Okay, I've searched for this both in this forum and across the 'net.....
I understand how turbos work in a vague sense, but I see terms (like blow-off-valve, wastegate, boost controller) that I can't associate with a picture, and don't understand the purpose for.

Is there a Turbos for Dummies page or thread somewhere out there? If not, could somebody explain the purposes of the major components of a turbo setup, and whether they're always needed or not. (think: intercooler)

Thanks :-)

~enigma32~

 

Blow Off Valve, or BOV: Vents off pressure when you shift or when you quickly let off the throttle. Makes it so there is a lot less stress on the turbo and quicker spool after a shift.

Wastegate: Diverts air away from the exhaust turbine once a set boost pressure is reached. Keeps boost at a certain set pressure.

Boost Controller: Valve that changes the signal going to a wastegeate. Lets you change how much boost you want to run. Set it as low as the spring in the wastegate, or as high as the turbo can.

Intercooler: Cools the air passing through it.

Pop off Valve: Safety device incase there is a boost spike. If it sees boost go over a set pressure, it vents off the extra pressure.


Actually, none of these things are "needed". They just make it safer or more reliable.

 

Yay! ::I begin to understand::

So I know where intercoolers are typically located.... But how about the rest of these goddies? Are they usually attached to the turbo itself or are they located elsewhere?

Typically one has at least the wastegate, correct?

(thanks, btw :-))

 

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/turbo.htm

 

I've been there already. :-) I'm talking in a non-cartoonish way.
That is, so I can look at a picture and say, "oooh, that's the wastegate".

 

Wastegate is either on the turbo if it's an internal wastegate, like a TII. Or it an be coming off the exhaust manifold before the turbo. BOV is on the intercooler piping, can either be before or after. Pop off valve can be the same places a BOV can be.

I think you should really read the "cartoonish" stuff, cuz you have LOTS to learn.

 

Thanks-- At least I know what people are talking about now :-)

For reference, the "cartoonish" stuff at howstuffworks only shows the wastegate and intercooler in the diagrams-- Both of which I already understood.