Tuning / Boost

[coyfish]

Im sorry if this has been covered but I did a search for boost and about 20 pages of forums came up (no time to read all that).

Basically Im almost done with my bolt ons (see in sig) and I want to take a step into managing the ECU / boost. 1st question would be, to up my boost, all I need to do is buy a boost controller and up it to ~ 10? Also ive been told 10 psi should be relatively safe from my mods. Last question about boost is do people drive around normally with raised boost levels . . . or do they change it back to stock for daily driving?

Now for tuning. Is a COBB AP or Unichip basically a preset tune? If not what exactly does a tune do? I know relaible and safe are relative terms but please keep in mind this car is my daily driver. I want the car to last me so if any of this seems risky please let me know. Also changing boost / tune are both reversible for warranty reasons right??

Any help for any of these questions would be greatly appreciated

 

[mdogg]

you should already be running around 15psi... I'm not sure why you want to only run 10psi

 

[lestat13]

First of all, the car should run 15-16psi factory, so 10psi is incorrect. Secondly, I learned not too long ago that from the restriction on the factory tmic, the turbo pushes 2-3psi more than what the engine sees and these Borg-Warner K04 turbos start to max out and warp between 18-20psi. To get your engine to see 15psi your turbo is already operating between 17psi and 18psi.

So this means get a boost gauge AND upgrade your intercooler before you turn up the boost.

Now, if you are going with a flash or piggyback, most (if not all) will override your boost setting letting you run higher boost and disabling boost cut. Cobb AP is reversible but I believe you should get a copy of the factory flash first, just in case.

 

[coyfish]

I see, guess i need that boost gauge. Im going to get a dashhawk soon as well as either a FMIC or the TRZ top mount if it lives up to the talk. With my mods what boost would you recommend for "safe boost" (very relative i know). Cant remember but I saw somewhere that stock boost in our car was like 6 and 10 psi was safe with a few bolt ons. Guess thats wrong. You say stock boost is 16ish. . . that means people only raise it on stock internals like 1 or 2 psi. Seems pretty risky and close to warp range.

Also are the Cobb AP / unichip the same as getting a tune?

 

[lestat13]

A bunch of people who change out the intercooler run at 18psi, which is pretty much what the turbo runs at on the stock tmic, so its totally safe for the turbo. is it safe on the stock internals? I would think so

 

[coyfish]

Sry for the newb responses Lestat but I really dont know much about managing boost. If the boost with stock TMIC is already 18 psi then why do you even need to touch your boost? Does it hold the boost at 18 throughout the rev range? Does stock boost only spike, then decrease?

 

[lestat13]

Stock the turbo is pushing around 18psi, but because the factory tmic is so restrictive, the motor is only getting 15psi. Because of the ecu, it will keep boost in the motor to that factory 15psi even if you swap intercoolers. BUT now your turbo is working at 15psi instead of 18psi, so you are making life easier on your turbo. The other option is to use a tuning program or mbc to raise the boost to the motor to 18psi, where the stock turbo normally spins anyway

 

[coyfish]

Last question lestat i really appreciate your help.

Is a tune / cobb AP the same thing and does the cobb ap manage your boost?