manual boost control vs electronic (not what it sounds like)

[MyBeatGSX]

I did a boost leak test on my car and it made me wonder something. The bleed hole in a manual boost controller is a very significant boost leak. I tested at 20psi. Pressure was dropping at about 1lb/2 seconds (mostly from my crappy air gun fitting), which from what I've heard is good. However this was with my finger firmly plugging the MBC bleed port. When I took my finger off, boost dropped rapidly (2lbs/1 second or more).

So that leads to the question. How much of a performance increase can be had by getting an electronic solenoid style boost controller? This would eliminate a significant boost leak. In fact the MBC bleed port leaked more air then my completely dead TB shaft seals did. I think this is rediculous.

I have the old simple style Halman. I thought it was ball and spring, but from what I now understand even ball and springs need small bleed ports? I didn't know that, I thought you could buy straight up ball and springs that were a completely closed air system.

So is it worth upgrading to get rid of the leak? Has this been brought up or discussed before? Does anyone even care? I know the majority of people run MBCs, so obviously they aren't too concerned about it. I just thought we could get a discussion going on it and get some opinions and information out there. I missed a chance to buy a Blitz SBC-II for only $100. I feel like an idiot now.

 

[djseclipse]

Yeah my ball and spring has a small bleeder hole. During a boost leak test it only bleeds off after I go past the psi where I have it sat. I always bypass the mbc when testing though. If it holds boost fine I would stay with the mbc, just my opinion. But if it bothers you just buy another cheap ball and spring mbc and go from there. Hope this helps!

 

[zachakagoat]

ofcourse the mbc is going to leak after that certain setting you have it on that's what it does. The ball is pressed against the intake hole of the mbc otherwise. I say keep it unless you just want the adjustability of a ebc

 

[92tsifwd]

You could always make it so that the air that leaks out goes back into the intake track after the mass sort of like the the bov recirculation does. And also the stock bcs does this. All you would have to do is run a vacume line from the mbc bleed hole to your hard intake pipe or stock one that way at least the car will not run rich because of leaking air. Also if you ever had your stock bcs on without runing it back into the intake it will also leak vacume at idle.

 

[MyBeatGSX]

I think most of you missed the point. We all make such a big deal out of shaft seal leaks, gasket leaks, etc. But by far the biggest leak on my car was the MBC. I just wanted to know if anyone saw a difference with an EBC that doesn't leak at all.

 

[JayRolla]

The MBC is suposed to leak like that. The only thing I like about electronic is that they seem to hold boost way better. I know 2 guys running the greddy profec and they both hold boost with no spikes at all. MBC's seem to like to boost spike.