Is a waste gate actuator worth it?

[Based]

So next Friday I am ordering my DHM Race Intercooler, Crash Bar, and Tial BOV. I'm wondering if I should also order a waste gate actuator. I'm going big turbo later this year but I'm just wondering if buying an actuator will be worth the $150 extra or if I should just wait until I get the turbo kit. The tune+ one claims like 10whp! I just don't believe that.

 

[Sourskittle]

I believe it's worth it. But it will require a custom tune even on the stock turbo


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[TUX15ST]

Tune+ is only person who believes that lol, id say just wait for your big turbo

 

[Based]

Tune+ is only person who believes that lol, id say just wait for your big turbo

Hahahahah

 

[jdubs]

From someone who has a Tune+ actuator i'd say it's a small improvement over stock. That being said I didn't have plans to go big turbo when I made the purchase. I simply wanted the most I could get from the stock unit, and the new actuator made that happen.

If you know you're going big turbo I say wait. It'll make more sense to do it all at once if you know you're going that direction.

 

[TUX15ST]

and its not that it adds power per say.... it holds more boost longer which is gives you that extra power in the higher rpm when boost falls off

 

[jdubs]

and its not that it adds power per say.... it holds more boost longer which is gives you that extra power in the higher rpm when boost falls off

Correct. I hold about 17psi to redline as opposed to the 13.5 or so I saw prior.

 

[Based]

Correct. I hold about 17psi to redline as opposed to the 13.5 or so I saw prior.

Oh ok so it just fixes what is broken. Like how you need an aftermarket intercooler because the stock one is trash

 

[TUX15ST]

Yea im at 17psi till about 6k then it slowly drops to low 14s by 6800 so your gains are made in that range for sure

 

[44sg44]

And what about the spring ratio? 7psi or 17psi? Not sure which one would be the best for uprated turbo like X-37 or X-47?

 

[Sourskittle]

The DHM turbo smart gate on their website is 17psi and it's great for both hybrid and stock.


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[Erbarry]

On other turbo cars you can shorten the wastegate rod length to make it a bit stiffer. I would try that before buying an aftermarket one since the turbo is so small. Those that have pulled off the stock turbo should take a pic of the wastgate to see if it's possible.

 

[Sourskittle]

On other turbo cars you can shorten the wastegate rod length to make it a bit stiffer. I would try that before buying an aftermarket one since the turbo is so small. Those that have pulled off the stock turbo should take a pic of the wastgate to see if it's possible.

You can tighten it. But 5.5psi spring vs 17psi base spring is a huge difference.
You also risk tightening up the nut so much you end up with boost creep because the flapper can't open enough to bleed off the required amount of exhaust heat/pressure. So your peaks can go up, but your "I want 18psi at 6500" could turn into "I can't run less than 24psi at 6500rpm".

It's just worth it to buy one. It's not like adjusting the wastegate is a quick/easy deal on this car either. Once isn't bad. But over and over and over to dial it in..... ughhhh.

 

[Erbarry]

You can tighten it. But 5.5psi spring vs 17psi base spring is a huge difference.
You also risk tightening up the nut so much you end up with boost creep because the flapper can't open enough to bleed off the required amount of exhaust heat/pressure. So your peaks can go up, but your "I want 18psi at 6500" could turn into "I can't run less than 24psi at 6500rpm".

It's just worth it to buy one. It's not like adjusting the wastegate is a quick/easy deal on this car either. Once isn't bad. But over and over and over to dial it in..... ughhhh.

Wow didn't know it was that low of a spring and yea the location of it would be hard to fine tune.

 

[Sourskittle]

Wow didn't know it was that low of a spring and yea the location of it would be hard to fine tune.

Good idea though. We used to do that on Buick Grand Nationals back in the day

 

[M-Sport fan]

It's just worth it to buy one. It's not like adjusting the wastegate is a quick/easy deal on this car either. Once isn't bad. But over and over and over to dial it in..... ughhhh.

^^^THIS is why, as great a part as the DHM/TS part may be, I will wait until I go to either your, or DHM's, C39 kit, to mess with a WGA.

To me at least, there is so little to be gained on the factory micro snail, that it is just NOT worth taking it off to do this, given just how impossibly tight the spaces are in that part of the engine bay, with EVERYTHING possible in the way, to ever be bothered with this.

 

[Sourskittle]

Dhm recently dropped the price on their gate as well...


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[stadlxr]

Is it worth it to have the Turbosmart IWG Actuator with a stock turbo? Considering ordering it as I have FBO Stage 2 software. 7 or 10psi option?

 

[Gogoggansgo]

Is it worth it to have the Turbosmart IWG Actuator with a stock turbo? Considering ordering it as I have FBO Stage 2 software. 7 or 10psi option?

Yes it is