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Does plumbing a 4 port MAC valve like a 3 port increase resolution?

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Old Mar 23, 2026 | 04:36 PM
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Default Does plumbing a 4 port MAC valve like a 3 port increase resolution?

Does plumbing a 4 port MAC valve like a 3 port increase effective % resolution?

Re tuning my 6258 EFR using the 4 port MAC valve I've been running for years (Trackspeed), and thought now would be the right time to redo it if needed. Not limiting myself to TT3 this year so a can be a more aggressive not being HP limited in TTU.

Hooked up as a standard 4 port MAC my resolution is very tight. FYI 20% is 186KPA and 34% is 243KPA. Its even closer together in low RPM areas.

Always had a heck of a time tuning out initial and shift boost spikes, both open and closed loop. Seems to me the small resolution say 25% for 203 KPA and 30% for 220 KPA doesn't help.

Would venting to atmosphere the backside line double my resolution while running Turbosmart GenV Twin Port Internal Wastegate (IWG) Actuator?

Discussion, Ideas, results and photos would be awesome.
Old Mar 23, 2026 | 06:04 PM
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Yes.
Old Mar 23, 2026 | 06:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Ted75zcar
Yes.
Kinda brief but OK. Does it effectively double it?

For some reason when I went from MS 1.4.0 to MS 1.6.1 to add my CAN EGT it added a few things like Min/max range and my tune got way more sensitive to overshoot?

Eased it by changing frequency from 39Hz to 19.5Hz & turning Max duty cycle from 80 to 50 but that seems like a band aid? Update also added upper limit delta and max rate with descriptions that don't seem to match what it does.


Old Mar 23, 2026 | 06:45 PM
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Yes, been amore than a decade since I derived all the math, but is is basically the difference between (1+d)/(1-d) (4) and 1/(1-d) (3)

For d=0.25: (4) 1.25/0.75 = 1.67x spring, (3) 1/0.75 = 1.33x spring

6.1 has a new field I am not familiar with (upper limit delta, I think that may actually have been my request). Set lower limit delta to 25 and see if that helps.

Honeslty, "simple" works nearly as well as advanced for most installs and is easier to tune. Min DC should be between 20 and 30% depending on a bunch of factors.

19.5% can "flutter", but increasing frequency costs you some resolution and dynamic range.

My preference is to size the spring appropriately (1.5-2.25x for max target) and run a 3 port at mid 30s

Last edited by Ted75zcar; Mar 23, 2026 at 06:56 PM.
Old Mar 23, 2026 | 07:09 PM
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Thank you.
Will try plumbing as a 3-port, re bin and re try out "simple".
A bit frustrating as I had it almost perfect before new motor and firmware update depending on wather.
Florida's new "Super Speeder" law makes street tuning iffy, and rules out 1 to 1 pulls to 7800 RPM with 3.63 gears .
Old Mar 23, 2026 | 08:01 PM
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OK while sitting at work without my car in front of me, my brain is hurting as the ports use completely different labeling terminology between 3 and 4 port.
Am i just removing the backside hose and venting to atmosphere/filter the backside of the WG and plugging port B on solenoid?




Old Mar 23, 2026 | 09:25 PM
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I suspect none of those is what you want. You probably want the configuration with the vacuum T between the source and the actuator. IIRC you block 1 of the ports on the 4 port to turn it into a 3 port. This has to be in a thread on here someplace. It has been way too long for me to remember the details.
Old Mar 24, 2026 | 07:04 PM
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So pretty sure this is the configuration still having a bit of a problem figuring the ports as it seems you are bleeding pressure instead of adding pressure?

Would it just be better to buy a 3 port as the reading I've done seems to indicate due to valve movement the 3 port has more resolution?

Last edited by Blkbrd69; Mar 24, 2026 at 07:36 PM.
Old Mar 24, 2026 | 11:24 PM
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When actuated the top pressurizes, when not actuated the top depressurizes. The "4th port" is blocked with a plug. Look up the way these valves work on humphrey or granger.

It is simple really. When actuated the two ports on the right are routed to the two ports on the left. When not actuated, the connected ports swap. You want the pressure source port to be routed to the blocked port when not actuated, and to the WG top line when actuated.

The resolution is a hookup configuration thing, not a valve thing (well mostly, I did characterize several different valves and there are minor differences).
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