good boost in 1st, 2nd, what about other gears?

[HANZwitA93]

so i noticed that when im in 1st or 2nd and punch it, boost is around 12.5-13psi. but when im in any other gear it around 8-10 (guessing cause of were needle is) even around 6k rpms.i tightend down all the i/c clamps the other day. what do you guys think. im gunna start with plugs, wires, maybe coil? LMK what you think....thanks.

[1slow92]

Have you done a boost leak test?

[HANZwitA93]

no, but that would be weird if its not leaking in 1 and 2, but is in 3,4,5.

[stonedracer]

any cracks in the exhaust manifold?

[HANZwitA93]

not sure, havent taken the heat shield off, probably do that tonight once it cools down

[northsydryd]

welcome to the joys of owning a turbo car

[HANZwitA93]

yea, o well

[stockbutfun]

i got a 2g manifold i coould sell if yours is cracked

[the_mork]

What type of boost controller are you using? Some boost controllers that don't vent the wastegate side of the vacuum tubing will build up pressure during boost then not release it once the reference side sees vacuum causing the wastegate to stay open. Switch to a different boost controller or add a vent port.

[HANZwitA93]

its completly stock

[zerepdivad]

Don't trust that stock gauge. Mine when i got my car would like randomly say i was at like 14 psi. I knew that wasn't right because the car was balls slow. I put a gauge on it and it's actually closer to 9 psi.

[HANZwitA93]

well i can really feel the difference when its at 13 rather then 9

[zerepdivad]

First and second feel like they pull harder than any other gear on mine too. Still once i get to third it feels slow as balls again.

[HANZwitA93]

hmm, wonder how many do it. but it still gets up there pretty fast

[the_mork]

If you aren't using a boost controller then it is likely because your bcs is doing its job.

Stock boost control cares nothing about boost pressure and in fact the car has no way of knowing what either the absolute or gauge pressure is in the inlet manifold and instead bases everything off of how much air the car is pulling through the MAF. The ecu then makes an educated guess at airflow to change the status of the stock gauge and affects the bcs so that it relieves pressure at a certain load range. Interestingly enough people rag on Subarus and Fords for needing to be flashed in order to make more power, in the same way your car will not see much more power on the stock bcs because it will always attempt to maintain the same load levels and will continue to drop gauge pressure without dropping calculated pressure as you add bolt on upgrades.

Do a boost leak test and call it a day. If you aren't using an aftermarket boost gauge then get one soon and stop worrying about anything you see on the stock gauge.

[HANZwitA93]

alright thanks for the advice

[stpdk]

alright thanks for the advice

either drive up here to stevens point and we can do one or youtube boost leak tester and build one haha