boost guage

[ImPrOvIsE]

Just wondering how much a boost guage might cost and where can i get one for a good price. Also, Im wondering what sort of boost my car might be reaching now. It has turbo back 3" exhaust and Redline air filter. Cheers.

Actually, one more question. What would be the next best mod. From reading these forums it seems to be a S-AFC II

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Boost gauges will vary in price alot depending on manufacturer. Jap brands are about $350+, local brands about $150+. Not much difference apart from the name. Check in the 4 Sale section, might be able to pick one up cheap:D

Either the S-AFCII or FMIC would be my next buy, keeping in mind your clutch will eventually go with more power.

Boost might have risen slightly, possibly up to 9-10psi.

I'd have your compression checked first if your loosing oil though, might need to money for that:D

[ImPrOvIsE]

Thanks Paul. Any idea on what a compresssion test might cost?

[caminperth]

The boost may have risen a bit - but i wouldn't say up to 9-10 psi.. Zanda's has a dump and hks pod (very high flow, only fliters rocks and small birds ) and his was only running 5-6psi. I'd imagine that yours would be around the same.

[adam 32]

compression test can be done anywhere and wouldnt cost more than $30-$50

[adam 32]

and 8psi is standard boost pressure so i would also guess with an exhaust youll be around the 9-10psi mark

if zanda is only making 5psi id be looking at vacuum and actuator lines for leaks cos thats below-normal

[zanda]

check out the splitfire ones. theyre cheap-as!

http://www.lynxcorp.com.au/

I could well be wrong, but given the factory boost gauge only goes from -7 to +7, its reasonable to assume that 5 might be closer to standard?

[Gradenko]

zanda, the factory gauge reads in mmHg x 100, not psi.

Theres a conversion table here: http://xtronics.com/reference/convert.htm

So if the factory gauge reads 5, then 500 mmHg x 0.01934 = 9.67 psi. Sounds about right.

[drifta]

i got my cheapy from fibrevision obx $75 i have seen cheaper ones at carmate for $50 now thats cheap but you get what you pay for shit but does the job

[adam 32]

careful with going too shitty though - some have caused serious engine damage because of inaccurate boost pressure readings.

[drifta]

do you mean by pushing to much boost

[adam 32]

yep

[caminperth]

vdo guage and no leaks.. me thinks that the improvement made on zanda's car is a bit more than just an extra psi (his is set to 10)...

i'd say that yes 7psi IS standard - but i doubt after 80,000kms that most cars would still be doing that..

improvise - post your stock boost levels when you get the guage on to settle the argument..

[adam 32]

why would a car's boost level change over time? if boost pressure is governed by the actuator which takes a reading off the plenum then this should be constant. given the vacuum and actuator lines don't have any cracks or leaks...

[Gradenko]

caminperth, we can't take ImPrOvIsE's boost level as being factory anymore. His intake and exhaust mods would have free'd up back pressure and increased boost by the by. Those would be the only reasons for boost to change over the years. Except for air leaks and stuff of course.

If I remember from back when my car was stock (factory airbox, exhaust, the lot), the factory boost gauge used get up to 3.5, which is 6.8psi. Filter and exhaust saw boost rise to ~10psi.

BTW ImPrOvIsE, I would go for fuel control next, so yeah, a SAFC (or pfc or whatever) before a FMIC.

[caminperth]

adam - because things wear out over time bud..

gradenko - not after improvise's boost level for a stock reading - I meant to say it'll be interesting to see what it was like compared to Zanda's which was only 5-6psi..

[zanda]

I'd have to say, this whole discussion is making me a little paranoid.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

A little paranoid about what?

Alex, a full exhaust will tend to raise the stock boost level, and as many of us have discovered, about 9-10psi is right.

[zanda]

yeah, only Im running 9-10 psi (spiking to about 11) having raised from a perceived 5-6, and having full exhaust work etc.

does this mean that Im actually running about 13-14?

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Could be your boost gauge, get it on the dyno, there gauges are much more accurate:D