Wastgate - can you disable

[posey-smoker]

Can anyone tell if you can plug the wastgate actuator host so it never opens the wastgate? Will the higher boost cause any adverse problems with the engine?



I have a buddy that cut and plugged the hose to his wastgate so it wouldn't open and he is getting allot more boost on his guage and you can feel the difference in power. He has a Duratrash.



Has anyone done this on an 03 HO?

 

[TSpecht]

Yes it could cause problems, such as overspeeding the turbocharger, which has the potential to cause catastrophic turbocharger failure (i. e. blow the turbo apart, and find pieces in the intercooler, etc)... Better off in the long run to use a different turbo, and probably still run a wastegate just to be safe...

 

[robertyoke]

I would not worry about the turbo because unless you fool the ecm, the extra boost will cause the ecm to defuel and you will loose power.

unless you add fuel you wont over speed the turbo and unless you add fuel you wont benefit from blocking the wastegate. added boost does not = added power!!

-robert

 

[tsi_2baad4u]

There are two things. As said, you must have a boost fooler first or it's all pointless. Then just spend $50 for a manual boost controller and you'll be able to set boost to whatever you want to. Actually disabling the wastegate on any turbo is never the right answer. It's put there to save the turbo's life. By disabling it the only way to control the turbo and boost is by fuel and your right foot. If you run a proper manual boost controller you'll be able to set boost to any psi you want then floor it anytime, anyplace.

 

[posey-smoker]

OK I went ahead and cut the wastgate pressure hose and here is what I have seen over the past week or so.



1. Prior to doing the mod the boost pressure hardley ever moved past 6 to 10 lbs unless you were at WOT then it hit about 20 max. Now as soon as you begin to put your foot into it the boost guage immediately responds and the pressure builds fast until around 20 lbs. If you go WOT it will hit 28 lbs. You can then feel it de-fuel around 26 lbs. This hasn't thrown any codes yet.



2. You can feel the added power from the extra boost until it begins to de-fuel around 26 lbs. If running down the road and want to pass someone even just lightly pushing on the "gas" will send the turbo straight up to around 20 lbs and it will put you in the seat. If you push too much you will go to 26 and it will defuel.



3. Took a trip from Evansville, IN to Indianapolis, IN yesterday. Ran 65 and 70 all the way there. Averaged 21. 4 MPG over the entire 446 miles round trip. That's up over 2 MPG from the last trip prior to cutting and plugging the hose.



I do see a major downfall and that is if your passing someone and suddenly you need to floor it to get by it will defuel and scare you silly.



Spoke with Quadzilla regarding their boost fooler for the 03 HO and they said that adding their boost fooler will allow the turbo to spool past 28 lbs while telling the computer a lower number preventing the defueling. When installing this fooler on an 03 you must cut and plugh the wastgate hose.



Sorry for the long response.

 

[posey-smoker]

I think my wastgate spring may be too soft. I think this because I never really showed any real boost until you went WOT prior to making the change. After the change any movement of the throttle makes boost. I think the wastgate was opening way too soon.



Does this make sense or can anyone else explain this too me?

 

[JUrish]

You need to edit your sig file so we can see whAt you are bombin~

OK I went ahead and cut the wastgate pressure hose and here is what I have seen over the past week or so.



1. Prior to doing the mod the boost pressure hardley ever moved past 6 to 10 lbs unless you were at WOT then it hit about 20 max. Now as soon as you begin to put your foot into it the boost guage immediately responds and the pressure builds fast until around 20 lbs. If you go WOT it will hit 28 lbs. You can then feel it de-fuel around 26 lbs. This hasn't thrown any codes yet.



2. You can feel the added power from the extra boost until it begins to de-fuel around 26 lbs. If running down the road and want to pass someone even just lightly pushing on the "gas" will send the turbo straight up to around 20 lbs and it will put you in the seat. If you push too much you will go to 26 and it will defuel.



3. Took a trip from Evansville, IN to Indianapolis, IN yesterday. Ran 65 and 70 all the way there. Averaged 21. 4 MPG over the entire 446 miles round trip. That's up over 2 MPG from the last trip prior to cutting and plugging the hose.



I do see a major downfall and that is if your passing someone and suddenly you need to floor it to get by it will defuel and scare you silly.



Spoke with Quadzilla regarding their boost fooler for the 03 HO and they said that adding their boost fooler will allow the turbo to spool past 28 lbs while telling the computer a lower number preventing the defueling. When installing this fooler on an 03 you must cut and plugh the wastgate hose.



Sorry for the long response.

 

[JHardwick]

I pinch off the wastegate hose on my '03 and see a 100-150* decrease in EGTs ... ... ... ..... thats with a load, climbing the side of a mountain.

 

[Cummins724]

I pinch off the wastegate hose on my '03 and see a 100-150* decrease in EGTs ... ... ... ..... thats with a load, climbing the side of a mountain.

This is not actually the best thing to do. I tried this before & it did work on my 99, but when I told a turbo builder what I did... . He said to uncrimp it. The tech said that the wastegate is there for protection against "boost spikes" which can cause it to blow apart & cause engine/intercooler damage. As mentioned. . Get the boost fooler & it will work. They only cost $70-$80 & thats cheap insurance.

 

[JHardwick]

My Quad does "boost fooling", and it's no different than a "non-wastgated" turbo.