Turbo/Boost Gauge 2.7TDi

[Lazy-Ferret]

I know this has been covered before, but having waded through a load of posts I am still struggling with the process a bit.

So firstly, The gauge.... As far as I can see, I need one that goes from 0 to 30PSI, with no vacuum reading, as you do not get a vacuum on a TDi. Looking around, these seem to be harder to find. I take it I also need to route a pipe from the gauge to under the bonnet.

Secondly, where to connect.
A lot of people seem to connect into the small pipe that runs across the turbo to the waste gate, is this just a case of cutting the pipe, and installing a "T" piece in the pipe? Does anyone know the ID size of the pipe?
As far as I can see, this is reading the pressure directly out of the turbo.

Surely though, if you want the gauge to tell you if you have any problems, e.g, a leak in the intercooler, or one of the pipes connecting it up, it would be better to attach nearer to the inlet manifold. Maybe drill and tap the intercooler at the inlet manifold end, which should be pretty easy to do, and show up leakage issues better.
If you did connect that far along, is the pressure still the same?, e'g, the pipe to the waste gate is only about 4 to 6mm, where as the intercooler is effectively a reverse venturi, which would lower the pressure considerably. what should the reading be here.

Now assuming I have the gauge in place, and set up, if I wanted to increase/decrease the boost, what exactly do you adjust, and by how much?

 

[Sweety]

I know this has been covered before, but having waded through a load of posts I am still struggling with the process a bit.

So firstly, The gauge.... As far as I can see, I need one that goes from 0 to 30PSI, with no vacuum reading, as you do not get a vacuum on a TDi. Looking around, these seem to be harder to find. I take it I also need to route a pipe from the gauge to under the bonnet.

Secondly, where to connect.
A lot of people seem to connect into the small pipe that runs across the turbo to the waste gate, is this just a case of cutting the pipe, and installing a "T" piece in the pipe? Does anyone know the ID size of the pipe?
As far as I can see, this is reading the pressure directly out of the turbo.

Surely though, if you want the gauge to tell you if you have any problems, e.g, a leak in the intercooler, or one of the pipes connecting it up, it would be better to attach nearer to the inlet manifold. Maybe drill and tap the intercooler at the inlet manifold end, which should be pretty easy to do, and show up leakage issues better.
If you did connect that far along, is the pressure still the same?, e'g, the pipe to the waste gate is only about 4 to 6mm, where as the intercooler is effectively a reverse venturi, which would lower the pressure considerably. what should the reading be here.

Now assuming I have the gauge in place, and set up, if I wanted to increase/decrease the boost, what exactly do you adjust, and by how much?

You'll find it very hard to find a gauge with just the pressure showing & i'm not sure if you can get them this way mine has both vac & pressure & never had any problems with it. My gauge is in bar not PSI but the max reading on the gauge is 2 bar & i've had a reading of 1.2 bar when fitted to both of the T2's i've had which I think works out at around 17psi:nenau I T'ed into the vac pipe on the turbo well I replaced the pipe with silicone hose with an ID of 5mm but closer to the inlet manifold is prob better & you could drill & tap the IC or poss use one of the self sealing T's on the rubber pipe between the IC & manifold but i'm think there will poss be a slight drop in the pressure reading if this is the case I would use the vac pipe on the turbo to get a reading whilst making adjustments then poss use the post IC fitting if you fit one for every day readings. I did a little write up on fitting a boost gauge on the FB page with pic's (not the club page but the other one)

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Cheers for the reply.

I don't do Facebook.... Hate the site with a passion, so won't be able to see your write up.

 

[Madmark]

I've t'd into actuator pipe and surely any leak will show as mine dropped when silicone hose split on ic. And you here it too. Any boost gauge will do as they only boost safely to 17psi which isn't much considering my mapped Passat boosted to 27psi the most complicated bit is where to mount it. I made a pod on cowling

 

[Sweety]

Here you go mate just copy & pasted what I wrote & can put up the pic's if you need them:thumb2

Quick run down on how i've fitted a boost gauge to both of the Terrano's i've had.
Cut the vacuum pipe on the turbo which go's to the acuator & fit the bit (I replaced my pipe with blue silicone pipe) & connect the gauges pressure pipe onto the T.
Find a grommet on the bulkhead you wish to feed the pipe through into the cabin ( I used the aircon drain pipe grommet this time & as the grommet didn't seal around just the drain pipe let allown the boost pipes I covered it all with silicone to keep water out)
Find the spot on the dash etc where you want to mount your gauge (I made a little pod to fit into the cubby hole infront of the gear sticks for now as it's getting moved in time.
Now the fun bit the wiring for ease I took the power, earth & light feeds from the back of the cig lighter socket after making a small patch cable as didn't want to cut into the main wiring. My gauges also need a perm live feed for memoury as you can change the colour of the light & took that feed from the back of the stereo.
& thats it

 

[Sweety]

My MK2's (twin headlight model) set up


And how i've got it set up in my MK4 at the min but if I can get a centre console cheap enough i'll do the same as the MK2 if not i'll prob make up a custom A pillar pod