Here is a handy self-help guide to helping you with your Turbosmart install and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions get here. Turbosmart recommends that you get your products fitted and tuned by a qualified technician. If you choose to fit and set the product up yourself, ensure you have all the necessary tools and technical knowledge required to perform this task.
Boost controllers are used to increase the boost being generated by the turbocharger, above what the wastegate would normally allow with its designed spring pressure/rate. Additional features are designed into the electrical units produce, but the basic function is primarily to increase the boost level.
This is a complex question which requires additional info about your intended use for the vehicle and the controller. Mechanical boost controllers are simple to operate and extremely reliable with little maintenance and tuning required. Electronic controllers incorporate numerous additional safety and functional options that mechanical units do not, and they also allow for significantly more advanced options for controlling multiple boost levels on a vehicle.
Electronic boost controllers have many benefits which are not found in manual controllers. Electronic boost controllers have an Overboost Protection function which acts as a safety feature to prevent boost in excess of your desired maximum. They also have the option of being used to activate an auxiliary device, such as meth injection or a secondary fuel pump. They offer boost correction settings to help eliminate boost drop off at higher RPM (RPM input needed), and can be configured to read in multiple units (PSI, KPa, BAR). They are also capable of recording the peak boost and RPM being measured by the unit.
The E-Boost Street and E-Boost 2 both perform many of the same base functions, but there are some differences. The E-Boost Street is capable of storing 2 boost settings which can easily be switched by using the gauge knob/button, or by use of an external switch (not included). The E-Boost 2 is capable of storing 6 boost settings that can be switched by using the gauge face buttons, or one of numerous other switching “logics”. These additional switching logics allow the E-Boost 2 to perform RPM based boost mapping, time delay based mapping, boost by gear, and a number of other custom configured boost control scenarios. The E-Boost street is rated to measure and read up to 40 PSI, whereas the E-Boost 2 can measure and read up to 60 PSI (we also offer the 120 PSI capable E-Boost HP).
This question is best directed to the person doing the install and configuration of the electronic boost controller. In many cases the primary consideration in answering this question is which option will allow for a greater reduction in the length of vacuum hose to be used. For most engine configurations with two banks and two wastegates, using dual solenoids would be recommended to allow for the quickest response and operation of the wastegates.
This question is best directed to the person doing the system design and tuning on the vehicle. The intended boost range that you’d like to run on the vehicle and the spring pressure being used in the wastegate are key factors for this discussion.
Yes, offer spare parts and accessories for boost controllers. This includes mounting brackets, toggle switches, wire harnesses, and more.
(The following answers also apply to Dual and Single Stage Boost Controllers)
No, you won’t lose anything, but if you are worried, take 5-10 minutes and note down all your settings. it’ll be helpful if you do accidentally change something.
There is no “proper” way, just start with the basic hook up method as per the instructions and if you don’t get the desired effect, try the other hookup methods as outlined in the fitting instructions.
While a fuel pressure regulator can be fitted relatively easily, Turbosmart recommends its FPRs are fitted and tuned by a qualified technicians as an incorrect setting of fuel pressure may cause your engine to run lean with the potential for detonation. Please Note: After fitting as FPR, Air-Fuel ratios must be checked.
Turning the screw clockwise will increase your base pressure and anti-clockwise will decrease base pressure. Ensure that when setting the base pressure the vacuum hose is disconnected and blocked and that the reference nipple is open to atmosphere.
“Dual Port” valves split the compressed air being released, recirculating a portion of the air back into the intake tract and releasing the remaining air into the atmosphere. A “Supersonic” valve vents 100% of the compressed air charge to the atmosphere. A “Plumb Back” valve recirculates 100% of the compressed air charge back into the intake tract.
Most piston type valves offer a small range of adjustment by rotating the unit cap in the “Harder” or “Softer” direction. The Kompact EM and Plumb Back series of valves, is the only piston style valve that does not offer this cap adjustment. Additionally, all of our BOV’s & BPV’s offer a variety of different springs, which can be used in order to accommodate a wide range of different needs.
All of springs are rated based on the amount of engine vacuum required to open the valve with that particular spring installed. In order to select the right spring for your vehicle you should take into account the amount of engine vacuum generated at idle, the vacuum “dip/spike” on initial deceleration, and what style of valve you are using (Plumb Back, Dual Port, or Supersonic).
Most valves come pre-adjusted to the correct setting for your vehicle. The two possible extremes that may require adjustment are a valve which is too stiff for your application, or a valve which is too soft.
If the valve is too stiff, then your vehicle will generally exhibit some level, large or small, of compressor surge (also known as turbo flutter). This sound may accompany a delayed (and short in duration) release of the air charge from the valve, or it may be present with absolutely no opening of the valve at all. In general, compressor surge can cause damage to the turbocharger, and should be reduced or eliminated whenever possible. If these conditions are present, then the valve should be adjusted softer.
If the valve is too soft, then your vehicle will generally suffer by having a valve that is open when it shouldn’t be (such as at idle) or from an extended air charge release (possibly in excess of 3 seconds). If either of these conditions occur, then the valve should be adjusted harder.
If the cap adjustment does not offer sufficient correction of an unwanted condition noted above, then it is very likely that another spring will need to be selected for your application. It’s also important to be aware that although we advise against it, some turbo kit builders will design a kit using our valve to have a certain level of “acceptable” compressor surge. If you are concerned about an issue such as this, then the best course of action is to reach out to the team responsible for the design of the turbo kit.
If the valve is too soft, then your vehicle will generally suffer from a valve that is open when it shouldn’t be (such as at idle) or from an extended air charge release (possibly in excess 3 seconds). If either of these conditions occur then the valve should be adjusted harder.
If the valve is too stiff, then your vehicle will generally exhibit some level, large or small, of compressor surge (also known as turbo flutter). This sound may accompany a delayed (and short in duration) release of the air charge from the valve, or it may be present with absolutely no opening of the valve at all. In general, compressor surge can cause damage to the turbocharger and should be reduced or eliminated whenever possible. If these conditions are present, then the valve should be adjusted softer.
Valves are not rated by the amount of boost pressure that they can hold. A good rule of thumb is that if the hose supplying air into the top chamber of the valve is large enough to supply an adequate volume of air, then the valve itself should maintain a closed position, despite higher boost pressures. This is because the boost pressure being plumbed into the top valve chamber is intended to overcome the boost pressure in your charge pipe, keeping the valve closed. A better determination of the type of valve needed would be to base the decision on the quantity of air being supplied to the engine. Engine displacement, boost pressure, and turbo size are all important factors to keep in mind when determining valve needs.
The most common cause of a valve leak under high boost driving, is a leak in the hose supplying boost pressure to the valve. That boost pressure going into the valve is what keeps it closed, so if you have a leak on that supply side, or some sort of restriction, then it could lead to a valve that will open under high boost driving. This supply side issue could be related to a problem with one of the hoses, a problem with the factory boost solenoid (if your vehicle has one), or a problem with the fitting which supplies air into the valve.
Selecting the correct universal valve for your vehicle requires a baseline knowledge of your needs and intended air routing system. First you need to identify the size of valve that would be sufficient for the volume of air you will be discharging through the valve. Next, you need to determine if you plan on plumbing the air back into the intake tract, releasing it to atmosphere, or a combination of the two. Some vehicles have limitations in this regard because of the air metering device being used to calculate the fuel supply to the engine. The final step in choosing the correct universal valve, would be to identify which spring is supplied with the unit in its base form and to confirm that this spring is the best option for the amount of vacuum your vehicle generates.
Some cars with sensitive Air Flow Meters will not respond well to atmospheric Blow-Off Valve. Turbosmart recommends fitting a bypass-type BOV like the Plumb Back. Fitting a bypass-type BOV will eliminate the stalling problem.
The adjustment dials do not turn 360O, they start at 1 and finish at 10. Do not force them past these points as this will damage your FCD2
Before setup the unit should be set to the following settings, Clamp=10, Release=10.
This is a complex question that should, ideally, be answered by the people building the exhaust portion of the turbocharger kit and the person doing the tuning on the vehicle. Factors that need to be considered include engine displacement, fuel type being used, available location of wastegate mounting (and position/angle), intended max RPM of the engine, number of turbochargers on the vehicle, number of wastegates being used, and the desired boost levels/range that the vehicle will operate in (High and low boost). All of these factors should be considered when selecting the correct wastegate size for the application.
Many of the Turbosmart wastegates are offered in pre-set PSI ratings, such as 7 PSI or 14 PSI. In most cases these wastegates can be customized to different spring pressures (either higher or lower) at little or no additional cost. We recommend calling our office, or your local Turbosmart supplier, if you do not see a unit offered in a PSI rating that you are intending to order.
There are many factors that could cause a vehicle to produce more boost than what the wastegate is set at. Common problems are a leak in the air supply line to the wastegate, an improperly sized wastegate for the application (usually too small), poor location/priority of the wastegate, or a stuck/seizing wastegate to list a few.
Although you can perform a “bench test” of a wastegate to confirm that it is cycling properly and not seized, this bench test will not offer accurate results in regards to the amount of air required to open the wastegate. It is important to keep in mind during this test that when the wastegate is actually run on the vehicle, there will be additional exhaust back pressure helping to force the wastegate open. Because of this, a 14 PSI wastegate may require 20+ PSI or air pressure to open during a bench test. The best way to confirm proper operation of a wastegate is to run it on a vehicle.
Yes, fitting an external wastegate will require fabrication of a custom manifold and or modification to an exhaust manifold.
Any increase in boost pressure can cause the engine to run “LEAN”, resulting in possible engine damage.