How much Boost?

[SRJesse]

I am getting all upgraded gaskets and valve springs, Rocker arm stopper as well. I still have the side mount intercooler, stock injectors and stock fuel pump. I know my friend was running 10psi on everything stock. Is that safe, will it cause problems? I have been on 7psi for about a year, but now that I just spent alot of money on upgraded parts, I would like to push it to 10psi. I thought I read in the FAQ That you shouldnt take the stock intercooler past 10, is this true, has anyone done more than 10 on the SMIC? Thanks guys....

[S13240]

If the DSM guys can max theirs out around 14-18 psi, I'm sure we can also and their stock ic isn't that much different from ours.

[projectsr]

I am getting all upgraded gaskets and valve springs, Rocker arm stopper as well. I still have the side mount intercooler, stock injectors and stock fuel pump. I know my friend was running 10psi on everything stock. Is that safe, will it cause problems? I have been on 7psi for about a year, but now that I just spent alot of money on upgraded parts, I would like to push it to 10psi. I thought I read in the FAQ That you shouldnt take the stock intercooler past 10, is this true, has anyone done more than 10 on the SMIC? Thanks guys....

Yes Ive done more than 10psi BUT with an upgraded fuel pump I pushed 12-13psi when the temperature was in the 30's

[Nismo_Freak]

Push no more than 10psi on the stock sidemount. DSMs are notorious for blowing motors from pushing inadequately intercooled air. The 200SX guys in England push only 10psi and strongly agree that the intercooler can not cool more airflow than that unless its on a very cold day.

[S13240]

Push no more than 10psi on the stock sidemount. DSMs are notorious for blowing motors from pushing inadequately intercooled air. The 200SX guys in England push only 10psi and strongly agree that the intercooler can not cool more airflow than that unless its on a very cold day.

They're notorious? I have 3 friends that two of them owns a 1st gen GSX and a 1st gen TSI and third friend with 2nd gen GST and they're all on their stock sidemount ic boosting 14+ psi. The two that owns the 1st gens are using 16G turbos too and their cars are running great. They've had the car for several years now with that kind of boost too and they're never blown a motor. Must be the guys with bad luck...

[Speed-n-Sound]

To quote Chris Rock -

"Oh you can do it but it doesn't make it a good idea. You can drive your car with your feet too, it doesn't mean it's a good f%$#ing idea."

I have a 1st Gen TSI in the garage right now and trust me lots of guys run high boost, about 14psi, and don't blow motors. Not any higher than 14psi consistantly though.

What they do is blow that notoriously rotten AWD 5spd transmission (2 for me), get engine knock for running lean, and create weak cylinders (those that need new rings.

You see the car runs very hot and causes all sorts of reliability problems after 100k. The engine is unbelievably strong and takes lots of abuse without going boom. But they do self destruct over time. Keep in mind these cars run 10.5psi boost from the factory and can safely handle 14psi usually, sort of like the SR20DET can handle a little more than 7psi.

However, the SR20DET is a stronger motor in terms of crank, and rods. Don't let anyone tell you it's a good idea too run a turbo motor car 4-8psi higher than it was intended to run though. If it could safely do that, they would have obviously risen the boost at the factory. Contrary to popular belief Nissan, Mitsu, Honda, etc. do have some comprehension what they're cars can do consistantly, and maintain reliability.

[SRJesse]

Thanks for the input guys. I wasn't really planning on pushing past 10psi, I kinda like my motor! You think keeping it on 10psi is ok though?

[pampadori]

i have ran 10psi with no intercooler in warm temps. you will not hurt anything. i would say that you could run about 14-15psi with stock everything! with more fuel i'd run 16-17psi stock intercooler.btw, the option video 180sx buildup had the stock intercooler at 15psi and they used 100 octane mon. which is like 95 octane m+r/2 that we use here.

just prevent the detonation somehow. better fuel, cooler temps, less timing, more fuel....etc.shaun

[christopher]

I have that video, as far as I can tell they never used that car again. I would stay on the conservative side if you plan to keep your engine/turbo in good shape for long. Sure, you can boost high. Why do it if your turbo fries in two years or less. Moral of the story? You will be fine tommorow, but maybe not after that.

Better safe than sorry.

Pampadori, I am not a hater. I just don't want to see anyone with a hurt car. Yourself included.

[christopher]

Wait, SRJesse, you are still running a stock fuel pump?????? Why in the world are you doing head work and planning on higher boost levels? You're car needs fuel to do all of that.

[SRJesse]

I know, I plan on upgrading the fuel pump and injectors. I had to do the head work because I had that broken stud, the head had to get pulled so I just upgraded everything since the head was off. There was no point going back to stock, mine-as-well get ready for more boost while its apart. For now, I can run 10psi on stock fuel pump. Thanks for all the input guys.

[xspsi]

When I had the standard cooler, I ran 13-14 psi without any problems. The sr20det easily copes with this. However if you are going to run this amoung of boost, it is best to get it tuned on a dyno so that you can see the air fuel ratio and make sure that it is not leaning out. Leaning out is what will kill the engine.