Diesel power boost??

[Syncro G]

You should feal a definate surge in performance as it passes 2krpm when hoofed. If you drive it in the "green band" of 2-3.8krpm (as you should) you won't notice this much as it'll always be boosting, though if its not a 5 speed its easy to drop out of boost if gearchanges aren't spot on.

Heavy vans seem to reduice the boost surge feal alot, though you can still hear them; I found this when I overloaded mine. A max weight camper might not feal very boosty even when fine but a light van definately should.

A bit of smoke out the back doesn't mean it won't go faster with more fuel - you can keep adding more and it'll keep getting faster long after the smoke levels become very antisocial - watch tractor pulling! If you up boost you can do this even more as theres more air to burn the stuff in. Extra power = extra heat though so don't fiddle too much with anything unless you've improved cooling alot or like changing engines. If you've not got oil cooling I'd leave it at standard, by all means check its doing full boost though.

[Hypnovan]

Thanks for the reply Westy. I'd still drive at the same speed until I upgraded the brakes and suspension too.
So 80kph is about 50mph....The French don't like people who drive at less than 200kph around blind corners and this could be why we copped so much flack from them while bimbling around there this year. Stiffer suspensioin seems to be the way ahead for me. Stiffer though not necessarily lower.
be back later.

HV

[HarryMann]

In that case I'd suggest you check first if everything is set up right as it is

I'd say that too from your first but not from the 2nd, although sounds quite a lot of black smoke (presmably it IS black, not blue)... a little bit more air (bleed wastegate feed to give a t least 10~12 psi) won't create a problem and will reduce smoke once boosting but it may just be that there's too much fuel below 1800 rpm ish, or when not boosting, so check your LDA unit

Also, clean the vortex section of air-cleaner out and replace the filter element of you haven't for a while (GSF, £12). Check the compressor to inlet manifold hose for a good seal at both ends - even connect up a simple boost gauge (temporarily or permanently) by 'Y'ing off the LDA boost feed, just to see what you're getting and calibrate and changes.

Your mpg sounds 'surprisingly' good...

but at 60mph it's happy plus I just sit behind the lorry's and stay out of the wind.

Yes, makes a big difference doesn't it. Abs. 'had' to in high winds in France this year

[noss vanagon]

Our 1.6td seems to get a turbo boost at about 3000rpm. should this be at 2000rpm and how could I achieve this. Have never touched a turbo before, have read the wiki but how exactly do you increase the wastegate pressure.
If I change down early on hills and keep above 3000 she steams up the hill, drop below 3000 and its a crawl all the way.

regards
steve

[Hypnovan]

Like you, I am finding myself having to drive at a higher r.p.m than I normally would in 1st-4th gears which I am not too comfortable with as it is only a 1.6Td after all.

I like to be able to compare my van with another with the same engine which has been set up correctly, as I have no idea if there is anything I can/ need to do to mine - it may be perfectly alright as it is. I'm not into tinkering about as I know little about engines,turbos,LDA's (?) etc let alone how to add a pressure-o-meter thingy to anything - aside from screwing it to the dashboard.

For now i'm into rustproofing and insulation cos I can justify it to her indoors without too much fuss and she benefits too.

Ta,

HV.

[HarryMann]

About 2,000 rpm I'd say... and be bossting fully by 2200~2500

Wastegate shouldn't be affecting this... but might.

But just sensing by when she starts really pulling is not the best way to start troubleshooting, a boost gauge will tell you much more.

Of course, if the engine is old and tired it won't be proudicng enough gas with enough energy in it to boost so much quite as early..

A good 1.9TD will start boosting (with a K14/T2) at around 1800 rpm and be well past 10psi at 2000rpm if giving it full throttle...