Low boost problems
Low boost problems So for the last few months I've been having trouble building boost. Before with my boost controller I was running about 14 psi. Lately it has been putting out about 8 psi tops. It also seems to build a lot more slowly than it used to.
I originally thought that maybe it was a problem with the boost controller. So I took it out and put a 10 psi spring in the wastegate and ran the vacuum line straight from the wastegate to the turbo with no boost controller. Afterwards, it was only putting out about 4psi and still built slowly.
my thought was to see if it was a problem with the hot side or the cold side. So I put a T fitting between the wastegate And the turbo and referenced my boost gauge straight from there. I know it wouldn't give me an accurate vacuum reading but that should have given me an accurate boost reading straight from the turbo correct? It still read 4psi at the turbo.
i'm reading this as there is no problem with the cold side and it's probably either A bad turbo for an exhaust leak. I just want to make sure that I am going about this right and my thought process is right. Does everyone agree that the problem has to be on the hot side since the reading on the boost gauge didn't change? Thanks in advance. I will update this thread once I figure out what is going on
I originally thought that maybe it was a problem with the boost controller. So I took it out and put a 10 psi spring in the wastegate and ran the vacuum line straight from the wastegate to the turbo with no boost controller. Afterwards, it was only putting out about 4psi and still built slowly.
my thought was to see if it was a problem with the hot side or the cold side. So I put a T fitting between the wastegate And the turbo and referenced my boost gauge straight from there. I know it wouldn't give me an accurate vacuum reading but that should have given me an accurate boost reading straight from the turbo correct? It still read 4psi at the turbo.
i'm reading this as there is no problem with the cold side and it's probably either A bad turbo for an exhaust leak. I just want to make sure that I am going about this right and my thought process is right. Does everyone agree that the problem has to be on the hot side since the reading on the boost gauge didn't change? Thanks in advance. I will update this thread once I figure out what is going on
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
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From: Ohio
What else did you change when it started losing boost?
Get a cheap air regulator with a low pressure gauge on it. They're $15 on ebay. Hook it to your air compressor and run a line to the wastegate. Slowly crank the dial until the gate opens, and check the gauge reading.
If your boost gauge is Teed into your wastegate line, this is a lot easier. Just fine a way to hook your air compressor to that line and adjust the line pressure until the gate opens, get in and check the gauge.
I ALWAYS test my wastegates before use, after any spring changes, and as soon as I'm having issues.
Get a cheap air regulator with a low pressure gauge on it. They're $15 on ebay. Hook it to your air compressor and run a line to the wastegate. Slowly crank the dial until the gate opens, and check the gauge reading.
If your boost gauge is Teed into your wastegate line, this is a lot easier. Just fine a way to hook your air compressor to that line and adjust the line pressure until the gate opens, get in and check the gauge.
I ALWAYS test my wastegates before use, after any spring changes, and as soon as I'm having issues.
I hadn't changed anything it just slowly started going downhill over time. There was an exhaust leak at the manifold flanges about a year ago that got sealed up with RTV and it ran great for a while after that. At this point I'm thinking that the sealant probably failed. I'll probably check for exhaust leaks first then test the wastegate how you mentioned if I don't find any. Thanks for the advice that's a good thought on how to test it.
At the merge with the y-pipe. Lol yeah I either need v-bands or to just weld the damn things. The factory gaskets blew out in a few thousand miles and the RTV lasted a few thousand more.
