What psi can I run my turbo at?

sticky nicky · Postby **sticky nicky** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:45 pm

I have an NA6 with a stage 1 AVO turbo kit thats currently running at 5psi. I had a dyno the other day and got 114KW which I was a bit dissapointed with, although it feels good to drive. The previous owner told me he was getting 134 KW but looking at the dyno he did 5 years ago, he was running it at 10psi.
I would like a bit more power but not enough to make it hard too handle on the track and dont want to put the boost up too much were it may put too much strain on the engine.
I have a heavy duty clutch, heavy duty radiator.
Any thoughts?

Cheers

Postby **NitroDann** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:52 pm

No more without fitting a wideband o2 sensor and using Det Cans to confirm the tune is safe.

Dann

sticky nicky · Postby **sticky nicky** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:58 pm

Det cans?

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:08 pm

A set of headphones that tuners use to listen to detonation inside the engine when they are tuning it.

Dann is saying that to get more power you should not do anything outside of the help of someone that can tune the set up. If you just turn the wick up and drive it without tuning it you can damage the engine.

sticky nicky · Postby **sticky nicky** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:32 pm

Ok, I plan to get Hyperdrive to tune it.

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 1:18 am

Try Gti Performance and talk to Simon Gunson. I was very happy with his work on my turbo NA.

sticky nicky · Postby **sticky nicky** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 1:32 am

Ok,thanks for your help.

Sean · Postby **Sean** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 9:16 pm

In response to the actual question you asked, it will depend on lots of things, but I'll cover some of the basics, assuming that you're getting someone with decent ability and the appropriate tuning tools to do it for you.

The stock bottom end will handle 10psi with no problems in the world. There are more than handful of guys on this forum who have run double digit boost in unopened 1.6 engines that have over 250k on the clock. As long as it's well looked after and tuned it wont be an issue.

The boost number / pressure isn't the only thing that makes power, a small turbo pumping 10psi will generally produce less power than a bigger turbo on the same boost. In terms of power I've seen lots of unopened 1.6 engines make over 200rwhp (agaon some of those engines had over 250k on the clock too!).

You'll need to make sure your fuel system is up to the job of more boost/power. Stock injectors are quite limited in terms of power, assuming they've already been changed out you'll want to make sure the fuel pump is functioning well. A walbro GSS342 is pretty much a direct fit and will do the job if yours is a bit old. If you're running an extra injector set-up rather than bigger injectors I'm not sure what sort of power they can safely support - I've never really used them.

It's worth noting that when people say they are running Xpsi with no problems, they usually aren't... What they really mean is it was tuned to a maximum of Xpsi, it'd be pretty rare that in general day to day driving the car would actually see that level of boost. At one stage I had a max boost setting of 21.5psi, in day to day driving to and from work, or to grab the shopping it would rarely see double digits of boost, it behaved perfectly well.

Finally, watch the torque as much as the power numbers, it's what will make it "feel" faster, and also what will break the engine.

Uncle Arthur · Postby **Uncle Arthur** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:01 pm

www.miataturbo.net

Read and research first. Then read some more. Check the FAQs. Read some more.

Then - and only then - ask CONSIDERED questions that show you have done your reading.

They will chew up and spit out ignorant (read lazy who didn't read up first) noobies at the first sign of a dumb question.

That said, they are also among the most open and helpful mx5 turbo community this side of a TD04.

sticky nicky · Postby **sticky nicky** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:09 am

Read and research first. Then read some more. Check the FAQs. Read some more.

Then - and only then - ask CONSIDERED questions that show you have done your reading.

They will chew up and spit out ignorant (read lazy who didn't read up first) noobies at the first sign of a dumb question.

That said, they are also among the most open and helpful mx5 turbo community this side of a TD04.

]

Dear Uncle Arthur, thankyou for your input. However, it was completely useless and unhelpful unlike the other people who posted previously with worthwhile, valuable and considered replies. (Thankyou Sean for your great advice)

You call me ignorant and lazy but I have read a bit regarding this subject, I am a single mother who runs their own business but when it comes to the mechanical side of things Im not very knowledgeable.
This forum is for advice and help among other things and from my experience nobody has "chewed me up and spat me out" with any of the posts I have put up, its a good job they are not like you......a dick head. :lol:

015CAR · Postby **015CAR** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:45 am

Nicky- I think he was trying to say IF you wanted to look on miataturbo and post you would need to do your research- rather than implying that you had not done so here... I have looked on there and they do seem to hit noobs hard if they think it has been answered before. I don't think UA meant to offend...

Re-holster.
Nothing to see here. :shock:

Postby **NitroDann** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:20 am

sticky nicky wrote:
Read and research first. Then read some more. Check the FAQs. Read some more.

Then - and only then - ask CONSIDERED questions that show you have done your reading.

They will chew up and spit out ignorant (read lazy who didn't read up first) noobies at the first sign of a dumb question.

That said, they are also among the most open and helpful mx5 turbo community this side of a TD04.
]

Dear Uncle Arthur, thankyou for your input. However, it was completely useless and unhelpful unlike the other people who posted previously with worthwhile, valuable and considered replies. (Thankyou Sean for your great advice)

You call me ignorant and lazy but I have read a bit regarding this subject, I am a single mother who runs their own business but when it comes to the mechanical side of things Im not very knowledgeable.
This forum is for advice and help among other things and from my experience nobody has "chewed me up and spat me out" with any of the posts I have put up, its a good job they are not like you......a dick head.

HAHAHAHA.

Ok good luck. I gave you the level of answer that matches the level of question, don't expect more than that and you wont be dissappointed.

Dann

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:18 am

015CAR wrote:Nicky- I think he was trying to say IF you wanted to look on miataturbo and post you would need to do your research- rather than implying that you had not done so here... I have looked on there and they do seem to hit noobs hard if they think it has been answered before. I don't think UA meant to offend...

Re-holster.
Nothing to see here.

^ This.

Uncle Arthur was actually helping you, MX5cartalk doesn't have a huge number of people with Turbocharged MX5s, and even less people who actually know how to make them work properly.

Uncle Arthur has provided you with a link to a site where every member has a turbo MX5, and most of them know about making them work properly.
The only issue is that Miataturbo members are a little rough sometimes on people they percieve as lazy.
So Uncle Arthur warned you first, rather than have you post a fairly open ended question and be shot down.

You asked a question, he referred you to the experts.

Pamex · Postby **Pamex** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:40 am

sticky nicky wrote:
You call me ignorant and lazy but I have read a bit regarding this subject, I am a single mother who runs their own business but when it comes to the mechanical side of things Im not very knowledgeable.
This forum is for advice and help among other things and from my experience nobody has "chewed me up and spat me out" with any of the posts I have put up, its a good job they are not like you......a dick head.

I'm pretty sure Uncle Arthur wasn't trying to offend you. Seriously, if you've never been to either club roadster or miata turbo, you may not realise but you WILL get absolutely slaughtered over there. Just because you haven't been chewed up here, doesn't mean you won't over there. It was just a friendly 'heads up' to do some more research before posting. It was also helpful advice that you will get quite a bit of information there.

Not sure why he deserved to be attacked over that.

I'm not entirely sure what your marital/ family/ work status has to do with anything though. Congratulations?

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:34 pm

sticky nicky wrote:
Read and research first. Then read some more. Check the FAQs. Read some more.

Then - and only then - ask CONSIDERED questions that show you have done your reading.

They will chew up and spit out ignorant (read lazy who didn't read up first) noobies at the first sign of a dumb question.

That said, they are also among the most open and helpful mx5 turbo community this side of a TD04.
]

Dear Uncle Arthur, thankyou for your input. However, it was completely useless and unhelpful unlike the other people who posted previously with worthwhile, valuable and considered replies. (Thankyou Sean for your great advice)

You call me ignorant and lazy but I have read a bit regarding this subject, I am a single mother who runs their own business but when it comes to the mechanical side of things Im not very knowledgeable.
This forum is for advice and help among other things and from my experience nobody has "chewed me up and spat me out" with any of the posts I have put up, its a good job they are not like you......a dick head.

You REALLY owe Uncle Arthur an apology here, his advice was spot-on; miataturbo.net is THE best place to find the information you're looking for but if you go in without doing a lot of research (which includes using their "Search" facility), they will "rip the hell" out of you for not bothering to do so by asking questions that have been asked and answered a million times already. His advice was a helpful and truthful warning, and the advice was 100% accurate.