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Could my ABV (air bypass valve) be leaking under pressure?
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:42 am
by douglas vincent
I should be (theoretically) pushing more than 6 psi of boost. Could the ABV I am using (an old Supra one) be leaking under high boost. There is no fluttering (ie, no spiking) but the pressure level does slowly move up with acceleration (where as it should stay pretty constant).
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:45 am
by vrg3
Where is the blowoff valve plumbed in?
If it's before the intercooler that could be causing it to open some when it shouldn't.
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:57 am
by douglas vincent
It runs from before to after.
I'm sure you knew this and you might say "Doh!' but...
An air bypass valve allows air to flow both directions. So when not under boost, air is "bypassed" past the supercharger so the air doesnt have to be drawn through a restrictive area. Then when under boost the boost causes the valve to clam up and hold boost. Then when you let off boost, the valve opens up, lets the pressurized air to back track and even pressure out, then the air (because the motor is now under "vacumn" pressure, flows back through the valve into the intake.
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:12 am
by vrg3
Right, I understand how the valve works... Realize that it isn't symmetrical; the valve's position is determined by the differential pressure between vacuum nipple and the valve inlet. So my point was that if you have the inlet of the valve attached to the pipe going from the supercharger to the intercooler, then the pressure drop through the intercooler could potentially cause enough pressure differential to open the valve even when the manifold is at positive pressure.
I just realized my question was kind of dumb. I know you're using the AWIC, so there's no good place for you to attach the valve except in the place I just mentioned.
So I guess my answer to your original question is: maybe it is "leaking" under high boost.
You don't need the valve to protect the supercharger during shifts, right? If that's the case, maybe you could try reversing the valve's inlet and outlet. That way it'll act according to gauge pressure in the manifold only.
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:13 am
by -K-
I thought the SC had a idle bypass built in? If so just run without the valve to see what happens.
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:19 am
by douglas vincent
-K- No, those kind of bypass valves are built into the intake of the supercharger usually. The Mercedes SLK kind didtnt have this.
vrg3 If you switch it around it dont run so good. Yeah I suspect it is leaking under the higher boost levels. I was just asking before I test it tommorrow by just sealing it completly off. If it was leaking, I will see the higher boost BANGO!
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:56 am
by -K-
Ahh, then I say Forge.
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 3:17 pm
by vrg3
Oh wait. I don't know what I was thinking so late at night. If you turned it around it'd still open on boost, and potentially earlier.
If you just want a blowoff valve that'll require more differential pressure to open, you should be able to use a 1st-generation DSM one or a new-age WRX one; both have metal constructions so you could crush the cap in a little and increase the preload on the spring.
Do you think there's any way you could fit the blowoff valve plumbing at the intercooler outlet (or throttle inlet) somehow? That would be the "right" way to do it.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 5:56 am
by douglas vincent
It was leaking. like .5 psi. not much but it was. However, even though I get the extra "power", it is hard on my SC I suspect, having to back flow all that air.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:12 am
by vrg3
Wait. I take back my retraction of the reverse-the-valve thing... It shouldn't open that way unless there's a good amount of manifold vacuum.
Or is that the way you have it? And when you put it the "right" way you get lots of leaking which makes it not run so good?
Where is the valve getting its vacuum signal?
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:24 am
by douglas vincent
The ABV valve gets it boost signal from a vacumn line on the manifold.
I have reversed the ABV and it flowed both ways without restriction, ie open at vacumn, but also open at boost.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:42 am
by vrg3
Right, but when you reverse it you change the side that it's using as the baseline to compare manifold pressure to.
Which direction made it not run well?
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:00 am
by douglas vincent
Off the top of my memory, it ran worse when it could flow both ways, which of course would be the worst at boost, because some of the pressurised air would be forced back pre-SC which of course would cause poor psi results.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:01 am
by vrg3
I'm confused now.
It flowed both directions all the time when you had it in one particular orientation? Do you remember which orientation it was? Most BOVs have a little arrow on them that show the normal recirculation direction.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:07 am
by douglas vincent
OK, before I say anymore, I will have to test it so I am not working off memory.
Talk to you on this tommorrow.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:14 am
by vrg3
'Kay.