Really quick question about inlets

[RabbitOLychee]

Hey all!

Just a question about inlets, I have found I have a big hole in the (Rear inlet) due from rough movement overtime with intakes and just wondered if that is the cause of my slow boost spool and lack of torque from down low?

The hole is at the mouth of the inlet where it connects to the turbo, and the question is, is there sensors metering the air? and if unmetered air enters in, it causes issues with the turbos? If so, that will explain my long dreadful issues with my N54 low down power and torque!

Thanks guys!

 

[HendrixBoosted]

N54 have a MAP sensor that monitors air/boost. If there is a whole in the inlet it could definitely cause boost issues. Do you have any codes?

 

[RabbitOLychee]

N54 have a MAP sensor that monitors air/boost. If there is a whole in the inlet it could definitely cause boost issues. Do you have any codes?

Hey Hendrix,

Surprisingly, no.. I don't have any codes but I've done a boost leak test with an air compressor and when I bring it to 5 PSI for example, if I move the rear inlet by a finger tap, it starts to piss out air and when I get it to 7 PSI, you can hear the air escaping easily..

The rear inlet is super lose, I had been pretty rough with the intakes by taking them on and off heaps to find the issues I've had but now I think it's cracked and that's what is causing my low down torque issues/Spool

 

[HendrixBoosted]

Sounds lik that’s your issue. If just moving it with your finger and it causes a big leak than imagine under driving conditions with all the vibrations. Have you looked into replacing your inlets?

 

[jzx_andy]

I would say that a cut or tear in an inlet would reduce its efficiency in moving air from the intake to the turbo compressor, thereby choking the turbo compressor and manifesting itself with spool and boost related issues.

I've read a few stories of n54 owners having a collapsed rear inlet and that being traced as a cause of premature turbo failure. The space in there is very tight and some aftermarket inlets are too flimsy.

 

[RabbitOLychee]

Sounds lik that’s your issue. If just moving it with your finger and it causes a big leak than imagine under driving conditions with all the vibrations. Have you looked into replacing your inlets?

Yeah definitely now man, but I just don't know what inlet brand to go with as I've heard them collapsing such as VRSF ones.. I just have to drop my sub frame that's the only issue as that seems like a hassle..

 

[RabbitOLychee]

I would say that a cut or tear in an inlet would reduce its efficiency in moving air from the intake to the turbo compressor, thereby choking the turbo compressor and manifesting itself with spool and boost related issues.

I've read a few stories of n54 owners having a collapsed rear inlet and that being traced as a cause of premature turbo failure. The space in there is very tight and some aftermarket inlets are too flimsy.

Yep I would think so too, I never knew about the intake having such a big leak around there till I did a boost leak check which I was originally doing it to test the charge pipe, as I thought the o-ring around it may of been too small for my charge pipe (Cobb).. But the pressure never reached the charge pipe really, it would of only been 0.8 of a psi lol...

When I look up other videos of boost leak tests with a compressor, people never have air pissing out of the rear inlet so I think I found my prolonged issue... Sometimes the car would feel incredibly torquey and just how it should be, and sometimes like now, it feels lack luster down low and just not enjoying...

 

[martymil]

If the inlets are squished that would be causing low boost or slow boost but you would see that in your logs as the wgdc would be super high, having a hole in the inlet would do nothing to the symptoms you are describing it would actually help, the only draw back your turbo is sucking unfiltered air and nothing else

 

[RabbitOLychee]

If the inlets are squished that would be causing low boost or slow boost but you would see that in your logs as the wgdc would be super high, having a hole in the inlet would do nothing to the symptoms you are describing it would actually help, the only draw back your turbo is sucking unfiltered air and nothing else

Hey Marty,

Oh really? I thought there was a MAF sensor at the top of the rear inlet and a hole being after the MAF it would cause unmetered air to enter the turbo... Well I must of been wrong it being a MAF

Would you know the issue that I might be having? Sometimes when I fiddle with the charge pipe area the car goes like a bat out of hell but after a while it dies off and it's back to being kinda sluggish and nothing down low, I've tried 3 aftermarket downpipes ($1100 later) and they all do the same thing, no difference...

Could it be my boost solenoids then maybe?

 

[martymil]

There is no maf sensor on the inlet pipes, If you fiddle with the charge pipe it most likely be leaking, have you checked your o ring on the charge pipe connection, check your sensor connections and your diverted valves, but a log would tell us what's happening

 

[jzx_andy]

Yep I would think so too, I never knew about the intake having such a big leak around there till I did a boost leak check which I was originally doing it to test the charge pipe, as I thought the o-ring around it may of been too small for my charge pipe (Cobb).. But the pressure never reached the charge pipe really, it would of only been 0.8 of a psi lol...

When I look up other videos of boost leak tests with a compressor, people never have air pissing out of the rear inlet so I think I found my prolonged issue... Sometimes the car would feel incredibly torquey and just how it should be, and sometimes like now, it feels lack luster down low and just not enjoying...

The inlets are not designed to hold boost pressure fwiw. Like Marty said, a log should help in narrowing the issue.

Also, the sensor on the rear inlet is pcv or emissions related, and has nothing to do with metering air that's going through the engine/turbos.

 

[MR-KRAKA]

Hey all!

Just a question about inlets, I have found I have a big hole in the (Rear inlet) due from rough movement overtime with intakes and just wondered if that is the cause of my slow boost spool and lack of torque from down low?

The hole is at the mouth of the inlet where it connects to the turbo, and the question is, is there sensors metering the air? and if unmetered air enters in, it causes issues with the turbos? If so, that will explain my long dreadful issues with my N54 low down power and torque!

Thanks guys!

Inlets without reinforcements built in have been known to collapse under boost restricting airflow to the turbos. Doesn’t change the need to go through the hassle of changing them but if you can’t find any boost leaks besides that slit it’s another possibility. Like the others said it’s hard to say anything without a log.

 

[RabbitOLychee]

There is no maf sensor on the inlet pipes, If you fiddle with the charge pipe it most likely be leaking, have you checked your o ring on the charge pipe connection, check your sensor connections and your diverted valves, but a log would tell us what's happening

Ahhhh gotcha.. Yeah I have checked the charge pipe, it seems alright but it wiggles a fair bit and the c clip does move "slightly" as I've seen that can be a boost leak if it moves a bit but I'm not sure...

I did do a short 3rd gear log from 3.5k to 5.5k RPM hopefully something is noticeable!

datazap.me | RabbitOLychee | lack of torque and spool from turbos from down low

datazap.me

Cheers

 

[RabbitOLychee]

Inlets without reinforcements built in have been known to collapse under boost restricting airflow to the turbos. Doesn’t change the need to go through the hassle of changing them but if you can’t find any boost leaks besides that slit it’s another possibility. Like the others said it’s hard to say anything without a log.

Yeah definitely.. Well it's saved me a lot of work and money by knowing it's not the cause of my issue if it's a slit... But I do have a 3rd gear log above this, hopefully it will tell something!

Cheers

 

[RabbitOLychee]

The inlets are not designed to hold boost pressure fwiw. Like Marty said, a log should help in narrowing the issue.

Also, the sensor on the rear inlet is pcv or emissions related, and has nothing to do with metering air that's going through the engine/turbos.

Ahhh yes! After doing a fair bit of research, found out it's a PCV thing that's connected there... I do have a log now if you mind having a glance, but hopefully the log is good enough to spot something!

Cheers - https://datazap.me/u/rabbitolychee/lack-torque-and-spool-turbos-down-low?log=0&data=3-21

 

[MR-KRAKA]

You are having throttle closures. Throttle is position is around 50% from 4K rpm on. Using ots maps with inlets will cause that especially at sea level. You will need a custom tune to correct it or if you were on a previous version of ots that was working for you flash back to that for now. They are stock turbos correct?

 

[RabbitOLychee]

You are having throttle closures. Throttle is position is around 50% from 4K rpm on. Using ots maps with inlets will cause that especially at sea level. You will need a custom tune to correct it or if you were on a previous version of ots that was working for you flash back to that for now. They are stock turbos correct?

Yeah they are stock turbos but why do I need a custom tune when it was originally working fine but after a while it's got worse? V10 and V9 are the ones i use and those were perfect a while ago...

Do I need new inlets? Not quite sure what you mean about Using ots maps with inlets will cause that.. But big thanks for you having a glance over it

 

[MR-KRAKA]

OTS maps are a one size fits all kinda things. The maps are built for stock turbos with stock inlets. You are moving significantly more air with the inlets than the map is able to compensate for with wgdc PID . I would think you’ve had them on V9 as well.

 

[RabbitOLychee]

OTS maps are a one size fits all kinda things. The maps are built for stock turbos with stock inlets. You are moving significantly more air with the inlets than the map is able to compensate for with wgdc PID . I would think you’ve had them on V9 as well.

Ahhhhhh gotcha! How could I avoid getting a custom map? I just love the luxury of having all tunes at my hands.. But it is weird how it use to run perfectly 4 weeks after I got it on stage 1+ but then suddenly it went bad after a while, is there a different tune I can run maybe? Or change inlets?

Just figuring out whats the next move, the custom tune being the last resort..

Yeah I've had it on V9 as well... Also FYI, my mods are

Catless Downpipes
VRSF intakes
7.5" Comp VRSF intercooler
and Cobb Charge pipe
On stage 2+ v10 atm

 

[martymil]

Everything looks good except the massive throttle closures as said you will have to get a custom tune.

Are you data logging with traction control on, doesn't look like it but stranger things have happen ?

Something is not right with that tune.