BD Boost Fooler

[ACerf]

I have been checking out this BD Boost Fooler. My concern is; what does it do to the life of the turbo, and the engine. I can't find where it says how high this thing will allow the boost to
go? They claim it will help maintain HP, not necessarily increase it, if I understand that correctly. Anyone have experience with this? I was thinking it might help with towing.

 

[lpennock]

It doesn't have a upper limit as the computer controls the max boost and the boost fooler makes computer think there is only 28-30 psi boost. Withe stock fueling you will only get about 35psi. With a hot tune you can hit 40+. It will shorten life at 40psi but it won't really be a noticable reduction. (Think 150k instead of 175k miles if even that much.)

 

[CKelley1]

the 03 and early 04 engines use a hx35 turbo with a mechanical wastegate the boost fooler does nothing for them, the 04.5 up uses a hx40 with a combination mechanical wastegate set at 20psi and a solenoid that can increase the pressure from a 5 volt width modulated signal from the ecm, the bd boost fooler connects between the manifold pressure sensor and the wiring harness the third wire on the sensor voltage will vary from 0 volts at no boost to i think around 3 volts at 30 psi, the bd has a zenar diode in it that limits the information sent to the ecm the ecm sends signal to the solenoid, this basically removes the wastegate. the model # of your turbo is a he341 the 04.5 is a he351cw the 6.7 uses a he351vm find a good he351cw on this or other site for about $350 bd makes a adjustable wastegate for this turbo. set it to open at 33 psi, leave the solenoid on and wires unconnected, the reason for the 33 psi is above this it starts getting off of the efficiency curve. we convert our solenoids into a adjustable boost fooler, cost us nothing and extremely easy to adjust but you need some shop skills and a torch, if you want to try it i can send how to and pix
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[lpennock]

I missed it was a 03 and gave advice based on 04.5-07. Without other mods the boost fooler will do nothing for a 03.

 

[ACerf]

It doesn't have a upper limit as the computer controls the max boost and the boost fooler makes computer think there is only 28-30 psi boost. Withe stock fueling you will only get about 35psi. With a hot tune you can hit 40+. It will shorten life at 40psi but it won't really be a noticable reduction. (Think 150k instead of 175k miles if even that much.)

Thanks for info,
From doing some more research. I need to install a
Adjustable Ebow at the turbo in order for it to think
that it needs more boost, is that correct? My max boost I am getting now is 23.4 (I have BD digital gauge). And I have a close to 170k on the truck. I had a Edge EZ tow on there for years, but it appears that it fried some internal parts, plus I had no resistance thru the wiring. I am just looking for something to help with towing, but not spending a lot of money. I am thinking of selling the truck later this year.

 

[ACerf]

You say for the 03' the fooler does nothing. I thought changing the elbow at the turbo would give me more boost, that is something. I am looking at $70 for the fooler, $15 for the adjustable elbow. I have an AFE intake system, which I understand helps. As long as it doesn't damage the engine or do much harm as Ipennock mentioned. I don't see how it can't hurt, unless it just doesn't do anything at all. Them it wouldn't be worth it.

 

[AH64ID]

If you are stock then I doubt the boost fooler would give you much, even with an adjustable boost elbow.

Most tuners allow for higher boost on the 03/04's so all you would then need is an adjustable boost elbow.

 

[ACerf]

If you are stock then I doubt the boost fooler would give you much, even with an adjustable boost elbow.

Most tuners allow for higher boost on the 03/04's so all you would then need is an adjustable boost elbow.

I had an edge ez on the truck for years. They gave me elbow that was not adjustable to put on the turbo. But between the two, it ran up to 35psi okay, but the EGT jumped up to 1400 degrees very quickly. I took the elbow off. But towing my trailer now I would be interested in lowering the EGT, and if the boost fooler could do that much I would be happy.

 

[AH64ID]

You will need to put the elbow back on to get any gains from the boost fooler.

It might lower your EGT's some, but only at or near WOT. Partial throttle (up to about 23-24 psi) won't see any changes.

 

[ACerf]

Good point. Going up some hills I am running close to max boost and if I am not paying attention, over 1200 degrees egt. I take the OD off in order to raise the Trans line pressure and drop egt's.

 

[ACerf]

I found the elbow that came with the Edge EZ. It has a small hole in the end that screws into the turbo. I am guessing that it was there to help manage the 35psi boost. Edge is now on its way to the dump! Got some good years out it.

 

[CKelley1]

the boost fooler does nothing for your truck, the turbo is undersized, if you upgrade to a 04.5 turbo it will help

 

[ACerf]

the boost fooler does nothing for your truck, the turbo is undersized, if you upgrade to a 04.5 turbo it will help

I guess it depends, I know that it will slightly reduce EGT'S, it is producing boost which in turn does something. I am not looking for a lot of results.
It is my understanding that the 04.5 turbo will not work,
with the 03', and if I can get a custom turbo why would waste my money on the 04.5 turbo, just saying.

 

[AH64ID]

The 04.5-07 turbo will work as along as you plug the solenoid port on the manifold and adjust the wastegste. The turbine section is identical to the 03/04, and the compressor is the only difference. The 04.5-07 does run quite a bit more drive pressure thou.

 

[cerberusiam]

Without a tuner the BF will allow higher than stock boost without a derate or CEL.

The HE351 will work fine. Just leave the WG controller in the turbo and put the boost elbow in the boost reference hose to control max boost.

The extra boost will net you some less EGT's and little more power on the top side. Depends on what you want to spend to achieve.

 

[Ozymandias]

Thanks for info,

I am thinking of selling the truck later this year.

If you are going to sell that truck in a couple of months then leave it alone, don't spend any money into this.
That doesn't make any sense.