Boost pressure, and tuning, how is this done?

[fbodlovr]

What im wanting to know is....lets just say a completely stock car with noting done, how much can you riase the boost without having to do any tuning? I always hear about people just turning it up. I dont understand how this is possible without tuning.

THen, with an aftermarket turbo, and after you have done your tuning or whatever, is it still possible to turn it up and down? What type of boost controllers are you guys using? Oh yeah, and are most of you getting rid of the stock wastegate?

 

[Jerryl]

What im wanting to know is....lets just say a completely stock car with noting done, how much can you riase the boost without having to do any tuning? I always hear about people just turning it up. I dont understand how this is possible without tuning.

THen, with an aftermarket turbo, and after you have done your tuning or whatever, is it still possible to turn it up and down? What type of boost controllers are you guys using? Oh yeah, and are most of you getting rid of the stock wastegate?

The term "just turn up the boost" is always associated with tuning.
Anyone tells you different, you may want to get another opinion.

There are lots of factors that contribute to "how much boost can I run"
First off, outside temp / humidity, engine mechanical shape, tune, and gas quality, tires, etc.

You need a good engine tune and supporting 101 mods (fuel pump, FPR, good O2, thermostat, etc) and a scan tool.

With a scan tool you may realize you can not raise boost but need to lower it for the currrent set-up, engine state and weather conditions.

Depending on the size and specs of the aftermarket turbo and the boost you will run, you most likely require mods in addition to the 101 mods: Custom Chip, injectors, etc.

Hope this helps.

 

[fbodlovr]

Well, kind of. My boss has an srt4, and he just turns it up 4psi. How is that?

 

[Jerryl]

Well, kind of. My boss has an srt4, and he just turns it up 4psi. How is that?

That is good! .......... Untill he blows up the motor if he does not have a knock gauge or scan tool, or, runs 100 octane all the time. :biggrin:

"Just turning up the boost" is possible with a base boost setting on a Hot Air TR at 4. You can easily turn it up 4 from there.

To be honest?
You can either learn the hard way (like I did) or listen to the experts on this board (I am no expert but know how to blow up a motor ). If only I knew about this board before I stepped on the gas the first day I got the car ........ did not even have to turn up the boost to blow the motor!

 

[Mr.Buick]

Engine tune

You will need to monitor the engine with some type of scanning tool, O2 should be kept around 750 to 800 at wot, exhaust temp around 1550-1600 in high gear at wot, iac - 20's at idle, throttle idle - .42 don't go over .45, blm - 128-130 normal driving, adjust boost to highest level with no knock retard on premium gas, adjust plug gap to .32, check that throttle plate is all the way open when the gas pedal is all the way down. If you get the boost to high it could actually slow the car down. I was running the boost at 19 on 93 octane with alcohol and it ran a second slower then 12 lbs of boost. I was told that the small stock turbo efficiency on the hot air cars causes the intake air to become overheated and actually reduced in volume. Just like we get denser heavier air late at night. You can usually picked up about 1/2 a second just because of the cooler night air. KN air filter, 2.5" exhaust, replace the Cat with bypass pipe. adjust fuel pressure 43 vacuum line off, that should get you going in the right direction. Try to do one thing at a time so you can see if it helps or not.

 

[fbodlovr]

What type of scanning tools are there? What are you guys using? is this what your using to tune it?

oh yeah, and what size injectors would you recommend if im going to be putting on a turbo that is capable of 600 hp?

 

[buickpower]

Scanmaster, Direct scan, Turbolink are the major types. DS and T-link are quite a bit more advanced, but require the use of a laptop. You can use one of these scan tools to tune the car. For that turbo, you'd probably need 50-60 lbers or so, ask in the turbo section for specifics. It wouldn't hurt to error on the high side, chip burners can make large injectors run well and be driveable.

 

[Jerryl]

Fbodlovr,
Do you have the hot air ECM?

 

[Mr.Buick]

Tuning the engine

I like to use two products, Turbo link, because I can read the files on the laptop and see exactly what happend and when any time I want to. The other is a G-tec pro so I can compare modifications. Try to use the same lonely piece of flat 1/4 mile road to use the G-tec so the only difference will be the mod you just made. Keep notes on time of day, temperature, weather conditions. Cooler night air will give you .5 or more better ET. Moist air but not rain will improve ET also. This is why the intercooler makes so much improvement on the performance, it cools the air charge to the intake manifold. Try not to go to wild on advanced timing it can get your engine knocking real quick. Watch the knock gauge close!!!!!!!!!!! Turbo link will let you know if you had any knock retard in the run. Remember small steps and one thing at a time till you get it where you want it. Keep notes on everything

 

[fbodlovr]

Fbodlovr,
Do you have the hot air ECM?

Yeah, im guessing so. The car has had a little bit of odds and ends put on it like someone was already trying to fix it up. Im pretty sure it is though. Why?

 

[fbodlovr]

I like to use two products, Turbo link, because I can read the files on the laptop and see exactly what happend and when any time I want to. The other is a G-tec pro so I can compare modifications. Try to use the same lonely piece of flat 1/4 mile road to use the G-tec so the only difference will be the mod you just made. Keep notes on time of day, temperature, weather conditions. Cooler night air will give you .5 or more better ET. Moist air but not rain will improve ET also. This is why the intercooler makes so much improvement on the performance, it cools the air charge to the intake manifold. Try not to go to wild on advanced timing it can get your engine knocking real quick. Watch the knock gauge close!!!!!!!!!!! Turbo link will let you know if you had any knock retard in the run. Remember small steps and one thing at a time till you get it where you want it. Keep notes on everything

Im gonna be honest with you. I have NO idea what to do when it comes to tuning. I have a laptop, so maybe something that is laptop based? When I get whatever and start programming, can i send the files that it shows to you guys so you can help me out?

 

[fbodlovr]

Im gonna be honest with you. I have NO idea what to do when it comes to tuning. I have a laptop, so maybe something that is laptop based? When I get whatever and start programming, can i send the files that it shows to you guys so you can help me out?

Would it be helpful to get a guage pod, and put a knock gauge or whatever in there, along with a boost gauag and another for whatever? WHere do i get 3 guage pillar pods?

 

[turbot2496]

Well, kind of. My boss has an srt4, and he just turns it up 4psi. How is that?

The factory doesn't set the upper boost level to the very edge because they have to warranty the sucker. You can usually raise it a few pounds with some high octane fuel and be OK still a way to monitor KR is a nice thing to have.

 

[fbodlovr]

Oh yeah, and what are the gauge manufactureres names?

 

[Jerryl]

Yeah, im guessing so. The car has had a little bit of odds and ends put on it like someone was already trying to fix it up. Im pretty sure it is though. Why?

Busy thread.
Not every scantool works with the Hot air ECM.

Try these threads.
There is lots more. Happy reading!

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159075&highlight=scan+tool

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149079&highlight=scan+tool



Add / Edit:
Found the link I was looking for.
http://www.turbo-link.com/tlink/scanchart.html

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

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