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Turbosmart Wastegate Issue

Messages
41
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12
Location
Wheaton
#1
Good evening everyone,

So I just spent the better part, okay the whole part, of today installing an intercooler and a Turbosmart IWG75 7lb wastegate. First and foremost I did not buy the wastegate pre-adjusted from Adam at Tune+ or anything like that.

Install was a PITA, but that is not why I am here. So I thought I had the preload set like it was with the stock wastegate. Upon test driving the new wastegate is opening while on the throttle about half way. When I floored it boost would surge to almost 28lbs before tapering off. Needless to say I am concerned as I did not re-flash the car and am running OTS Cobb stage 2. On the stock wastegate I experienced no boost loss on half throttle and would peak at 22lbs before again tapering off. So I know something is wrong. I know it is likely improper adjustment of the wastegate leading to it opening on half throttle and closing at full throttle leading to an unsafe amount of boost.

I do not have the car taken apart anymore and cannot provide photos of the wastegate as it sits. There were roughly 3mm of threads exposed at the end of the wastegate. All clips were attached so nothing has wiggled loose.

What I am hoping is that an expert can chime in and tell me the following:
1) Do the symptoms I describe fit the bill of an improper adjustment?
2) If the wastegate is improperly adjusted do I need more/less threads exposed at the end of the wastegate?
3) How much thread should be exposed?
3) What are the negative ramifications of driving the car?

Ideally I would love it if someone can provide me a picture of their properly-adjusted Turbosmart IWG75 wastegate either in a box from Tune+ or on their car after they adjusted it. If that is not possible I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction for adjusting this thing as I am nervous I could blow my turbo/motor in this situation. I do not have the time to keep fighting with the heat shield to make minor adjustments only to have to keep screwing around with this thing.

Lastly; I have datalogs from some pulls I did in various gears for varying lengths of time. I did not know what to log so hopefully the numbers make sense to someone with some tuning experience. I will provide the logs to anyone who could use them. Basically any help anyone can offer will leave me forever indebted to you.

Thank you everyone in advance,
William

EDIT: In watching Adam's video on the wastegate I realized I don't believe I adjusted the length of the rod. I just tightened the bolts around the shaft of the wastegate. Leads me to believe I did not pre-load the new wastegate properly. I wonder if that is where my problem lies. Okay I am tired; going to get some sleep and wait for you all to help me assess this situation. Good night all.
 


Messages
259
Likes
59
Location
SoCal
#2
If you have a '14 like me you might have issues with the OTS tunes and the stock WG tables. I had tons of issues with Adams WG until I got a Turbosmart BOV. i know it's expensive but it solved ALL my issues. If I did it all over again I would not buy a WGA and spend the money on the mechanical BOV. It really finishes off the driver experience. Random boost release KILLS the driving fun.

In fact, I would suggest a mechanical BOV as a great first and possibly only mod anyone buy. It's freakin great. With the Boomba adapter I got boost release all over the place.

Btw just tighten the WG until it gives you some feedback. It's not rocket science, just want to tighten it until it get tight. That means the WG is closed and any movement in the actuator will open it. Good to go.
 


OP
W
Messages
41
Likes
12
Location
Wheaton
Thread Starter #3
If you have a '14 like me you might have issues with the OTS tunes and the stock WG tables. I had tons of issues with Adams WG until I got a Turbosmart BOV. i know it's expensive but it solved ALL my issues. If I did it all over again I would not buy a WGA and spend the money on the mechanical BOV. It really finishes off the driver experience. Random boost release KILLS the driving fun.

In fact, I would suggest a mechanical BOV as a great first and possibly only mod anyone buy. It's freakin great. With the Boomba adapter I got boost release all over the place.

Btw just tighten the WG until it gives you some feedback. It's not rocket science, just want to tighten it until it get tight. That means the WG is closed and any movement in the actuator will open it. Good to go.
My car is a 2014 FIST. I am not all that worried about the boost release being random as I am going to have Adam at Tune+ tune the car after I pay for the aforementioned mods. I am worried about the massive spike in boost. Boy was it fun going full throttle under 28lbs, but the car was pry not happy with that much un-tuned boost.

I think I might have too much preload on the wastegate. I am going to take the car apart (again ugh) and see if I can adjust the preload. I will try to upload a picture if I can get my camera in the small space.

Thanks for the info on the wastegate wrongwheeldrive - It may not be rocket science, but this whole process has turned into a big mess.
 


Messages
276
Likes
207
Location
Beltsville
#4
YOU NEED NEED NEED A TUNE WITH ADJUSTED WASTEGATE TABLES OR YOU WILL GET BOOST SPIKES! The stock WG tables hit 100% duty cycle to try to keep boost at high rpms.

Ask adam to send you a modified OTS tune with proper wastegate tables to get you around or just buy a full tune from him. Hardware and software always need to match.
 


Messages
456
Likes
297
Location
Lewisville
#5
As mentioned, a tune is required for any upgraded wastegate actuator. What spring set do you have in your actuator?
 


OP
W
Messages
41
Likes
12
Location
Wheaton
Thread Starter #6
YOU NEED NEED NEED A TUNE WITH ADJUSTED WASTEGATE TABLES OR YOU WILL GET BOOST SPIKES! The stock WG tables hit 100% duty cycle to try to keep boost at high rpms.

Ask adam to send you a modified OTS tune with proper wastegate tables to get you around or just buy a full tune from him. Hardware and software always need to match.
Thanks for the heads up regarding the tune I thought I would be able to get by at least temporarily w/o one but that doesn't seem to be the case.

I have taken the wastegate back to zero and am going to try to set it to the 2.5 to 3mm recommended in the video. I had mine set with way too much pre-load. Lesson to everyone: Do your research ahead of time and don't work while tired.
 


OP
W
Messages
41
Likes
12
Location
Wheaton
Thread Starter #7
As mentioned, a tune is required for any upgraded wastegate actuator. What spring set do you have in your actuator?
The wastegate has a 7lb spring. I will be in contact w/you for a tune, however do you think I will be able to "get by" babying the car until I can get a tune? Not ideal I know, but I would rather not have to put the old wastegate on only to remove in the near future and a tune was not an expense I planned for when I began this project yesterday. There is only so much overtime in a month to pay for car projects.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I clearly did not think this project out far enough in advance and skipped the tuning step.
 


OP
W
Messages
41
Likes
12
Location
Wheaton
Thread Starter #8
As an update: I adjusted the pre-load and it seems my issues with running 28lbs of boost are gone. Probably going to give the nut another half a turn and call it good enough. I, again, appreciate everyone's assistance. Adam; I will be contacting you for a tune as soon as I can afford it. The car is derivable in its current state with boost figures back in the 20.5 to 21lb range and there hasn't been any surge into numbers outside the normal range.

This has been an experience to say the least. I think I am done modding for a bit.

-William
 




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