Hey guys, here is my setup:
d16y8
.42/.48 Garret T3
2.5" dp
junkyard charge pipes
6.5 psi external TiAL wastegate

I had a lot of problems with boost leaks and stuff blowing in the charge pipes, but this most recent incident was less noticable, but now my turbo spools very slowly, it doesnt hit full boost till like 5500+ rpm. I of course automatically thought charge pipes, but i looked at all of them and they look fine.

My question is, what other factors could be causing this? this is what I have been told:

wastegate leaking (how do you tell with a TiAL external?)
boost/charge piping leak (could be possible still, i'm gonna do more checks)
seized turbo (doubt it, still spins freely and hits full boost, just later)

However, I JUST redid my charge piping and roughly checked out my intercooler, I swear there are no leaks. I did a compression test, normal compression, each cylinder is getting spark, etc.

any help would be GREATLY appreaciated, and let me know if you need more info. HEEEELP!

 

well where do you have the wastegate Td' from? the turbo will spool faster if you T it off the intake manifold, T it off the charcoal emissions filter hose on the top of the manifold. mine spools up 1k rpm faster this way then when it was Td' off the compressor housing.

 

I had that problem and it was a leak between the manifold and turbo. Turn the car on and feel around the connection to see if any air blows on your hand. Other than that it could only be charge pipe related.

 

i guarantee its not charge pipe related. I redid them today, and theyre seriously sooo solid and dont leak anything. Do you use a gasket between manifold/turbo? I didnt

Dude, i'm gonna try that for the wastegate. Why does it spool faster? thats interesting.

any more nice little tips like this for me?

when do you guys spool? Mine spools earlier, like maybe 3800, but it doesnt hit full boost until like 5500. Is that really unreasonable or not? I'm confused.

 

Boom, I think you found it. I didn't use a gasket either, and what a ******** I was for not. Check that, it's a very good chance that's gonna be it.

 

This is where you need gaskets and when you end up putting them on add some of those copper gasket spray to make them a bit more sticky and cover up the imperfections on the gasket (at least the first two gaskets)

1) Block and turbo manifold
2) manifold and turbo
3) manifold and wastegate

Those are the three main ones. A tip to keep ur charge pipes a bit tighter is to use either hairspray around the pipings or some kind of adhesive spray. If you have a welder, put a couple small beads on the pipings.

hope this helps

 

is full boost at 5500 really that unreasonable to begin with?

thanks stealthmode, i'll do that pronto for sure.

 

Some people call that launch control . It's a matter of opinion, some people like quick spool and some rather have it later. I myself love a quicker spool for my daily driver. My setup fully spools 7 psi by 3k.

 

damn! how do you manage that

 

not sure if the t3 .48/.42 is supposed to spool up that late on ya but it might be...

do you have a bov? What kind? Check for leaks around that.

I personally like full boost by at least around 4k because you stay in the power band longer but you dont get a good of a kick as some of the bigger turbos up higher in the rpm band. It just depends on what you like. Some people prefer to have boost at 2-3k and like it like that and some prefer to have boost only from 6-8k.