Turbo Boost Gauge...

Post by **T2Andy** » 13 Mar 2006, 14:21

Got a 1.6TD in the van.

I assume one of the previous owners has installed the turbo boost gauge that it has, Just wondering what use is it apart from looking pretty and for what other reason it may have been installed for?

Thanks

Post by **HarryMann** » 13 Mar 2006, 14:44

Maybe he was tweaking the wastegate, needed to know that turbo was producing its full 7.5 psi, 0.5 bar or just likes gauges.

Let us know what it reads max please, ta!

Post by **T2Andy** » 13 Mar 2006, 14:49

Hi

It's reading well over 0.5 bar somewhere around 1.3 max. bar

Mmm, what does this mean? Good or Bad?

Post by **Ye Olde Syncrospares** » 13 Mar 2006, 14:58

it probally goes well if its saying 1.3 bar,1 bar is plenty on these engines,cj.

Post by **T2Andy** » 13 Mar 2006, 15:16

Yeah it does seem to go a lot better than everyone says the 1.6TD's do, even the guy I got it off said it seemed to pull a lot stronger than his other one.

Was down the New Forest at the weekend and it easily pulled up the long hills on the M3 and A34 at 60-70mph.

It's a german import with 170,000km on the clock and according to the paperwork it's had a new/recon engine, will have to check when I get home for more on when.

Assume this means the engine could be in for a short life then?

Thinking out loud here: Could the replacement be a different type of 1.6TD that had more boost? Think I better check the engin number to see, if so how do I un-boost it?

Post by **Horza** » 13 Mar 2006, 15:24

Well you could swap with my 1.7 n/a! That would unboost you PDQ

Post by **T2Andy** » 13 Mar 2006, 15:53

Horza wrote:Well you could swap with my 1.7 n/a! That would unboost you PDQ

Think I will pass on the the offer thanks

I do actually like my boost, just trying to find out what too much boost is going to do to the engine long term, if 1.3 is too much

Post by **Simon Baxter** » 13 Mar 2006, 19:09

Extra boost is no good without extra fuel to go with it.
I would be carefull at that sort of pressure, upto a bar or so no probs, anymore in a van and I don't think it will last too long at all.

Post by **HarryMann** » 13 Mar 2006, 22:33

Assume this means the engine could be in for a short life then?

It ain't necessarily so

They are intrinsically a strong engine, particularly if everything else is right, as Simon says, the fuellling needs checking, that's a fair bit of boost... but you could say, without fuel, you wouldn't get that amount boost, so soemthing's right about, and you say it continues to pull well when spinning fast on the motorway up hills...

I've heard a lot about heads cracking and experenced low oil pressure, and sort of solved it, kept it at bay at least. Yours must have good compressions to produce that boost and go well too, and that's the bottom line with any motor.

Could you take a look around and give the specs on turbo model (labelled on compressor housing), engine code and a photo of the pump might be useful? And the air filter?

Then Simon might be able to help you get over 100 BHP, fuelling it right

But you really need an EGT to complement that boost gauge, and to play safe

Post by **T2Andy** » 14 Mar 2006, 10:03

I only have access ti the forum at work so will have to check the turbo, pump and engine code etc. Probably won't be until as I don't usually get home in the light yet.

As you say something must be right, as it don't just creep up to that boost, if you press the peddle down, it goes straight there.

When throttled back cruising it sits around .5 to .7 bar.

EGT = Exhaust Gas Temperature?

The air filter is a big black round tube looking thing, will try to get some photos at the weekend.

Cheers.

Post by **HarryMann** » 14 Mar 2006, 10:50

The air filter is a big black round tube looking thing, will try to get some photos at the weekend

Sounds right, BIG and BLACK and CYLINDRICAL and if the element is reasonably clean, another plus point!

Think your question has been answered, re: what is the gauge thing for? Let's hope SB was erring on the cautious side about the longevity, he must have seen quite a few pack up to say that though...

EGT is as you say, which is as good a measure of how far from harm's way you are as you will get I think... nice to have. I'll be after a kit soon, they don't have to be alarmingly accurate, AFAIK, a few tens of degrees here and there maybe not vitally important in an absolute sense, but once it's in, use it to judge what max temps are, if they look safe and thus how to keep away from soaking for long periods near the max. And what driving situations bring on unexpected peaks.

Has yours got an intercooler? Follow the compressor outlet pipe, probably goes straight up to the inlet manifold, without one?

Post by **T2Andy** » 14 Mar 2006, 11:40

Yep question answered alright, just the other can of worms now

Had already thought to also check to see if there is an intercooler, to be honest not really looked to much in there yet, only got the van in December, and not used it much in anger yet.

Only noticed it seemed a bit quick as I used to have an 2.0L Aircooled Westy T2, which was supposed to produce the same amount of power, and this van seemed so much quicker even allowing for the extra torque of a diesel.

Thanks

Post by TD » 15 Mar 2006, 22:39

life expectancy? 100K if you are lucky, based on own experience + that of independant VW garage. can be as little as 70K if thrashed and not maintained to standards.
It's horses for courses- a short fast life

or a longer , boring, life for the motor

Post by **HarryMann** » 16 Mar 2006, 01:54

100K if you are lucky, based on own experience + that of independant VW garage. can be as little as 70K if thrashed and not maintained to standards.

Typical mode of failure or everything wear out at once?