What is the best turbo?

[aea257]

What would be the best turbo to run if I'm looking for fuel economy over quicker times. I'm not racing. I'm driving daily and need to get the best gas mileage I can get.

 

[Jerryl]

What would be the best turbo to run if I'm looking for fuel economy over quicker times. I'm not racing. I'm driving daily and need to get the best gas mileage I can get.

Probably the stock turbo. In general terms, the more air you move through the engine, the more fuel you need, the lower your fuel economy will be.

 

[cool 84]

Another way of looking at it is a bigger turbo has less exhaust backpressure so if driven easy it "could" get better mileage. If driven hard, it has the potential to make more power thus getting worse gas mileage.

In the real world you won't see a difference in gas mileage between a stocker or a T-76 if you drive it normal. Even with a big turbo I doubt you would see much if any difference in mileage driving it hard with a nearly stock motor.

In other words get whatever turbo fits your performance goals.

I forgot to mention if you're that concerned with mileage, pull the wastegate rod off.

 

[aea257]

I forgot to mention if you're that concerned with mileage, pull the wastegate rod off.

I am a newbie and I need some education. I've heard of a "Wastegate", I've figured out it has something to do with the turbo but I don't know what it is and what it does. I can take any jokes on my lack of knowledge as long as someone can teach me. What will puilling the wastegate rod off do?

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

The waste gate actuator controls how much exhaust gas is allowed to spin a wheel which is attached to the blades which compress intake air into the intake manifold. The waste gate actuator contols this by lenghtening a rod. Brad

 

[cool 84]

Pulling the rod off will give you 0 boost. If you keep the gas on the floor for a while, it can creep to 3lbs or so but that's it. It's the rod on the top of the turbo. It goes from a swinging arm on the exhaust side to the round actuator on the intake side. I don't really know how to explain it. Maybe someone could post a picture.

Be aware, these cars are painfully slow without boost. Even in normal driving when you're not in boost, the turbo is still working a little as you will see.

Honestly, if you drive it easy and don't hit boost, I doubt there will be any mileage difference.

 

[TType84]

pulling the wastegate rod off your car will most likely give you horribly violent shifts. the tv cable will be pulled to "omg WOT" tension and you've got 125hp unboosted horsepower. it will be like BANG.

 

[cool 84]

pulling the wastegate rod off your car will most likely give you horribly violent shifts. the tv cable will be pulled to "omg WOT" tension and you've got 125hp unboosted horsepower. it will be like BANG.

Not true. Drove the car for 2 months with no wastegate. Shifts are the same at low throttle and get a little firmer the more throttle you give it. Far from "horribly violent".

 

[TType84]

Not true. Drove the car for 2 months with no wastegate. Shifts are the same at low throttle and get a little firmer the more throttle you give it. Far from "horribly violent".

Happened on my car. Still does, so I guess that would make it "true" sometimes, now wouldnt it? :biggrin:

Thats probably why I said "most likely"

 

[6SENSE]

If worried about gas mileage keep the car stock and in good running condition and they get pretty decent mpg. If you got the car to make it fast then you mise well forget about gas mileage (one reason because your foot will be in the pedal!).