boost rating for stock SMIC

[skatershawn]

Can anyone tell me the rated and safe psi that the stock side mount can handle??

Ok story is.. my car is boost creeping. i have it set at around 12psi and it can creep pretty high, ive seen it creep up to 18psi till yesturday.... i was doing a 2nd gear pull and it creeped all the way to 21-22psi... (didn't think a 14b could do so, and my tires where screaming haha) well when i noticed i let off and went to shift.. and it was a pretty hard feeling, or jerk kind of when i shifted, not fuel cut i know what that feels like!!
Well after that i was driving to the store and i could hear my turbo whinning and my bov venting LOUD... then i tried to pull and it read i build boost to around 15psi but felt like i was running 2psi!!!
i looked at the hoses (cause they are stock) and didn't find anything noticeable, and all the clamps where tight!!

Im think, cause my car drives and ildes fine intell i boost, that i blow a hole in one of the hoses but haven;t done a boost leak test yet... made a test last night haha for like $3.. i made it in like 5 mins cool!

but this has raise the thought in my head of how much the stock SMIC can really handle before it gives!!
My plans down the road are to run a holset at around 25psi and till then i was going to get some 550's from my bro and turn my boost up to safice!!!

and im not getting a FMIC till its time for the holset!

 

[donniekak]

I've ran over 30 psi on mine and it didn't explode. This is on e85 of course. I couldn't get much over 15 psi with 91 octane, before getting knock on a logger.

 

[95talongirl]

I can only run about 15psi with mine before the car starts registering knock.

 

[skatershawn]

ya... i dont' have a logger but i know i have to be hitting knock.... creeping to 18+psi.... :/ can you physically feel when your engine gets knock??
i do notice when it is running 15+psi it does this light floating hesitant thing like if its missing every few secs!!

i have a full 3'' turbo back and i think thats whats causing the creep cause the wastegate hole is not modified!

but back to the OP... so the stock SMIC is proven to get 30psi throught it...
in less mine was super weak on an area.. it should be fine but running a holset is a NOT with it, i know!!

so ill have to do my boost leak test when i get home!!
:/

thanks

 

[95talongirl]

I personally have never "felt" the knocking... which is probably a good thing. It just shows up in the logs.

 

[JusMX141]

Our stock intercoolers are a tube-fin design, much like a radiator. This design is thinner, lighter-weight, and cools better than a bar-plate intercooler, but it's also more prone to developing leaks at high boost levels.

I believe the safe boost limit of a tube-fin intercooler is around 30psi, and this is boost level of which most intercoolers are tested when new....although I'm sure you can push one beyond 30psi without failure.

I personally have never "felt" the knocking... which is probably a good thing. It just shows up in the logs.

What logging program are you using that picks up knock on a 2G? Or are you just watching the timing curve?

 

[skatershawn]

god i need to get dsmlink... i got an eprom in plans for getting dsmlink i just cant afford dsmlink with everything else i need with my car and all my stupid bills haha!!

i think im just going to look for someone selling v2... and i need my eprom socketed!!

well ok so again, stock smic is not that bad of a stock part... besides the small size of it!!

Altho i will say after i have done a few pulls i have felt it and it gets pretty darn hot... cant really measure the actual temp but feels like it shouldnt get that hot!!
because of this i was making a "homemade" co2 sprayer for it!
my designs are quite simple and damn ghetto... but i hope it turns out good haha!

thanks for all the imput guys...and gals!!

 

[the_mork]

What logging program are you using that picks up knock on a 2G? Or are you just watching the timing curve?

Mitsulogger
MHIscan
Evoscan

They all log knock happily with a 2g.

You can sometimes hear knock if you know what you're listening for and the knock is fairly severe. Otherwise you can sometimes feel it as the timing is pulled if you're very aware of what the car should feel like.

 

[skatershawn]

ok... Back on to some what of the OP..... i was thinking HARD... (since im at work, my car is acting funny and all i can do is think at work)
But some one PLEASE help me here???

ok i was thinking my boost gauge is reading 15 psi when creeping then drops back down to 12psi.... ok i have it t'ed into my AFPR... now that reads the pressure in to INTAKE MANI... so if its still getting to 12psi in the mani, but only feels like im hitting 2psi.... that CANT be a loose hose???
CAN IT??

PLEASE tell me good news.. Only good news!!
:S
im scared my head gaskets is shot or something!
its smells RICH as Pure Gas if i start boosting!!

God i hate work... it makes me think of EVERYTHING!!!

 

[the_mork]

Do a boost leak test, you're probably all right. You likely have a major hole along the way and the turbo just can't keep up. You're rich because all of the air leaving through your leak is being counted by the MAF and your car is adding fuel for that air.

 

[skatershawn]

ya i know why im running rich, i was just stating it, thanks tho, no sarcasm... and thanks for keeping me calm with the youll be alright haha im freakin.. and probably is better then "hey its you head gasket dude"
but i cant visibly see ANY thing on any hose... i looked and looked, took off clamps and hoses, and retighted them!!
I made my boost leak tester lastnight as i stated before, but have no way to pressurise my system... haha i have no compressor nor a portable air can... and don't know anyone in the area with it either... i could go to a gas station and do it there haha but thats not ghetto or anything right!!
AHH im frustrated once again!!

i just want to hurry and get my damn escort cosworth rs.... :l
(ya like those parts are cheap and easy to find)
one of me dream cars by the way!!

 

[the_mork]

You'll never find your boost leaks by looking at them. It simply isn't going to happen. You need to pressurize the system so you'll have to spend the money on a tank or a compressor.

 

[habitatguy187]

i could go to a gas station and do it there haha but thats not ghetto or anything right!!

You can't always care what other people think or be worried about what you're going to look like man. Things need attention, things break, you don't have to "look cool" while fixing them .

 

[donniekak]

A boost leak tester, and spray bottle of dish soap/water, is the best first mod for any turbo car.

 

[skatershawn]

You can't always care what other people think or be worried about what you're going to look like man. Things need attention, things break, you don't have to "look cool" while fixing them .

haha this is funny... i know i was just saying tho...



and what kind of spray bottle is this you speak of??

 

[the_mork]

A kitchen cleaner spray bottle. You can use an old 409 bottle or you can buy one that has never been used in the store. Throw a 1/4 oz of dish soap in it and fill the rest with water. During a BLT if you hear a hiss shoot it with the sprayer.

 

[skatershawn]

ooooooh ok... i thought you were telling me to use a spray bottle to pressurize my intake hahaha

sorry

i read it fast....

spray bottle of dish soap/water

 

[95talongirl]

Mitsulogger
MHIscan
Evoscan

They all log knock happily with a 2g.

You can sometimes hear knock if you know what you're listening for and the knock is fairly severe. Otherwise you can sometimes feel it as the timing is pulled if you're very aware of what the car should feel like.

You're right! The car will all of sudden feel sluggish.

Soap/Water works well to find leaks. I found 5 leaks on mine when it was first put back together. I'm running dsmlink, btw.

 

[skatershawn]

okokok.... UPDATE...

I did a boost leak test... OR Tried.. and it will not hold boost and i cant hear anywhere its would be letting out air!!

I try to fill it with air and sit there for a good min filling then pull it off to see where its leaking and i hear nothing.. so i get my pressure gauge and check to see if there is any pressure in the piping and nothing.. 0psi so i tried it again and filled it (or thought i was) and for a good min trying to fill then take it of and quickly check the pressure with the gauge and 0psi ZERO.... What could be leaking soooo bad but not miss my idle that much... my car drive Perfect unless i drive under boost??

PLEASE someone help!!

 

[rEclipserGST]

okokok.... UPDATE...

I did a boost leak test... OR Tried.. and it will not hold boost and i cant hear anywhere its would be letting out air!!

I try to fill it with air and sit there for a good min filling then pull it off to see where its leaking and i hear nothing.. so i get my pressure gauge and check to see if there is any pressure in the piping and nothing.. 0psi so i tried it again and filled it (or thought i was) and for a good min trying to fill then take it of and quickly check the pressure with the gauge and 0psi ZERO.... What could be leaking soooo bad but not miss my idle that much... my car drive Perfect unless i drive under boost??

PLEASE someone help!!

Your car drives perfect unless you drive under boost? That means you have a "boost leak". You are going to have to pressurize the system the correct way in order to fix it. Did you read any thread or vfaq about a boost leak test? I am too lazy to find them for you.

 

[habitatguy187]

What are you talking about reading the pressure gauge? Just have someone watch your boost gauge, fill it up to 20ish psi, then see how long it takes to bleed off. Also do this with the throttle open.

 

[skatershawn]

I KNOW i have a boost leak.. thank you..
i stated that because most people come on here having issues cause a coupling was blow off or something!!

And i Found the vfaq and there is nothing more to do than what i have done!!!

It said simply to put the boost leak test on the inlet of the turbo and pressurize the system and hear for any leaks.... DID SO!!
i also got a spray bottle with soapy water and sprayed all of my hoses and the intercooler the metal pipe the bov.. the throttle body... nothing!!

BUT i let my car idle lastnight i noticed a hissing noice as it idled... ive heard it before but i thought it was just cause the nipples on the TB had caps on them it was hissing through there... but i noticed it cause its been getting louder.. its actually pretty noticeable now... its either my intake manifold gasket or my injectors arent sitting right or something...
im thinking its my intake mani gasket because the fact that when i first got my engine back from the dude (he did the swap too.. well the engine) that rebuilt it i noticed a few bolts were loose in the back!! and i might not have found them all!!

 

[habitatguy187]

........Chill out man, you obvously DIDN'T follow directions since you're using a pressure gauge and not your boost gauge.

If you can't hear your leak it's one of the following:

1. A HUGE leak.

2. The check valve in the brake booster vacuum line from the IM failed.

3. Your PCV valve failed.

4. All the air is escaping past your rings/exhaust valve seals and out through your exhaust.

5. Your EGR valve is stuck open, allowing boost to leave your IM and out your exhaust.

 

[donniekak]

If you put the tester in the inlet tube it will blow into the valve cover through the breather tube.It can also leak into the evap system. I just pull the turbo outlet/ lower ic pipe, and test from there.

 

[skatershawn]

im sorry... im not freaking out haha
im chill just frustrated with my car!!

And I DID follow the direction that I Found on the vfaq site... i just didn't check my boost gauge in the car.. didn't think that would make a difference!

My egr is blocked off.. and i checked the block plate to insure that its sealed.. i didn't check the brake booster tho.. i guess that will be on my to do list!
and as for the pcv.... haha ill just replace that since i have no clue when it was last replaced!!

And the line that goes from intake pipe to valve cover is not there.. i capped it off and im runing my valve cover through a catch can and filter!

im also going to try cab cleaner around my intake mani!!