Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) stock boost 26 psi??

[TMitch]

I reported on my successful gauge installation last week and the initial readings. My truck is a stock (except for BHAF) 97 3500 4x4 5spd.



26 psi boost WOT 5th gear

1100* EGT WOT unloaded flat ground 5th gear



This looked a bit high to me but no one commented on my last post. I checked my Dodge service manual but it was absolutley no help. Oh well, the truck runs well.

As it turns out I had to fly down to Vancouver this week to do a pre-delivery inspection on our new fire truck, (sorry it's got a Cat C-7 in it) and it was just around the corner from PDR. So after I was down there I popped over to PDR.

At Piers I asked about my boost readings and the first comment was "well, it's not stock". I replied "it's definitely stock, I bought it from the original owner - my father-in-law".

"It can't be stock".

"Yes it is".

"Then your wastegate is stuck".

That's why you put gauges in first...

 

[nfox]

Boost Numbers

Usually stock boost numbers are around 18 to 21psi, sounds like your has a little more power than other stock ones. Did you buy any goodies while you were at PDR? Oo.

 

[ndurbin]

Back when my truck was mostly stock w/ the wastegate blocked I could hit 26 psi (thats w/ the HX35). Now I can hit 36-38 psi with the wastegate still blocked. I very rarely get up that high in boost so I haven't started using the wastegate again. Your wastegate could be stuck open or something else. But who needs a wastegate anyway. :-laf



Nathan

 

[Jeff H]

The wastegate can be fiddled with to increase boost. My stock boost was 18 psi. Well I blew that wastegate. Illflem had a spare and sent it out too me. That one reached about 21 psi.

I wanted at leats 30. I adjsuted the shaft. Then added some washers where it mounts too. I top out at around 30 ro 32 psi of boost. Egt's around 1000.

Then added 370 injector nozzles. Waste gate blocked I could peg 40 psi easy. With Gate hook up top at 32 psi.

I have 19 degrees of timing. Thats why I didn't wan't to go any higher than 30 lbs of boost.

 

[ata]

The 96-97-98 215hp manual tran's the waste gate is set at 24 psi. The 96-97-98 180 hp auto's the waste gate was set at 18 psi. If you go to Fritz's Dodge Ram Tech site it say's the waste gates are set at 17 psi for the 180 and 23 psi for the 215. I don't know why the Fritz's site say 1 pound less then the factor setting.

 

[TMitch]

I appreciate the comments on the wastegate. I haven't done anything with it yet. I tried to get at it from the top but I can't see around corners so I crawled underneath and can see it all clearly from below.

Can someone describe how the boost reacts when the wastegate opens?

How much will the boost drop when the wastegate opens?

What I see is that the boost drops because the RPMs max out when the truck starts defueling?

Maybe someone with a stock 96-97 5 speed with gauges (if there are any left out there) can tell me at what rpm their wastegate opens.

TIA

Terry

 

[TrqMonster]

Im sure I will be corrected if wrong. I think the wastegate dumps excess exhaust so your boost wont go past whatever the wastegate is set for. Helps to protect the turbo and all that good stuff. Your boost wont really drop, it will be limited to what the w. g. is set at. When I got my 96 5 speed, it was mainly stock, with a BHAF and the stock plate moved up just a little and would get about 25-26 PSI. Your intake may have given a few extra pounds of boost over stock. Your boost would drop at max RPM because of defueling, less fuel = less boost.



Blocking wastegate on my current setup made 52 PSI on stock turbo so I had to hook the wastegate backup. Now it is about 37 PSI max.



If I am wrong someone will correct me please.

 

[bmoeller]

What I see is that the boost drops because the RPMs max out when the truck starts defueling?

Yes.

... . can tell me at what rpm their wastegate opens.

When the w/g opens, it isn't based on engine RPM. It is only opened by the boost created, when the engine is under load. Boost is created from the fuel being used. More fuel = more boost.

 

[pwerwagn]

My stock 215 would hit around 24 psi or so.

 

[sfelts]

I just started my install of gauges. as of now all that is in is the boost. I am getting 21psi with a stock 180hp and auto trans. only supose to have 15-18 psi. I think the strait pipe and K&N filter may be giving me that extra 3 psi. I could be wrong.

Acording to the paper work that I recived from Geno's. The stock 215hp 5 speed 96-98 12v have 21-23 psi of boost. The EGTs shuld be at 600-700 driving at 60mph at half throttle.



Hope this helps



Shane

 

[BTighe]

i too just installed gauges on my 97 215hp. i have a dropin k&n and 4"catback w/o the cat. the highest i could get the boost is around 25 in third gear at about 2500 rpm. i could not get the pyro past 900(pre turbo) with my cargo trailer weighing about 4k.



isspro white faced pyro and boost from geno's-installed sun. Oo.

 

[TMitch]

I found a hill yesterday and stomped on it from the bottom to the top and I peaked a bit over 1100* (pre-turbo, unloaded, 5th gear). When I got home I tried to get at the wastegate actuator again but I need a third arm that is about a foot longer. I am going to have to get really motivated to lay flat on my back and do it all from under the truck. The truck runs great so there is no rush to get to it fixed although when I start towing the 26' boat in the spring it will need it to work properly.

To answer the earlier question about buying goodies at PDR... I had to hold myself back, mostly because I flew down there and my wife was picking me up the airport when I got home...

 

[TrqMonster]

TMitch, what are you going to fix? Are you going to try and lower your boost? It sounds like that is where it should be. Your EGT's sound alright especially WOT uphill and your more than stock boost numbers are probably due to the BHAF. If you want it to work properly then leaving it the way it is and add free flowing exhaust. Should help lower EGT's and may add another pound or so of boost. The 2-4 extra pounds of boost is only going to help your truck, it wont hurt the turbo, they can take a lot or at least mine has. This of course is only my opinion.

 

[TMitch]

TrqMonster,

I am worried that the wastegate is not working? Before I hook up the 26' boat in the spring and tow it up a couple of monster hills (gravel logging roads), I want to be sure everything is working as it should.

Do I have to be towing heavy to see the boost drop because the wastegate opens?

Right now it keeps climbing until it defuels. Shouldn't the wastegate open up at the factory setting 23-24psi, I haven't touched it?

I realize the BHAF is going to help lower the EGTs but mine are higher than most stock trucks when common sense says the BHAF should lower them a bit?

This makes me think that the wastegate isn't opening, even though the additon of the BHAF will flow more air and allow the creation of more boost if the wastegate is adjusted to allow higher boost to develop (I haven't adjusted wastegate)?

I am not unhappy with the way the truck runs, I just don't want a little problem like a non functioning wastegate to create problems later.

I hope that makes sense.

Terry

 

[TrqMonster]

My stock turbo is currently wastegated with boost elbow and is making about 37 PSI max. wastegate plugged, it made 52 PSI max. I think your wastegate is operating correctly, 1100* preturbo WOT uphill is not that hot (in my opinion). I guess it may become a problem when towing your boat but when are you going to mash it in fifth uphill towing? I dont think you would have to tow to discover a problem, you should notice it now.



I have heard from some guys and even the ones in the previous posts that they gained 1-2 PSI from the BHAF. So when you add that to your stock 24 PSI you are right where you should be. The only problem you would have with the wastegate malfunctioning I think is that it would be staying open somehow but that would mean you were not making enough boost. If you are worried that it is not opening, it would have the same effect as someone plugging it off like I have before. As far as the way they are set from stock it may be set a little higher and be limited by intake/exhaust flow, so when you flow more of both, it allows more boost.



I guess my point is mainly if its not opening,your not pushing enough fuel to hurt anything with your turbo or your EGT's. If you werent making enough boost your EGT's would be higher. I know the feeling of breaking while towing, it sucks, but it sounds like to me your truck is fine.



Others can probably help you with the settings and adjustment of the wastegate. I have only plugged mine and hooked it back up. Im no expert, just trying to help.

 

[TMitch]

TrqMonster,

Thanks, it all is starting to make sense to me. I am going to drive it as is until the spring at which point I will have established a good set of baseline gauge readings. There's not much road here, mainly a coastal highway that's about 80 miles long so I don't have much of a chance to open it up. When I get over to mainland, there's a few real good long hills to push it to the limit and see what it does. In a few months, I think I'll have a better idea how it reacts and I'll have had a chance to pull a trailers etc.

Thanks for the help.

Terry

 

[TrqMonster]

I hope you dont have any problems, especially when towing your boat. Sounds like your truck is performing correctly. Good luck.