2010 WRX - Max Boost?

[hieu1004]

This is my first turbo car so I am still learning how everything works. First off, I have a 2010 WRX, stock with only boost gauge & short shift. I am nearing the last couple hundred miles of being done with the break-in period so I decided to take the RPMs up just a little bit past 4k.

At WOT, 2nd & 3rd gear, I only saw a boost peak of about 6psi?! The stock turbo is suppose to around 13.3psi and I am only hitting 6psi?. Keep in mind, I never went beyond 5k RPMS while doing this, so maybe load has something to do with how the turbo spools? Also, it wasn't like I was going WOT through the 1st 3 gears either, it was just gunning it in 2nd and then 3rd when I had the chance....

I just want to be sure that there is nothing wrong with my turbo. At idle, the vacuum shows 20 in/Hg so that seems to be normal.

Does driving like a grandma during break-in "teach" my ECU grandma mode or what!? Or is it because the car is still under 1k miles?

[spt wrx 2k8]

I know on my 08' 4EAT when I WOT it, I hit 11psi which is pretty much on point from what the dealer person told me (he has an 08' STi himself) @ 11.3psi max boost. My idle is also @ 20 in/Hg

So maybe that's about right, but dont quote me on that.

[hieu1004]

Do you think it might be because I still only have 700-800 miles? I am not taking it past 4.5k RPMs since it is still in the break in.

I read somewhere that the with new cars, boost is limited until about 4000 miles or so?

[Poohbear]

Peak boost usually happens between 3200 to 3500 rpms... Other factors come into play on how much boost you have, Such as intake air temp. Are you WOT, if your not WOT you will not see the peak boost. 6 PSI sounds awfully low you may have a pinch in the vacuum line for the boost gauge also..

[hieu1004]

Peak boost usually happens between 3200 to 3500 rpms... Other factors come into play on how much boost you have, Such as intake air temp. Are you WOT, if your not WOT you will not see the peak boost. 6 PSI sounds awfully low you may have a pinch in the vacuum line for the boost gauge also..

If the vacuum is showing correct, will that rule out the pinched hose or are they mutually exclusive? My idle is at 20 in/Hg which should be correct. Sorry for the noob question.

[Poohbear]

If the vacuum is showing correct, will that rule out the pinched hose or are they mutually exclusive? My idle is at 20 in/Hg which should be correct. Sorry for the noob question.

If the hose is pinched the gauge will react slower as pressure will slowly bleed into the line through the pinch...

[hieu1004]

If the hose is pinched the gauge will react slower as pressure will slowly bleed into the line through the pinch...

Hm...then I do not think that is the case, because the gauge jumps really quickly around. It falls to idle quickly when throttle is let off and jumps up to about 6psi without any hesitation.

I will try WOT again when I get the opportunity in 4th & 5th gear to see what happens.

[spt wrx 2k8]

hieu1004

If you're only gettin 6 psi I'd take it back to the dealer and express your concerns. But you also said you haven't taken it past 5k which to me is where you'll see the boost increase as I do when I press down on the accelerator.

[Donkey]

In third gear you should be seeing max boost around 3200-3600 rpm. In 4th and 5th even sooner. If your not seeing over 10 psi in 3rd gear or above either your gauge is off or something else is going on.

[synolimit]

im not saying anything bad about your motor but you asked about break in, here is my only break in method i used on every engine!

Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power

and just got my 10k oil report back from blackstone laboratories. ZERO blow by and way lower levels then the average. motors in great shape!

[hieu1004]

Well that's why I have a warranty I guess. The dealership will be taking a look on it this Thursday - as well as putting on my new SPT exhaust!