T2 only running 9psi. Any idea's why?

[city_cabriolet]

My T2 has big exhaust and pod filter. There's a small leak...but it can't be leaking 4 pound?

Any idea's why it's only boosting to 9? I'm getting new intercooler soon (and custom piping made up), so leak will be fixed, but i really want to fix this boost problem. Engine feels strong, turbo sounds good. Someone help please.

[Colza]

13psi is quite a bit of pressure, if you know of one leak then I shold imagine that the air can find a few more...

[city_cabriolet]

also, the Dash boost thingy goes all the way up to full, but psi guage only says 9psi...that's less than standard!

[Brendan]

A small leak could account for 4psi.  The "dash boost thingy" is'nt exactly accurate and is there more for wank value than anything else.  If no one else suggests trouble shooting ideas, you might be able to get a smoke test done by a mechanic?

[city_cabriolet]

i must say, when it's boosting high, i can't hear the turbo anymore due to load whooshing air noise and a small squeil (from actual leak) how do others sound? Maybe i have more leaks besides the squeil.

[Colza]

On full boost my car sounds like a vacuum cleaner (with associated loudish exhaust noise).

Had a nice "white smoke" making reaction i found in one of my chemistry books from school which i was about to post, but i have just found out that the smoke is really quite acid. Maybe not....

[Charles]

Open up the black box and check that all the pipes are still on the electronic boost controller and that it is still working. You could pull it all off and set it up to have a permanent bleed (rather than the two stage approach). Is the car hot enough when you test?

Where have you got your boost pressure gauge hooked up to? It can make a difference if it is intake manifold or just after turbo.

[Colza]

While we are on the subject Charles, how does it work and what does it do exactly?

[city_cabriolet]

Charles, it's plenty warm while testing. I always wait till it's warm before using high boost.

Not sure what black box your referring too.

[city_cabriolet]

Also, my boost guage doesn't show negative pressure, on idle it's at 0, when i can hear it spooling it's on like 2, when it's half whach it's on 5, full throttle 9.

When it's on 5 it has plenty of torque...

Does this mean it's plugged into the wrong vacuum line?

[Colza]

The guage not showing vacuum just shows that it is hooked in before the throttle. It doesn show vacuum because there is a closed throttle plate between it and the engine.

The black box is the one mounted up the top on the drivers side fo the engine bay. It has a few large plugs and many vacuum hoses.