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Check out the IDI Turbo PDF at this link. Contains some interesting data.
One thing I found particularly interesting was the Wastegate Actuator Test (pp 33-34). It specifies the wastegate should start to move with 10-12 psi at the actuator, and be fully open at 20-22 psi, moving 0.500 inches when fully actuated.
My understanding was that the IDI Turbos were limited to 7.5 PSI at the factory. According to this Ford test, it seems the wastegate does not even open until 10 PSI, and 20 PSI is expected.
This concerns me because I'm seeing 15+ psi regularly with any sort of a load when my foot is planted going up-hill. I was planning on replacing my wastegate actuator, but now I figure I'll test it and leave it if it tests OK.
Is your truck a factory turbo? They are limited to 7 psi by the design of the turbo outlet and down pipe not the waste gate even if I disconect mine I never see above 7psi. frome what I've heard its possible if I turn my fule way up. If you have an after market ATS it will produce more because it uses a different outlet and down pipe. you realy don't want to see much more than 15 psi on a 7.3 from what I've been told. If you want to adjust you're waste gate for lower boost just pull the rod off the lever and turn it out acouple turns. Aslso it is possible that the waste gate isn't working so the test would be the first thing to do.
I have a factory turbo, but I have an ATS elbow and 3" turbo back exhaust. I understand the comments about not wanting to see more than 15 PSI.
I tested my wastegate today, as specified in the Ford document, and my wastegate is within the specifications. The wastegate starts to open at 12 PSI, and is fully open at 22 PSI. I'm thinking of turning it down, but I would like to understand why the Factory specs for the wastegate actuation are so much higher than the 15 PSI conventional wisdom.
IH never used a turbo on there IDIs. The reason for fords spec is that if it openedm all the way at 15 psi is that the way a diafram works if it was all the way open at 15 psi it would have started to open much sooner. It doesn't need to move much to let enough exaust by to keep the boost steady. I would check that the waste gate itself moves freely and if it dose lengthen the waste gate rod a little untill apropriate boost levels are reached.
George D.,
I disconnected my waste gate before I made all my mods and could push close to 11 psi. I wonder if there is some other issue limiting you to 7 psi? As always, with a waste gate disconnected, watch that boost gauge.
I have to say, That "coffee Table" book has the only detailed instructions on turbo removal I have seen. If not for it, I might still be taking mine apart.
The exhaust gasses are also pushing against the wastegate under normal conditions and this helps to open the gate. This means that if you were to use only air pressure to the wastegate actuator and no exhaust back pressure, you will need more pressure ("boost" pressure) than is normally seen when the engine is running. This is why there is a difference in the numbers you expect to see on the road and the numbers while testing the actuator.
I lengthened the actuator rod about 10 or so full turns and now the wastegate is in a range I'm happier with. It is starting to open at 10 psi on and fully open at 20 psi on the test gauge. I road tested it dragging my trailer up hill on the Interstate and I was consistent at 14 psi of boost.
George D.,
I disconnected my waste gate before I made all my mods and could push close to 11 psi. I wonder if there is some other issue limiting you to 7 psi? As always, with a waste gate disconnected, watch that boost gauge.
I have to say, That "coffee Table" book has the only detailed instructions on turbo removal I have seen. If not for it, I might still be taking mine apart.
Did you have your fule turned up? Or were you pulling a trailler? I've seen 7psi pulling a long with it floored going from55-80 with my torque converter locked. But it almost sounds like I may need to adjust my waste gate more since it took Axe_handle 10 turns to drop hiss down a couple psi.
I've also done the boost test as outlined in the manuel and got 6 psi at stall speed and it sounded real cool.
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