Actuator installed....need help with setup!!
Discussion
Hi all PistonHeaders....Hope some of you can help with my query. This is what I posted on Audi Sport.net this morning and thought Id just copy and paste it straight from there:
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Hi everybody,
Please excuse my lack of knowledge before I begin. I'm still very new to 1.8T's and in fact, turbo charged engines in general.
Just had my new actuator fitted, but am worried about overboost. I have scanned through all threads on over-boost, but failed to find anything relevant to my query.
Basically, when I first drove the car it was no better than when it had the knackered, old actuator on it. So, I've gradually tightened the actuator arm up so that it now 'flies down the road'.
However, I am very, very worried that the car is perhaps over-boosting, and causing potential damage to the turbo and/or engine. There are no symptoms of overboost, no 'cutting out' or 'hesitations', in fact it's a dream to drive. However I've set the actuator arm about 3-4mm away from it being as tight as it will go. I have no boost gauge or VAG COM equipment....yet!
What I need to know is, is it possible for the actuator to cause over-boost? Or is the actuator only ever strong enough (no matter how it's adjusted) to work within safe parameters? Or is that just total ******** haha? Or is boost regulated and managed by something else, N75? Or would limp mode cut in if it was beginning to cause damage or work outside safety parameters? (Yes I really am guessing now).
Obviously I've been seriously thinking about getting a boost gauge and adjusting the arm of the actuator so it boosts as required, but then I knew you guys would know whether I need to, or I'm worrying about nothing (I'm pretty sure the latter isn't true however ). Also, how do I find out what it should boost too?
Any help would be extremely appreciated. The car drives superbly by the way now I've wound the arm up....mega torquey and smooth!
The car is an A3 1.8T engine code AGU with a stage 1 map if relevant in any way.
Many thanks!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi everybody,
Please excuse my lack of knowledge before I begin. I'm still very new to 1.8T's and in fact, turbo charged engines in general.
Just had my new actuator fitted, but am worried about overboost. I have scanned through all threads on over-boost, but failed to find anything relevant to my query.
Basically, when I first drove the car it was no better than when it had the knackered, old actuator on it. So, I've gradually tightened the actuator arm up so that it now 'flies down the road'.
However, I am very, very worried that the car is perhaps over-boosting, and causing potential damage to the turbo and/or engine. There are no symptoms of overboost, no 'cutting out' or 'hesitations', in fact it's a dream to drive. However I've set the actuator arm about 3-4mm away from it being as tight as it will go. I have no boost gauge or VAG COM equipment....yet!
What I need to know is, is it possible for the actuator to cause over-boost? Or is the actuator only ever strong enough (no matter how it's adjusted) to work within safe parameters? Or is that just total ******** haha? Or is boost regulated and managed by something else, N75? Or would limp mode cut in if it was beginning to cause damage or work outside safety parameters? (Yes I really am guessing now).
Obviously I've been seriously thinking about getting a boost gauge and adjusting the arm of the actuator so it boosts as required, but then I knew you guys would know whether I need to, or I'm worrying about nothing (I'm pretty sure the latter isn't true however ). Also, how do I find out what it should boost too?
Any help would be extremely appreciated. The car drives superbly by the way now I've wound the arm up....mega torquey and smooth!
The car is an A3 1.8T engine code AGU with a stage 1 map if relevant in any way.
Many thanks!
I would imagine the stage 1 will allow for the extra boost,if the turbo was producing more boost than permitted the ecu would cut the ignition which you would know about.
It would still be worth a rolling road set up to make sure everything is ok and it isnt running lean or anything and there might even be a bit more boost available.
Better to be safe than sorry.
It would still be worth a rolling road set up to make sure everything is ok and it isnt running lean or anything and there might even be a bit more boost available.
Better to be safe than sorry.
Thanks for the advice guys.
Yes I knew that a boost gauge was compulsory - currently looking at them online and about to order. The car has done 134k so as you can imagine, every time I go over 3k rpm and it starts to whistle so to speak haha, I am thinking "this doesn't feel safe". As you say - better safe than sorry!
Yes I knew that a boost gauge was compulsory - currently looking at them online and about to order. The car has done 134k so as you can imagine, every time I go over 3k rpm and it starts to whistle so to speak haha, I am thinking "this doesn't feel safe". As you say - better safe than sorry!
redgriff500 said:
Yes it's possible.
First Rule of modifying - if you don't know what you're doing - don't do it.
Second Rule - monitor everything you can - in your case I'd like to see at least a boost gauge and preferably an AFR gauge too.
It wasn't 'modified' by me. The remap was done by R-Tech - highly experienced in VAG 1.8T engines. The actuator was installed by another highly experienced, much recommended mechanic.First Rule of modifying - if you don't know what you're doing - don't do it.
Second Rule - monitor everything you can - in your case I'd like to see at least a boost gauge and preferably an AFR gauge too.
The issue is not that I don't know what I'm doing, more that I need to be sure I've set the actuator up to run the turbo to it's correct peak pressure.
I've ordered a boost gauge to allow me to test the turbo's pressure, and adjust accordingly. In the meantime until it arrives in the post, I've wound the arm down quite considerably and am driving it under 2,500 revs until I know for certain
redgriff500 said:
You're the one setting the actuator. 
Which begs the question, why didn't the mechanic set it up ?
True haha! The mechanic knew nothing about where it should be set for that engine. He's just a really experienced 'all-round' mechanic, not a turbo specialistWhich begs the question, why didn't the mechanic set it up ?
I've spoken to Nick at R-Tech and I'm now sorted (2-3 complete turns of the 10mm bolt from pre-load tension and it's set where it should be)
Thanks for all your help guys anyhow
Glad it's sorted.
My A3 is standard apart from a panel filter, and you can hear the turbo whistling above 2k revs as it draws in air on boost- you can't hear it doing so above 4.5-5k as the engine noise is louder. It's done this since I got the car 2 years ago, when it had only covered 34k and it's still running fine now at 63k so I wouldn't worry about it.
I've heard the whistling is usually only bad if it sounds like a distant police siren? Although if I'm wrong on that I'm sure someone will correct me.
My A3 is standard apart from a panel filter, and you can hear the turbo whistling above 2k revs as it draws in air on boost- you can't hear it doing so above 4.5-5k as the engine noise is louder. It's done this since I got the car 2 years ago, when it had only covered 34k and it's still running fine now at 63k so I wouldn't worry about it.
I've heard the whistling is usually only bad if it sounds like a distant police siren? Although if I'm wrong on that I'm sure someone will correct me.
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