I just got my new RX6 kit yesterday. First thing I check is the wastegate, supposely Apexi fixed their problem with the wastegate early this year by using a SS bushing rather than the old plastic or rubber bushing inside. The way to tell is if you look inside the wastegate and the "valve like looking thing" shines then it's made out of SS, otherwise if it looks black then it's the old material.

Mine is black so I got the old one. My problem is, when I receive the kit, my outer box look re-sealed and non of the boxes inside has any fancy printing except says "Apexi". The Wastegate box looks different, very fancy printings and does not require and tape to seal it like others.

Can anyone who bought the kit recently tell me what kind of wastegate you got and it is in the different type of box then the others? Do you have the number 702-Z720 printed on the outer box?

I ordered my kit from a reputable retailer not Ebay.

Thanks

-OY

 

It isn't the valve they are said to have changed, it is a bushing that the valve stem goes through. I don't think you can see it unless you take the wastegate apart. The old one was said to be copper or bronze (gold-ish in color) and the new one is said to be silver. That could all be total BS, but that is what I understand from reading the threads. It seems very unlikely to me that a black versus silver valve would be the change to look for.

If you won't be road racing, the old A'PEXi wastegate would probably be fine. Just get a pop-off valve if you are worried about it.

If you have the gold-ish valve guide, you can get a machine shop (one that does piston engine head work) to increase the valve guide clearance a bit (0.003" is the number I recall from posts). I think a few owners have had that done, but I have heard conflicting reports about its effectiveness. Get a pop-off valve to be extra safe.

The third option is to get the HKS Stainless Steel Racing Wastegate, as it bolts up pretty easily.

Or you could get another HKS or TiAL wastegate (based on these two manufacturers having the best reputations) and do fab work to make it fit.

I would go for option #1 -- get a pop off valve and don't worry about it until you experience a problem. The pop off valve will protect you from an overboost.

-Max

 

Thanks for the clearification Max. Well, like you said if one need to take apart the wastegate to tell, then I am certainly looking at the wrong spot. Dave@KDR seems to believe I can see the bushing by just look into it. But in any case, he had also suggested me to get a pop-off valve just to be safe. So far the only pop-off valve I've seem is the one on RP's website and it's made by Greddy for around $150, is that the right one? Do I still keep my wagtegate once I use the pop-off valve?
Max, I also checked out your website, you really made the HKS fit nicely. But it's too much money for me right now. Thanks again.

-OY

 

I bought an apex'i kit recently and i had the wastegate valve guide honed .003' larger and have had no problems at all with it. I have a greddy pov too, but didn't install it yet, but I still have no problems with the wastegate at all

 

Yes, you keep the wastegate. The POV is not a boost control device in the sense that you set it to get the boost you want. It is a fail-safe device that will limit boost if your boost control system fails and the boost goes high. Typically you would set it a few psi above your boost setting. You still need the wastegate and all the related plumbing and control stuff.

The POV is cheap, so I would just get one and run the car to see what happens. You might try getting the valve guide enlarged first to reduce the possibility of problems. Then if it works fine, cool! If not, you won't pop your motor (or are at least much less likely to with the POV) and you can replace the wastegate.

-Max