Car boosting, but lack of power

[n0c7]

I'm running 11psi and my gauge says that I'm fully boosting. Normally when the car is cold when I fire it up in the morning it will feel sluggish and choppy when boosting but usually goes away once the engine has warmed up. In the last week, even when the engine is hot (180F-210F) it still has this sluggish feeling. If I'm going in a straight line and floor it the car moves like it always did, but if I'm in say third gear, throw it back into second to pick up the pace then it just crawls and doesnt feel right at all. Any ideas?

 

[liquordrunk]

Have you tried a boost leak test?

 

[n0c7]

Have you tried a boost leak test?

I'm guessing thats the first approach. I havent had to troubleshoot a turbo setup yet, so I'm all up for suggestions. One question though, if its a boost leak doesnt that mean I wouldnt be building as much boost?

 

[turbo2086]

I have the same problem, not as bad though... I have really loud ticking lifters. I believe that sometimes my knock sensor picks that up, and really retards my timing. Next week I will order new lifters and put those in... see if that helps.

 

[Talesin]

1) Boosting while the engine is cold is stupid. Your turbo hasn't had time to get hot oil into it, for proper lubrication. Also, your piston rings haven't had time to warm up and seal properly. You are damaging your engine if you boost it while cold. It's a good idea to wait at least five minutes on startup before boosting at all.

2) Boost leak test. No. You may still build the same amount of boost, you just have metered air escaping. The turbo will keep the boost to the specified level, even with the leak. However, that lost air is still expected to be there. So the ECU adds more fuel to compensate for it. Making you run rich, and slow.

3) Check your intercooler piping. Clamps and everything... normally this will be a part of your boost leak test anyway, but if you had an IC pipe pop off, it could explain things.

4) If the boost leak test turns up nothing, check your oil and coolant to see if they're mixing.

5) Mechanic time, unless you have a compression tester. If not, take it in and have one done.

 

[n0c7]

1) Boosting while the engine is cold is stupid. Your turbo hasn't had time to get hot oil into it, for proper lubrication. Also, your piston rings haven't had time to warm up and seal properly. You are damaging your engine if you boost it while cold. It's a good idea to wait at least five minutes on startup before boosting at all.

2) Boost leak test. No. You may still build the same amount of boost, you just have metered air escaping. The turbo will keep the boost to the specified level, even with the leak. However, that lost air is still expected to be there. So the ECU adds more fuel to compensate for it. Making you run rich, and slow.

3) Check your intercooler piping. Clamps and everything... normally this will be a part of your boost leak test anyway, but if you had an IC pipe pop off, it could explain things.

4) If the boost leak test turns up nothing, check your oil and coolant to see if they're mixing.

5) Mechanic time, unless you have a compression tester. If not, take it in and have one done.

When it's cold I don't drive it hard or anything, I wait for it to properly warm up, but I can feel the sluggishness when it boosts between 2-4 pounds on normal driving, just to clarify.

 

[n0c7]

1) Boosting while the engine is cold is stupid. Your turbo hasn't had time to get hot oil into it, for proper lubrication. Also, your piston rings haven't had time to warm up and seal properly. You are damaging your engine if you boost it while cold. It's a good idea to wait at least five minutes on startup before boosting at all.

2) Boost leak test. No. You may still build the same amount of boost, you just have metered air escaping. The turbo will keep the boost to the specified level, even with the leak. However, that lost air is still expected to be there. So the ECU adds more fuel to compensate for it. Making you run rich, and slow.

3) Check your intercooler piping. Clamps and everything... normally this will be a part of your boost leak test anyway, but if you had an IC pipe pop off, it could explain things.

4) If the boost leak test turns up nothing, check your oil and coolant to see if they're mixing.

5) Mechanic time, unless you have a compression tester. If not, take it in and have one done.

When it's cold I don't drive it hard or anything, I wait for it to properly warm up, but I can feel the sluggishness when it boosts between 2-4 pounds on normal driving, just to clarify. I am aware that its a bad idea to boost when its cold. Thanks for the tips, I will check. I had the UICP off awhile ago and that could be the source of the problems. I also am running an atmospheric setup without the MAFT right now(its in the works of purchasing and setup). Could this cause the sluggishness aswell?

 

[n0c7]

I have the same problem, not as bad though... I have really loud ticking lifters. I believe that sometimes my knock sensor picks that up, and really retards my timing. Next week I will order new lifters and put those in... see if that helps.

Lifters are a bit easier to diagnose and fix. If its them ticking then you can clean them the quick way with some lifter freer, or take them out and clean them or replace them. Not too much to them I'm familiar with it as I've owned a handful of older cars

 

[SoonToBeDSM06]

If you are venting the BOV to atmosphere then yes it will screw with your idle and performance because that air that the MAF has already measured escapes and makes you run rich. Recirculate it until you get your MAFT setup.

 

[n0c7]

If you are venting the BOV to atmosphere then yes it will screw with your idle and performance because that air that the MAF has already measured escapes and makes you run rich. Recirculate it until you get your MAFT setup.

Yup, read the tonnes of venting threads over and over and I know what needs to be done, I was just concerned that there may be another problem as it was running semi-decently for the longest time, I'm still gonna do a boost leak check.