Won't boost well in 3rd gear

[tidalwake]

I put another boost gauge in my car the other day after mine got stolen 4 months ago. I noticed the car will boost fine in 1st and 2nd but in 3rd and 4th will only go to 10psi or so. I have it set at 16psi. I have a 16g turbo with supporting mods so i think it should hold boost well, but there is a problem somewhere. Any help would be much appreciated.
thanks

 

[Spooling99]

Sounds like an pre turbo exhaust leak maybe? Clogged cat? Do you feel a difference between now and the time before you had the boost gauge?

 

[freebmx444]

cheak you bov, you might have to set it a little harder,(same thing happend to me on my car it would have 16psi in 1st and 2nd and when i was in third you were able to watch the boost fall down to 8-10psi)

 

[andymoraitis]

The length of time you spend in 1st and 2nd is negligible compared to what you spend in 3rd. I'd recommend that you start with a boost leak test and let us know the results. Higher load and longer duration will uncover a boost problem more readily than a short duration gear will.

Get back to us,

Andy

 

[kenamond]

The length of time you spend in 1st and 2nd is negligible compared to what you spend in 3rd. I'd recommend that you start with a boost leak test and let us know the results. Higher load and longer duration will uncover a boost problem more readily than a short duration gear will.

Get back to us,

Andy

Woah! Andy's got STARS!! Is that a new rep. point logo, or did you just graduate from green chicklets recently?

EDIT: Looks like all the wisemen have

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by their names now.

As for the O.P. have you tried brake boosting in 2nd (hold brakes on at WOT to keep RPM at say 4500rpm until boost stabilizes)? Does the boost spike to 16 or so and then settle back down to 10?

 

[tidalwake]

the boost doesnt spike at all in 3rd, it just never gets up past 10psi, thanks for the insight andy, I never thought about the length of time in gear showing a boost leak better than a quick run in a lower gear with a lesser load on the engine. I will do a boost leak test again to see what I find. I don't have a cat or an aftermarket bov so i don't think that is it, thanks for the ideas though!

 

[tidalwake]

I do believe I found my problem today. I was under my car changing my oil and i noticed a hose clamp just hanging out not even tightened at all. I fixed it and it boosts well now, that is the last time I let a friend do anything important when we are working on my car; it's holding the light for him from now on! Thanks for all the help again guys