RB20DET Max Boost

[TimmyB]

can any body tell me, the max boost that can be run out of the standard turbo on an RB20DET engine (silver top)??????

Whould there be much increase if i was to upgrade the intercooler???

Thanks.

[Chris32]

14psi is considered the safe max

some have run more with no drama's, others have run less and had drama's

You might pick up a few psi with a differant intercooler, but it will also mean your turbo wont have to work as hard to make the same boost as previous if you run 14psi with the stock intercooler compared to 14psi with a aftermarket cooler

hope it makes sense

Chris

[TimmyB]

14psi is considered the safe max

some have run more with no drama's, others have run less and had drama's

You might pick up a few psi with a differant intercooler, but it will also mean your turbo wont have to work as hard to make the same boost as previous if you run 14psi with the stock intercooler compared to 14psi with a aftermarket cooler

hope it makes sense

Chris

Right so by running 14psi, i wouldn't have to alter anything else on the engine?

The fuel system would be able to keep up with no problems?

So are you saying that by upgrading the intercooler i could say run 12psi and get the same result as running 14psi on the standard cooler?

[xRHETTx]

Right so by running 14psi, i wouldn't have to alter anything else on the engine?

The fuel system would be able to keep up with no problems?

So are you saying that by upgrading the intercooler i could say run 12psi and get the same result as running 14psi on the standard cooler?

If your standard boost gauge (or aftermarket with sensor in the same place) is reading 14psi, that is the actual pressure at the inlet manifold. So, if there is say 3 psi pressure drop through the intercooler and piping etc, the turbo is actually running at 17psi.

So if you reduce the pressure drop, the turbo doesnt have to work so hard to produce the same pressure at the inlet manifold.

[TimmyB]

right i'm with ya.

So by upgrading the intercooler it should reduce the preasure drop and make life for the turbo that little bit easier.

I've been thinking about installing a single stage boost controller with just a flick switch down the track, and was wondering what would be a reasonable level to increase too.

Thanks for that guys.

Does anyone run any good boost controllers that are worth looking in too????

[Chris32]

if you can afford it, there are many benefits to be had with a electronic boost controller

if you do wind the boost up, make sure you get it dyno'd to check air fuel ratio's, especially if the car has the original pump in it

You know once you start with boost, it will never end - fuel pump, clutch, intercooler the list goes on!

[TimmyB]

i

You know once you start with boost, it will never end  - fuel pump, clutch, intercooler the list goes on!

Cool thanx man.

A friend and i have been talking and it's like you say, a very deep expensive hole that you can fall in to, i'm not sure i want to fall in that hole. but i'll see how things go. i've also got a rather fast motorBike, so i might just keep the extreme speed for that. (on the track of course)

[Chris32]

I'd say if your car is in reasonable condition, there is no reason it can't cope with a bit of a boost up

bang for bucks wise a bleed valve can be had for $40 odd bucks, you could try it and see how the car feels. If you don't like it or the car can't handle it, then take it off and sell it

My car was good when i put the intercooler, exhaust and pod filter on, it made 153rwkw with the standard fuel pump, clutch etc. That was without touching the boost too, just with the intercooler and exhaust

if I where you, I'd get one of those $200 all in one dump/front pipe, ditch the cat, intercooler and mild boost up and see how it feels. Either way by increasing flow with the intercooler, or winding a bit of boost in, it will make more power and feel heaps better

[TimmyB]

Yeah i think that might be a way to go to start with .Just get a manual boost controller and go from there. I understand that there is no use spending a heap if it's not going to get the results or desired reaction.

I think if i was to do anything, and intercooler and exhaust would be the first thing to be looked at. I already have a HKS pod on there, so don't need to go there, and then i might look at uping the boost. Would be alright i recon.

Just a question man, what would a standard RB20DET make at the wheels???

[Chris32]

stock standard in good condition they should make around 100-110rwkw

I'd go with intercooler and exhaust, becasue that is what would give you the best gain, as the boost will rise with less restriction anyway. From there I would look at fuel pump and boost control. I would expect to see 150rwk from exhaust and intercooler mods

[TimmyB]

oh right. Well i recon that could be a little project work for me to do further down the track.

I'll be looking to make sure it's running alright and smooth, and then i'll think about a few mods, i think exhaust first. Then i'll look at an intercooler.

would you think a larger intercooler would fit in the same location as the standard, or would it be best to go straight for a front mount???

I'd be pretty happy with 150 thats for sure.

[oscar32]

14psi is considered the safe max

some have run more with no drama's, others have run less and had drama's

You might pick up a few psi with a differant intercooler, but it will also mean your turbo wont have to work as hard to make the same boost as previous if you run 14psi with the stock intercooler compared to 14psi with a aftermarket cooler

hope it makes sense

Chris

I ran 15 psi on my old turbo, and threw an exhaust blade on a track day. It went well for about 6 months or so, maybe if you are looking to upgrade in the furture you can lean on it a bit more. I'd recomend a HKS actuator to help boost creep at that level

[Chris32]

oh right. Well i recon that could be a little project work for me to do further down the track.

I'll be looking to make sure it's running alright and smooth, and then i'll think about a few mods, i think exhaust first. Then i'll look at an intercooler.

would you think a larger intercooler would fit in the same location as the standard, or would it be best to go straight for a front mount???

I'd be pretty happy with 150 thats for sure.

Front mount would be the way to go, much more cooling capacity and potential down the track. There is a Trust side mount cooler on ebay for pretty cheap though

[TimmyB]

Front mount would be the way to go, much more cooling capacity and potential down the track. There is a Trust side mount cooler on ebay for pretty cheap though

i think i'd have to go for the front mount. There sounds like there would be a better performance from it. I'm sure there must be somewhere that it isn't too hard to mount. Plus it can look pretty tough. But thats beside the point.

What size exhaust would be good to put on??? I wouldn't want anything too big.

[Oosh]

If you've got a boost controller there's not much case to upgrade the actuators on RB20's as they came out the factory with 10psi items.

I've just jumped straight in to electronic bost control, if you're handy with a soldering iron you can build one of the new JayCar/Autospeed kits and get away with it all for ~$200 and a few hours work. Discussion thread here.

I've only set mine up roughly but I'm holding 12psi with no dramas and far better boost build-up than previously, i'm going to fine tune things but stay around the 12psi mark until I get it on the dyno next month, provided the mixtures are stable i'll rise things to 14psi but no more.

My car is running a 600x300x75mm front mount, 3" exhaust from the stock dump-pipe back, Denso Supra TT Fuel pump, and a re-mapped ECU for handling more boost (which looking at it on the PC has predominantly ignition timing changes).

Just make sure you have the support systems in place to handle the boost rise, a FMIC and exhaust will give you gains without it, a slightly smaller cooler and 2.5" will suffice but if you intend to eventually replace the stock turbo then a full-size item and a 3" is probably worthwhile.

After they're in move it up a little but make sure you're not leaning out, if you are then drop a pump in and maybe look for an ECU re-map (you don't need a a full PowerFC system unless you intend to go BIG!). And then you can raise it a little more, after that you hit the point where bigger turbos, injectors, and more extensive re-maps come on the cards and your money goes out the window!

[predator]

3" straight through.. the only way you want to do it..

[sproosy]

3" straight through.. the only way you want to do it..

:werd:

makes a very big difference