter---I'm using the stock cat, and all its rusted piping. I'm gonna remove the cat tomorrow and see how it runs without it; I know it's a pretty restrictive exhaust component. If it's not that, I'm going to be incredibly disappointed, because the turbocharger will not churn past 5 psi, and most of the time it's only doing 4.5 psi....when i had the turbo off, all that I could see is that it's a T3 and that it says A/R .42 on the compressor side...which seems like way too small of an a/r. According to other threads around here, .63 I think is the general consensus for the compressor side. So the boost on mine falls flat after about 5k, which wouldn't be bad if it made a decent amount of power down low, but it doesnt....The car's getting plenty of fuel, my exhaust pipes reassure me of that, and the exhaust pipe itself is a free-flow, minimal bend, 60 mm pipe.

I just rode in my brother's audi a4 1.8t, and he just got a new ECU program, and his car now has 15 psi of boost, and it feels MUCH faster than mine, and it weighs 400 lbs more. This was never supposed to happen; my car was always supposed to be faster Cdigity I think was running 225 RWHP at 5 psi, I'd be surprised if I had 200 rwhp, which seems very low, too low for me. I did a compression test before hand and all of the numbers were fine.

If I run it tomorrow with the boost cranked up as much as possible (which won't give me any more than 5 psi), and NO cat, and it's still not powerful, I think it's time for a new turbo...*sigh*.Anyone know what else will fit on a T3 flange, and if a downpipe made for a T3 will work on a T3/T4?

Just wanted to let you guys know what was going on...Marc

[HackofDestruct]

you need the intercoolerand 4.5 aint much at alljust wait and get the intercooler and see what happens when you turn up the boost

[MarkEmark]

No, but even the hot side pipe going to the TB after a fairly hard ride doesn't even feel that hot, so what would an intercooler doing? Basically, it feels like the turbo isn't doing what it should-compress air.

EDIT: the only specs I can find on the T3 is that the A/R for the EXHAUST is .48......that's it

[MarkEmark]

And what I'm saying right now is that I HAVE turned up the boost...its just that the turbocharger won't make that boost. I think I could run it without a wastegate and it wouldn't make more than 5 psi. I wanted 7 psi...there's a big difference in power.

[gibbo80]

man that sucks, good luck tho

[float_6969]

I would say that you have a wastgate/boost controller problem of some sort. Regardless, that turbo should make at least 12lbs of boost. And it should boost upwards of that, it's just less effecient and you risk turbo damage. 5lbs isn't a whole lot of boost. What kind of boost controler are you using? Manual or Electronic? Are you sure that it's hooked up right? Is this an internal or external wastegate? Is this a used turbo/wastegate? How many miles? Let us know about that stuff and then we'll have something to work with.

[Onizuka]

a intercooler will give your horsepower. Why? because it cools your intake air, and cool air holds more fuel (more fuel= more power) and it prevents detonation. You would be doing yourself a favor by getting a intercooler, you will see at least 10 more HP with just that, and you will be able to run more boost on top of that.

[MarkEmark]

Yes...I know what an intercooler is and what it does and why I want to use it...which is why I just purchased one...I was planning on using one the whole time anyway, I just wanted to make sure the setup ran. KS HONDA killer...I'm running no boost controller; there should be no need for it, it's internally wastegated at 5 psi right now, but like I said, it's more like 4.5 psi. I don't think the wastegate is malfunctioning at all; something is preventing it from getting all that boost. There's no need for a boost controller now if it won't see even 5 psi. The turbo/wastegate is used w/ about 65 k miles on it, it's not in the best of shape, but everything seems to be functional.

However, I do want a boost controller, and I'll need it in the near future. Anyone know of a cheap, functional manual boost controller? I don't need anything fancy.

marc

[Onizuka]

im sure you could get a manual Turbo XS controller for like 70 bucks, i think heavy throttle sells em

[float_6969]

to be completely honest, I wouldn't be worried about .5psi, especially with that many miles on it. It could simply be there is a descrepency between what your boost gauge says and what the spring is releasing at. It may even be that the spring is weak and not holding shut like it should. Get a boost controller. But before that, install the intercooler. I wouldn't run more than 7lbs w/o an intercooler, and that is pushing it.

[MarkEmark]

My original goal was 7 psi intercooled...and I still want 7 psi intercooled...Even 6 psi intercooled I'll be happy with. I tested the turbo and the wastegate opened at exactly 5 psi...What kind of boost controllers do you suggest? The turbo xs one looks nice, but heavy throttle doesnt sell it, they sell some "dna" BOOST controller for $95...but I still don't see why I'd need one if I can just adjust the wastegate myself...does the boost controller allow to me to adjust it for more boost than the internal adjustment is capable of?Marc

[float_6969]

That is exactly what a boost controller does. It makes the wastegate think you are at only 5psi when in actuallity you are at 7psi, or whatever boost you set it at. With out a boost controller you can't boost past the wastegate spring setting.

[I am Technoman]

It sounds to me like you’re not even making boost. Do you hear the turbo at 5 psi? Can you hear it spool?

[MarkEmark]

It's definitely making boost, it just doesn't feel like it's making much (and it does make 4.5 psi). Yes I can hear it spool very easily, and the BOV works very well (gets kinda annoying after a while, actually)...Give me suggestions as to what boost controller to use! If they're manual, can you adjust them by 0.1 psi increments, or just 0.5 psi increments? I'd like to be able to "fine-tune" it a bit.

Marc

[I am Technoman]

Greddy makes a really good controller called the profect B. It works very well not to expensive and is easy to use.

[p00t]

the wastegate does not open right at 5psi... it creeps there (sometimes slowly)... before that you are just diverting some of the exhaust so the turbo will definately have a hard time building up steam. depending on the wastegate, as pressure increases the valve slowly opens. so the valve might be opening at 3-4 psi, and is about half open at 4.5psi.... which is enough to stop the car from gaining anymore boost.

You should have an external unit that opens the wastegate when you lower the throttle, and at idle. a BOV might be helpful as well.

for now: wait for the intercooler, install it, then have the wastegate turned up to about 10psi, you should get an improvement.

[AelSic]

I don't want to sound too stupid on the matter, but could it possibly be his exhaust manifold not properly seated or poorly constructed?

[SloS13]

i havent turboed my KA yet, but i think if everything was done right, you'd definitly feel 4.5psi pretty good.

Where are you getting your boost reading from? Intake manifold, or the turbo itself?

Somethin doesnt sound quite right with this

[float_6969]

If he had an exhaust manifold leak, you would hear it. They are loud. I know because I currently have one. Honestly 4.5lbs isn't a whole lot of boost. And 4.5lbs of UN-COOLED boost is a lot less. Good call on J92s's part. Where is your reference vaccumm line for your wastegate and boost gauge hooked up to? Try moving them to the intake manifold and see if that helps.

[Rage_sixtynine]

It sounds like a boost leak to me, the exact same thing happened to my friend. He owns a supra and no matter what the boost controller was set to he could only get 5 psi. Turned out there was a couple slits in his coupler from the cold ic pipe to the intake manifold. We fixed it and now even at 5 psi...like it was making...it feels a hell of a lot faster. So make sure to check all your IC pipes for leaks and watch out for those vaccum hose leaks too! Good luck.Trent

[float_6969]

He doesn't have any intercooler piping though. He's running the boost striaght out of his turbo into the manifold. There is still a chance of having a leak, but with such short tubing, I would think it would be easy to spot. Still a good idea and something to check.

[MarkEmark]

There's no leak; the manifold is brand new. There's no leaks in any of the lines, couplers, etc either. I'm reading the boost off of the FPR, in a "t" where the fuel pressure regulator is connected to....I'm going to run it w/o a cat soon and see what she does.

[float_6969]

Hey markemark, I think I was a little confused on something. You said you're not using a boost controller. So what is the stock wastegate set at? What is this wastegate/turbo off of? At what boost is the wastegate spring supposed to open?

[Rage_sixtynine]

there is a way to test and see if the wastegate is opening too soon. If you remove the vaccum/boost hose from the wastegate actuator you should theoretically be able to boost to infinity(if any turbo could do that). If you wanna try that then BE CAREFUL. Just run it like that WOT and if it jumps past 5 psi...LET OFF...cause it'll just tear up ur turbo and possibly ur engine if you continue to boost cause the turbo wont have anything to stop it from boosting until it breaks or causes detonation. But if it jumps past 5 psi...then its something with the wastegate. If it still wont go above 4.5 or 5 psi then its either the turbo, exhaust, or you have a boost leak. Although you said you already checked for boost leaks...double check that all your clamps are tight. Anyway....good luck. Hope my advice helps.Trent

[float_6969]

Go Trent, go trent, go trent. I didn't think of that at all. I'll remember it though. Good idea. Just don't come back with a blown up motor, K?

[MarkEmark]

UPDATE...I took Trent's advice (actually, I had this idea a while ago, I just didn't have the balls to try it) and disconnected the wastegate and took it out for a short ride. The turbo is definitely capable of going past 5 psi...it was jumping up to 7 psi/8 psi, and then I just let off and drvoe it home. Actually, I didn't drive it home, because one of the "intercooler" piping that attaches to the throttle body FELL OFF the car while I was driving it, and bounced somewhere and now I can't find it, so the car stalled. However, I was able to drive it home by disconnecting the air flow sensor; I was only about 1/4 of a mile from home. I also ran it today without the cat...and that was definitely preventing me from getting full boost. As I said before, with the cat, I was only getting 4.5 psi, without the cat, it was at a full 5 and went up to 5.5 psi. Therefore, goodbye cat, hello boost controller and intercooler; I'll turn the boost up to 7 psi and be satisfied.

Marc

[SloS13]

I'll turn the boost up to 7 psi and be satisfied.

Marc

:bsflag

[float_6969]

Boost is worse than any drug you can take. Cocaine is for babies, extacy, mere childs play. But boost, is a whole different ball game. There is no such thing as "enough". You will ALWAYS want more. Be stong and don't let the addiction take you over!

[Rage_sixtynine]

float_6969...that was beautiful

[MarkEmark]

I know! I turned it up to 6 psi today, w/o a cat, and I'm still not satisfied! I hope that the extra power from an efficient FMIC and one more psi will give me enough power to be happy with...any more than 7 psi and I'll need to majorly upgrade my fuel...I'd love to strip the engine down, build it up with fully forged lower compression internals and run it at a nice 12 psi, I'm sure the power would be insane (like 320 whp)....

But, I'm only 17, and this stuff costs money, too much money!