NEW TO TURBOS, is this normal?!?!?

[darkstar67]

ok, I traded my prelude for a 1993 eagle talon tsi awd. it finaly boosts to 7 psi @ 6 grand. i dont hear any bov action like my uncles evo 8. and it was warm today so i rolled the windows down and when i got on it it sounds like a huge air fan out of my passenger window...I shift and it goes away and boost drops like it should... wtf. it still has the stock 14b and its the whole car is stock besides the steel wheels. i know everyones excuse is boost leaks and i know it happens alot but i checked the WHOLE ic system and all hoses seem good and no corroded pipe. is this normal and what should i be running stock psi? I drove the car before i traded and it was the handling that got me and the prelude was faster?

 

[Dserge]

Stock you won't hear much.. With my mods I get a nice whistle sound though, I <3 it. Don't vent it please.

 

[habitatguy187]

Stock boost should be around 11psi....on an aftermarket boost gauge of course. If you're going by the stocker then it's not accurate (since it reads it from what the ecu believes the boost to be around)

And just because you checked your IC pipes (there's a lot more that can leak trust me) doesn't mean they aren't leaking air. You need to do a real boost leak test.

IC Pipe Tester

 

[habitatguy187]

Also you should hit 11psi of boost by around 3500rpms or so. So since you're not hitting it until 6 grand, I'd say that you have a boost leak.

 

[darkstar67]

well could it be anything from my blow off valve to my wastegate (ive seen some pretty nasty things that heat can do to one) but do these sound like any culprits besides boost leaks? @ 3grand im at 3psi and i have to keep my foot in it to keep boost or else its just gone. and also i have a clutch problem too... i have to smash it to the floor or it will grind and my pedal is set about six inches from the floor.

 

[talon187]

do a boost leak test. you def have some and once you fix them the car will run a hell of alot better then as of right now. is your clutch slipping? stock clutch?

 

[assassin3117]

i had an issue like that. i check all the clamps and all. couldnt find anything until i actually did a boost leak test. found allotttttt. do it right. materials are cheap. and there are plenty of forums on this site that explain how to do it.

 

[darkstar67]

thx but how do i run a test without buying anything? (im a little on the poor side, thats what you guys help me with instead of taking it to mitsu) and i cant tell if the cluch is a puck or street profile yet because engagement is about 1/4 inch off the floor. on cold morning the clutch slips when i take off and afterwords grips like whenever i warm it up, so it sounds to me like a puck. graps great. kinda sounds like they put in a new clutch and did something wrong? but is there anyway i can adjust it easily?

 

[MrBoxx]

You need to go to VFAQ Site - Visual Frequently Answered Questions and do some reading.

Boost leak tester/Construction and Use

Clutch Pedal Engagement Adjustment

 

[darkstar67]

wow, the clutch thing is out of the way and i guess ill fix that tommarow at school. ill figure something out tommarow to test for leaks and if i cant ill just buy the stuff to make the tester thing. thanks.

 

[MrBoxx]

The stuff to make the tester MIGHT cost you all of $10 at Home Depot.

The clutch adjustment procedure takes about 10 minutes. It hurts your back, but it's literally loosening one nut, turning a rod, and tightening the nut back up.

 

[tkelly27]

If you don't have an air compressor some starting fluid sprayed around joints can show some boost leaks, but not all. They often don't show up until compressed air is put to them which is why you must do a boost leak test. Looking at and touching the joints isn't enough. The hissing sound tells me this is a boost leak.

If it were your WG you'd hear it in the exhaust, it becomes much louder. You can check that the flapper is attatched and the can is functioning by simply pulling it. It should be hard to pull, if not that's probably your problem.

 

[jrohner]

I've had massive boost leaks without much of a change in spool. I my experience exhaust leaks before the turbo is what creates by far the most lag (or obviously a wastegate that's not sealing).

 

[darkstar67]

clutch problem is fixed and so much more comfortable. thx.

as for the boost leaks, i talked to my teacher and yeah... he recomends a boost leak too. as for him hes acctually BUYING and making the tester in class. Because i have the only turbo car on campus hes really into it and i got extra cred cause thats where we are in class (well actually intake and fuel system but same thing). this car makes me wonder why i ever had a honda even though it was much faster, but hopefully not for long.

 

[habitatguy187]

Let us know how it goes.

 

[bigBOOSTINgst]

Be sure you check the throttle body area, I had a similar problem and I ended up finding my leak there.