Leave wastegate open for first tune?
 

Hi,

I am mid-swap from a 1.6 to a 1.8 VVT engine and I have the turbo set-up fairly complete. Now I can either:
- Leave all turbo stuff off for the first couple of weeks, to get the base tune on my ECU right, and then convert to turbo.
- Put all the turbo stuff on and go for (low) boost immediately.
- Middle ground; ty the waste gate in it's open position, so I can drive around almost naturally asperated for the first few weeks to get a base tune, and then hook up the wate gate and the boost solenoid when I feel comfortable doing so.

The third option sounds tempting as it means I don't have to convert later, but is harmfull for a turbo (or the engine, for that matter), to run with the waste gate fully open? Is there something else I should know and that stops me from option three?

Thanks,

Hugo

Wired open is fine.
Set your Overboost Cut to about 110kPa as a safety.
Then, as you move up, tune one row at a time, increasing the Overboost as you go, while never letting it be above rod-bending torque.

That having been said... the more you do at once: Engine, ECU, Injectors, etc, the more likely you have of experiencing a problem you don't know how to fix.
Best would have been to install the aftermarket ECU with the original engine. Then, if you got a NO-START situation, you could put the stock ECU back in while you troubleshoot.

What ECU do you have?

Take a second to confirm that the wastegate flap won't contact the turbine wheel when you wire it open. I recall at least one member here broke his EFR because apparently it was able to make contact.

Thanks. I have a Speeduino 0.4.3 board with a diy break-out to the VVT ECU connector. I don't have the original ECU of this engine. And the original ECU of the 1.6 is completely different, wiring wise and performance wise. I have rmoved the 1.6 today (it is suspended in the crane as I need to loosen the wiring to the PPF now that I have access) and then it leaves for good. Then the 1.8 VVT will go in and I'll start the wiring mess. So if it doesn't work, I will have a hard time trouble shooting, that is for sure. Hence I would like to keep the boost out of the equasion to start.

Good point, on the GT2554R the wastegate opens outwards, nothing hits. But a good thing to check, certainly.

Cheers,

Hugo

Wiring the wastegate open won't hurt it, but there's not really any point. If you want to tune the vacuum cells, just use the boost control in your right foot.

--Ian

Just start n/a and get the car running as good as you want before adding more. You will be busy with getting the car starting and running for the first few months anyway.

If you need any help with troubleshooting just send me a PM, I live in Zuid-Holland. Although visiting is a bit harder with the Covid situation.