Track toy in the making
#151
#153
Vir Grand is great in the mini or VIR South but full course has some really long straight so you're going to be giving a lot of point buys you need a lot of horsepower for VIR I probably won't run my mini there anymore I have a 135i just for that track and those long straits it gets a little frustrating catching up to all the other cars in the corners but then they won't give me a point by. All the rest of the tracks around here I'll run the mini
#154
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
Scott - That is a great overhead shot of your car. A very unusual perspective! Looking forward to your review.
MrBlah - VIR full sounds a lot like WGI. A real HP track, so I’d be right at home with my left arm hanging out the widow. But VIR is an iconic track that deserves a visit some day, even in a MINI...
MrBlah - VIR full sounds a lot like WGI. A real HP track, so I’d be right at home with my left arm hanging out the widow. But VIR is an iconic track that deserves a visit some day, even in a MINI...
#157
#158
Small update.
I have been chasing a boost leak since June. Pretty much every weekend that I hit the track, by the end of the first day I have boost issues. Specifically, not enough boost. Initially, this was attributed to a bad diverter valve. Once that was replaced, wastegate adjustments had to be made to hit the target of 22.5 psi. That was a temporary fix and the low boost issue surfaced again. The entire system was pressure tested, the direct port WMI was removed, improved, and reinstalled to ensure it was not the source of the "leak". All hose clamps were removed and replaced with t-bolts. The DV was replaced with a new Forge DV. The Forge was replaced with a new OEM DV. I spent countless hours wrenching and troubleshooting. I thought I had it fixed and well, not even a half a day into the Road Atlanta weekend and low boost is back.
Turns out that the wastegate flap is not closing completely. Obviously, this is the one thing I didn't test, and really is the first thing I should have looked at. That is 100% on me. I don't claim to be a turbo expert, so when I was told (by the tuner) to add preload to the wastegate to correct the low boost issue, I did as instructed. I'm pretty sure this actually made the problem worse or at the very least covered up the real problem. So now I have to sort this out. I can replace it with a new hotside, or I can toss on a JCW turbo and move on to a different car. I see no sense in replacing this with another part that will fail so quickly. All and all, I have less than 8,000 miles and six track days on the new "upgraded" turbo. Since it has been failing since the first track day, I don't think the track is the issue. I'm hoping that this is a one off defect and not a common failure. Another clue that something was not right: this turbo bas hitting 27 psi right out of the box. I set the wastegate to the correct setting (151mm +/-2) prior to installation and nearly blew a motor. I adjusted it out to meet 22.5 and have had to make constant adjustments in to maintain 22.5. All of this was reported as it happened to the tuner and I just followed instructions. I guess I was a little slow .
Probably should have stuck with the E36
I have been chasing a boost leak since June. Pretty much every weekend that I hit the track, by the end of the first day I have boost issues. Specifically, not enough boost. Initially, this was attributed to a bad diverter valve. Once that was replaced, wastegate adjustments had to be made to hit the target of 22.5 psi. That was a temporary fix and the low boost issue surfaced again. The entire system was pressure tested, the direct port WMI was removed, improved, and reinstalled to ensure it was not the source of the "leak". All hose clamps were removed and replaced with t-bolts. The DV was replaced with a new Forge DV. The Forge was replaced with a new OEM DV. I spent countless hours wrenching and troubleshooting. I thought I had it fixed and well, not even a half a day into the Road Atlanta weekend and low boost is back.
Turns out that the wastegate flap is not closing completely. Obviously, this is the one thing I didn't test, and really is the first thing I should have looked at. That is 100% on me. I don't claim to be a turbo expert, so when I was told (by the tuner) to add preload to the wastegate to correct the low boost issue, I did as instructed. I'm pretty sure this actually made the problem worse or at the very least covered up the real problem. So now I have to sort this out. I can replace it with a new hotside, or I can toss on a JCW turbo and move on to a different car. I see no sense in replacing this with another part that will fail so quickly. All and all, I have less than 8,000 miles and six track days on the new "upgraded" turbo. Since it has been failing since the first track day, I don't think the track is the issue. I'm hoping that this is a one off defect and not a common failure. Another clue that something was not right: this turbo bas hitting 27 psi right out of the box. I set the wastegate to the correct setting (151mm +/-2) prior to installation and nearly blew a motor. I adjusted it out to meet 22.5 and have had to make constant adjustments in to maintain 22.5. All of this was reported as it happened to the tuner and I just followed instructions. I guess I was a little slow .
Probably should have stuck with the E36
#159
#160
Mario and I have been in contact about it. Anytime there is a turbo or tune related issue I go straight to him before messing with anything. He was pretty busy yesterday, so we'll see what he says today. Initially he said this was common with track use. I'm having a hard time believing that. Besides, the issue has been present from day 1. I just didn't recognize what was going on. In my experience he's always been really stand up guy, so I'll give him time to do what he needs to do. I believe that he will have a solution. I'm not blaming him or anyone, at this point I think it was just a defect.
#161
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
Wow, that had to be a tough find!
Curious about it working ok in the morning and then fails later in the day. Is that, once it fails, it stays bad? You say the arm between the actuator rod and valve may be bent. Maybe the arm can’t take the load to overcome that amount of boost and bends permanently after a few repeated cycles? Maybe needs a stronger arm? Just a wild guess from not having seen anything
Hope it is an easy fix. Hate to lose you to the BMW crowd
Curious about it working ok in the morning and then fails later in the day. Is that, once it fails, it stays bad? You say the arm between the actuator rod and valve may be bent. Maybe the arm can’t take the load to overcome that amount of boost and bends permanently after a few repeated cycles? Maybe needs a stronger arm? Just a wild guess from not having seen anything
Hope it is an easy fix. Hate to lose you to the BMW crowd
#162
#163
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
The heat may have something to do with this and maybe a touch of misalignment that causes a little bending. There also seems to be a time factor. I have seen where the stock sway bar end links will bend over time after the installation of a bigger bar. So it seems like it takes a few cycles of bending before it beds permanently. Doesn’t happen to everyone, so those may not have the condition to cause the bending in the first place. Maybe with the heat, the metal of that arm gets a bit weaker which allows it to take on a permanent bend after some cycles?
#164
Once it stops hitting the target boost level, that's it. It won't hit that level again unless an adjustment is made. The WG adjustment has always been the last thing I'll try. Usually I just accept it and look for obvious leaks at the track. I don't actually adjust the WG until I am back home and certain that everything else (except for the flat apparently ) has been looked at.
My best guess is that the "new" turbo was actually a rebuilt turbo and the hot-side or the WG was already in need of replacement. Something that was probably over looked during the rebuild maybe? I was under the impression that it was new (for what I paid, it should have been) but there were little things that didn't seem right. The BorgWarner data plate was faded, the WG actuator had mismatched retaining nuts on the rod and the diagram housing. And the DV had mismatched bolts. Maybe I'm over analyzing it, but part of my job title is "analyst" .
@Eddie07S I'm not real keen to jump ship, and I'll certainly never part with my R53. However, it is really tempting to turn the R56 into a SPEC E30. Though that will probably bring all sorts of new problems at least the community and knowledge base for common problems and fixes is huge.
My best guess is that the "new" turbo was actually a rebuilt turbo and the hot-side or the WG was already in need of replacement. Something that was probably over looked during the rebuild maybe? I was under the impression that it was new (for what I paid, it should have been) but there were little things that didn't seem right. The BorgWarner data plate was faded, the WG actuator had mismatched retaining nuts on the rod and the diagram housing. And the DV had mismatched bolts. Maybe I'm over analyzing it, but part of my job title is "analyst" .
@Eddie07S I'm not real keen to jump ship, and I'll certainly never part with my R53. However, it is really tempting to turn the R56 into a SPEC E30. Though that will probably bring all sorts of new problems at least the community and knowledge base for common problems and fixes is huge.
#165
The following users liked this post:
scotty_r56s (12-16-2020)
#167
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
That arm seems to stout and unlikely to be bent But, could the shaft that the arm connects to be bending or something inside of that be bending? Or is some just worn out? “Valves” of this kind really don’t like being just cracked opened and will wear fast with high velocity air or fluids going through them.
#168
With the constant re-adjusting, is there any chance the WG actuator diaphragm is failing? WG itself is always suspect, so many different ways for it to fail, but this problem seems different. Hard to believe the arm is bending, even with the heat of a track day. Then there's all the preload shown above. If the unit is truly not a new unit, who knows how much (ab)use the original unit received. This diaphragm unit shouldn't be too difficult to change, and definitely a lot less expensive. Most of us have seen diaphragm failures on the turbo's DV, why not the WG actuator's diaphragm too?
Whatever the cause, I hope you find it soon ---
Whatever the cause, I hope you find it soon ---
The following users liked this post:
scotty_r56s (12-16-2020)
#169
With the constant re-adjusting, is there any chance the WG actuator diaphragm is failing? WG itself is always suspect, so many different ways for it to fail, but this problem seems different. Hard to believe the arm is bending, even with the heat of a track day. Then there's all the preload shown above. If the unit is truly not a new unit, who knows how much (ab)use the original unit received. This diaphragm unit shouldn't be too difficult to change, and definitely a lot less expensive. Most of us have seen diaphragm failures on the turbo's DV, why not the WG actuator's diaphragm too?
Whatever the cause, I hope you find it soon ---
Whatever the cause, I hope you find it soon ---
Good point on the WG actuator diaphragm. If the internal wastegate is going to be a failure point, I may have to consider an external wastegate. Too bad I sold that Cortex EBC lol.
I agree that a bent arm sounds over the top. I was digging through some old photos and found a side by side on the new turbo and my stock turbo. The arms are very different, the stock turbo is quite a bit shorter.
#171
The boost issue tends to be constant regardless of temperature. Once it crosses the threshold and starts to bleed pressure the only way to fix it is to add preload. I never adjust at the track, I wait until I get home and have time and space to troubleshoot.
Anyway, turbo is out and will be shipped back tomorrow for inspection/repair. I'm really interested to hear what the diagnosis is.
Last edited by scotty_r56s; 04-15-2021 at 06:30 PM.
#172
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
Thanks. I'm pulling the turbo now and sending it back. He said he'd like to take a look at it and get it sorted out. Hopefully we'll be operational again in a week or so.
Good point on the WG actuator diaphragm. If the internal wastegate is going to be a failure point, I may have to consider an external wastegate. Too bad I sold that Cortex EBC lol.
I agree that a bent arm sounds over the top. I was digging through some old photos and found a side by side on the new turbo and my stock turbo. The arms are very different, the stock turbo is quite a bit shorter.
Good point on the WG actuator diaphragm. If the internal wastegate is going to be a failure point, I may have to consider an external wastegate. Too bad I sold that Cortex EBC lol.
I agree that a bent arm sounds over the top. I was digging through some old photos and found a side by side on the new turbo and my stock turbo. The arms are very different, the stock turbo is quite a bit shorter.
The following users liked this post:
scotty_r56s (12-17-2020)
#173
The following users liked this post:
scotty_r56s (04-15-2021)
#174
The following users liked this post:
scotty_r56s (04-15-2021)
#175
My plan is a complete AiM system (smartycam, dash logger, etc) at some point in 2021. It's one of those things that is not super high on the list, but it's there.
For now, the build is as complete as it needs to be. Brake ducting and some minor adjustments to the seating position and a proper 2.5" or 3" exhaust will happen over the next few weeks. I shipped the turbo back today, and a new one should be shipping to me sometime this afternoon. I'm taking this opportunity to replace the oil filter housing gasket. I don't have any leaks, but I do have a new gasket on hand. Seems like a good idea.
For now, the build is as complete as it needs to be. Brake ducting and some minor adjustments to the seating position and a proper 2.5" or 3" exhaust will happen over the next few weeks. I shipped the turbo back today, and a new one should be shipping to me sometime this afternoon. I'm taking this opportunity to replace the oil filter housing gasket. I don't have any leaks, but I do have a new gasket on hand. Seems like a good idea.
The following users liked this post:
Tragesaurusrex (12-19-2020)