For testing reasons, I want to run the turbo without the intake track connected to the engine. Has anyone tried this? The only issue I can think of is the wastegate not seeing any boost and staying closed, but I have no idea if that would hurt the turbo itself.

I don't intend to run the **** out of it, I just want to see what kind of effect the turbo is going to have on exhaust noise. A hard pull or two and some normal driving and it's off.

 

Just pull the spring from the wastegate so it does not make any boost. Running with the intake off will overspin the turbo.

 

Overspinning will occur only if there is a sudden change in vaccum. for example, if the car was seeing positive pressure over 10psi or so, and it suddenly goes down to 0, (like the sudden disconnection of a hose clamp on a dyno run...THAT could overspin the turbo and cause damage. But simply driving the car with the intake pipe disconnected will not, since the turbo will only go up to atmosphere and not into positive pressure. I've had plenty of clients drive to the dyno hooked up that way without overspinning.

 

Bump*

Does that mean I could run my turbo without any piping and not harm the turbo?

Everyone keeps preaching "turbo overspin" but a few others say it's 100% okay to run w/out piping. They say turbo overspin can't happen without sudden pressure loss. What is the truth?

 

Thats what Mac said yes.

 

Is there any evidence or proof to which is right? I wanna believe that turbo overspin isn't possible without building higher psi boost but too many people have said it can happen easily. I'd just like for somebody to set it straight!

 

I guess the only evidence I can give are my credentials. that I design/build turbochargers for a living and have previously worked with Honeywell, Borg-warner and several design divisions for almost 15 years.

I guess the question is, what evidence would convince you? seeing pictures or written testimony...?..?.. We can all see if we can provide it, but it'd be a waste of time if its not sufficient for you.

 

Maybe prove to all the disbelievers how in no way will it harm the turbo from overspin if the turbo if is ran with out intercooler piping (without pressurized air) at high exhaust flow.

I am assuming that's what you agreed to!? Correct me if I'm wrong.. I'm new to this.

 

I was always curious about this. Especially since I am about to have to drive my freshly rebuilt CRX over to get intercooler pipes fabricated. I always thought it was really, really bad for the turbo to "freewheel" like that.

I pop intercooler pipes off my Integra all the time too. Even yesterday.... Switched to 4th gear... built ~30psi.... *poooooffffttt* I really need to do something about that... I don't want to blow up my expensive GT30R. I'm installing a turbo speed (rpm) gauge soon. Will be interesting to see what results I find.

Glad this came up. To OP I still wouldn't do WOT runs with the turbo "freewheeling." But that's just me with no real evidence or engineering to support it.

 

I don't design turbos, however I have designed land based gas turbines. I agree with Mac, you will not surge the turbo unless the compressor is suddenly unloaded.

 

there shouldn't be any disbelievers, the shodan is smarter than everyone in this thread combined when it comes to anything turbo related. the physics of this aren't too hard to grasp though. atmospheric pressure is already providing resistance to the pressurized air coming out. if you rigged that up to a vacuum chamber then sure, it would probably be possible to overspin if you had enough vac pulling on it

 

That's really good to know! I never doubted his knowledge.. Just wanted to be sure.

Haha before you know it there will be ricers everywhere with turbo setups just for the spoiling sound.

 

no there wont

 

i was also wondering this...being that i need to drive it to the dyno thats 3 hours away...

 

lol

 

So, i i were to install my turbo, but dont hook up my intercooler piping to it, would i be ok to drive from Iowa to Florida? i'm actually going to get it tuned at CFT cuz im moving to Tampa.

 

there are a few ways to do this that being one of the easiest, put a filter over the Tb and metal screen over the tubing boost is shooting out of

 

If your worried about boosting on an untuned motor. Depending on the size of your turbo its pretty easy to stay out of boost.

I drove for 4 hours to get my car tuned on stock ecu maps/injectors with a 50trim T3T4 with all pipes connected.

 

I drove 3hrs with the charge piping uncoupled a intake length away form the TB, nothing happened.

 

now what about 23 hours lol thats how far the shop is going to be for me

 

if your worried just have someone make you a basemap with boost cut set to 1psi so you cant hurt anything.
but honestly if the shodan says it wont hurt it thats info you can take to the bank.

 

cool beans.ill be boosted goin down then

 

Anytime TheShodan makes a turbo related statement you can rest assured that its all the fact you need.