Anyone got a boost gauge on their 300Tdi?

I know this is going down like a lead balloon, but I am genuinely interested with what's happening with my engine.
I've just found this video. Don't know why I didn't just look on Youtube before

Mine does not react anywhere near as fast as this. His flies up to one bar (just over) I can't thrash mine to that.
He tapped out of the inlet manifold like I have, so that's not at the turbo pressure.

One thing to consider is the boost presure is not only tied to rpm the turbo is driven by exhaust gas so at 3000 rpm on the flat you will see a different pressure than 3000 belting up a slope. This is because up the slope you are adding more fuel which drives the turbo harder and puts in more normal cubic meters of air so each stroke will exhaust more fumes and drive the turbo harder.
This goes on until you hit the limit when the waste gate opens and starts to bypass exhaust gas directly to the exhaust system.
On my td5 you can see the pressure flutter as the bypass open's it's at just over 1 bar by playing with the linkage on the bypass you can adjust the opening point but if you go too far it goes into limp mode to protect the engine.

Dont forget just about every modern engine on the planet measure the boost pressure at the manifold using the MAP sensor.

Al2O3 said:

I know this is going down like a lead balloon, but I am genuinely interested with what's happening with my engine.
I've just found this video. Don't know why I didn't just look on Youtube before

Mine does not react anywhere near as fast as this. His flies up to one bar (just over) I can't thrash mine to that.
He tapped out of the inlet manifold like I have, so that's not at the turbo pressure.

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I would say theres a fair chance that isnt standard, pump tweaked at the very least.

raywin said:

One thing to consider is the boost presure is not only tied to rpm the turbo is driven by exhaust gas so at 3000 rpm on the flat you will see a different pressure than 3000 belting up a slope. This is because up the slope you are adding more fuel which drives the turbo harder and puts in more normal cubic meters of air so each stroke will exhaust more fumes and drive the turbo harder.
This goes on until you hit the limit when the waste gate opens and starts to bypass exhaust gas directly to the exhaust system.
On my td5 you can see the pressure flutter as the bypass open's it's at just over 1 bar by playing with the linkage on the bypass you can adjust the opening point but if you go too far it goes into limp mode to protect the engine.

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Exactly, that's why I've been pushing it hard up a gradient, to maximise fuel going through.

lynall said:

Dont forget just about every modern engine on the planet measure the boost pressure at the manifold using the MAP sensor.



I would say theres a fair chance that isnt standard, pump tweaked at the very least.

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You're right, lynall. I've commented on his video, saying my turbo reacts nothing like that. This was his reply. This is with a Allisport cooler, K&N filter, Minor adjustments on the injection pump, blocked off EGR and a clean intake manifold. This was a check to see the temperatures with that adjustment.

The Landrover Toolbox (Trailerfitter) video's on turbo boost says that boost should be about 1bar at 3000RPM if I remember correctly:

JoelC said:

The Landrover Toolbox (Trailerfitter) video's on turbo boost says that boost should be about 1bar at 3000RPM if I remember correctly:

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I've watched that video, but thanks for pointing it out.
The gauge on his test run responds much faster than mine too. No idea if the one he's running has been modified though.

My gauge goes up to 1 bar quite quickly without revving the t@ts off it. I put a t-piece into the pipe from turbo to fip.

Def90man said:

My gauge goes up to 1 bar quite quickly without revving the t@ts off it. I put a t-piece into the pipe from turbo to fip.

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Cheers, good to know. Suspect there has to be something wrong with mine. Either that, or the engine. Thanks again.

Al2O3 said:

Cheers, good to know. Suspect there has to be something wrong with mine. Either that, or the engine. Thanks again.

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I'd be tempted to put the gauge in the FIP line to see what the pressure is (and check the response) if you cant get 1 bar (under load) with it there then you may find your waste gate needs adjusting, you can always put it back on the manifold later.

Kwakerman said:

I'd be tempted to put the gauge in the FIP line to see what the pressure is (and check the response) if you cant get 1 bar (under load) with it there then you may find your waste gate needs adjusting, you can always put it back on the manifold later.

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I'm taking it off this weekend and it's getting picked up on Monday morning to go back to the place I bought it from. They said to return it and the would check it. If they say there is nothing wrong with it, I'll try that next.

Al2O3 said:

Had one on my 90 for a few weeks now. I'm wondering what characteristics to expect from the turbo. My gauge is tapped in to the back of the inlet manifold.
In normal driving, pulling away in first I get a reading of about 0.3 bar just as I'm changing gear. Through first, second and a little bit higher in third. That's getting to high enough revs to make accelerating in the next gear quite easy as soon as you change up, but not driving it too hard. If I accelerate hard It'll go to 0.5 bar on point of gear change. Reasonably level on the A1 doing 60 mph it sits at about 0.5bar. On a long steepish hill, pushing the engine hard to maintain 60 mph, it'll go up to 0.7 bar. Thrashing it (more than I feel comfortable doing) on an incline in 4th and 5th it'll go up to 0.9 bar. I don't keep it there for long, just to test it.
I know these conditions are difficult to compare. Just wondering if anyone can give a rough comparison to what they get.

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You could re-route your waste-gate line to the manifold so the turbo see's "true" pressure then see how it does, if it won't push more boost then turn the turbo up a bit. It should blow about 1 bar, at 0.9 that't not bad but if your thrashing it then I would be tempted to lift it a little.

discomania said:

You could re-route your waste-gate line to the manifold so the turbo see's "true" pressure then see how it does, if it won't push more boost then turn the turbo up a bit. It should blow about 1 bar, at 0.9 that't not bad but if your thrashing it then I would be tempted to lift it a little.

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Cheers, that's an interesting idea. Thing is before playing around with mine I really need to find out if mine is responding normally for a standard (not tweeked) vehicle.
I've read loads of posts on here where people have talked about fitting boost gauges. Perhaps most people only fit them after fitting an uprated intercooler, tweeking the pump, fitting boost pins etc, so no one can say what a standard set up response is. I presume Def90man has a standard set up so probably the best comparison, though his pressure tapping is from a different place. It's all a learning curve and fascinating. I thought I would get a good comparison quickly form the experience of others, but the experiences of others are obviously different. (probably uprated gear) On reflection, I'll admit it's probably a bit sad to put a boost gauge on a standard engine. In my defence, the runaway created an acute interest in the turbo's performance. And, to be honest, I could't give a sh@t what anyone else thinks.

Hi, yes I've got a standard setup. How did you know that I'm sad??

Def90man said:

Hi, yes I've got a standard setup. How did you know that I'm sad??

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Oops, sorry mate! Was obviously talking about me Personally, I don't think it's sad. However, I can see why those who are light years ahead of me, with tweeked/uprated engines, would think it was. I'm just trying to get to where they are in terms of understanding the engine. Taking a bit of stick, as a novice, along the way is not a problem.

Hey, I wasn't offended. I just like to put gadgets in the 90 cos I like bling. I still have a blank for another gauge, but haven't decided what to go for yet. Ideas on a postcard please!!

Def90man said:

Hey, I wasn't offended. I just like to put gadgets in the 90 cos I like bling. I still have a blank for another gauge, but haven't decided what to go for yet. Ideas on a postcard please!!

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I know that, never thought you were! Appreciated the light hearted comment, cos this thread has got bit heavy at times for some reason. Oil pressure gauge would be on my postcard.

I had been thinking about an egt gauge but vdo don't seem to do one and I wanted to keep all the gauges the same make so oil pressure may be the way to go. Mechanical or electrical?? The decision is too much for me

Def90man said:

I had been thinking about an egt gauge but vdo don't seem to do one and I wanted to keep all the gauges the same make so oil pressure may be the way to go. Mechanical or electrical?? The decision is too much for me

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If you've got a standard engine then egt is not going to be anything to worry about. TBH, people have a point about having gauges you don't need. I think this particularly applies for a new, reliably functioning engine. If your engine is cracking on a bit, then it's probably more useful to have a weather eye on a few things such as the condition of your oil pump and turbo. I've bought a VDO oil pressure gauge with a transducer that screws in to the oil filter housing. This creates an electrical signal that goes to the gauge. Not fitted it yet.

The characteristics of my 300 tdi engine are exactly the same as any other turbo charged engined car I have driven. As you accelerate the turbo starts to spin up, you feel a noticeable increase in power, then at your discretion you change gear. A boost gauge is a handy bit of kit to set up a turbo, or diagnose a faulty turbo.