Help from those with HKS Actuators!!!

MikeGlanzaV

MikeGlanzaV

Trader
Hi guys,

I really need help from those running HKS actuators without engine management. I have had mine fitted by a specialist today and the first thing he told me was that I would definately need a FCD if I installed this. After driving the car home I can see why. The boost comes in very strongly and quickly and If you keep your foot down the boost can top 1 bar. He also told me that the length of the actuator would not allow me to limit the boost pressure as hinted at on the guide on the forum here.

I can get a FCD next month no problem but if I did how would boost be limited to a safe level? Basically how are you guys running a full decat and filter plus HKS actuator setting your cars up to avoid this erratic boost behaviour?

Cheers for any advice

Mike
 
benGT

benGT

Member +
um, what your 'specialist' said is poopoo.

Lengthening the arm of the actuator WILL decrease maximum boost level!

as has been said before many times....just whacking on an FCD is not the answer - you need to find out why it's not holding boost first and address that problem (is it creeping). You also need to look at fueling options if you're putting on an FCD......

What are your mods?
 
MikeGlanzaV

MikeGlanzaV

Trader
benGT said:
um, what your 'specialist' said is poopoo.

Lengthening the arm of the actuator WILL decrease maximum boost level!

as has been said before many times....just whacking on an FCD is not the answer - you need to find out why it's not holding boost first and address that problem (is it creeping). You also need to look at fueling options if you're putting on an FCD......

What are your mods?
Click to expand...

Well as some may have read it was fitted at a normal garage on wednesday where it was adjusted to a length of around 135mm (10mm longer than stated in the guide and HKS instructions for 0.8bar) and it boosted beyond that for sure. Worse than that was the fact that as it was so long it meant the wategate was open all the time making the car terrible to drive with no boost low down.

Ive just measure now its been to a second garage and its at 130mm (still 5mm longer than the advised length for 0.8bar) and drives very well with the boost coming in very fast and strong but as far as I can see its not being 'controlled' as it still goes to a bar and hence fuel cut.
 
MikeGlanzaV

MikeGlanzaV

Trader
Mods are :-

ZEP decat
HKS Silent Hi Power exhaust
HKS Super Power Flow
HKS actuator
Bailey BOV

There must be loads of cars on here running similar setups that have overcome this issue!!
 
MikeGlanzaV

MikeGlanzaV

Trader
benGT said:
does it reach a certain level (e.g. 0.8 bar) then slow down and rise up to 1 bar?
Click to expand...

No mate - thats what it did with the standard acuator which I put down to boost creep as a result of the decat. I bought the uprated actuator to combat this. With the HKS actuator fitted it just comes in really strong and keeps going it seems. Im driving it looking at the boost gauge now having to come off the throttle when it gets near 1bar. Not ideal hence my plea for help here :)
 
A

Adam_Glanza

Member +
it seems like its not opening the wastegate at all then?

most other peoples actuators work fine and hold boost at .8 bar constantly,

are they sure there measuring the rod properly lol
 
MikeGlanzaV

MikeGlanzaV

Trader
Adam_Glanza said:
it seems like its not opening the wastegate at all then?

most other peoples actuators work fine and hold boost at .8 bar constantly,

are they sure there measuring the rod properly lol
Click to expand...


Ive measured it from the bottom of the actuator body to the middle of the pin which controls the wastegate and its definately 130mm.

Im totally baffled and am getting contradicting advice. It seems I need someone to help me in the flesh so to speak! Is anyone on here in the East midlands area (Derby/Notts) by any chance!!
 
Phil

Phil

Super Moderator
still 5mm longer than the advised length for 0.8bar (MikeglanzaV)

from what ive heard what the specialist (second) garage has tried to do is restrict it a little more, so maybe just doin this a little more again would solve your problem. the advised length could just be a little different on application cause the airflow isnt standard (you have exhaust decat etc)
 
MikeGlanzaV

MikeGlanzaV

Trader
Phil said:
still 5mm longer than the advised length for 0.8bar (MikeglanzaV)

from what ive heard what the specialist (second) garage has tried to do is restrict it a little more, so maybe just doin this a little more again would solve your problem. the advised length could just be a little different on application cause the airflow isnt standard (you have exhaust decat etc)
Click to expand...

No mate cos the longer the rod the less the boost. If I shortened it would create more boost. Lengthening it would theoretically decrease max boost as said above but it would sson get to the point where I was on wednesday at 135mm where the car was ruined unless there is a happy medium between 130mm and 135mm which seems unlikely.
 
A

Adam_Glanza

Member +
well you may aswell give it a go and see what happens? if its not working now you might aswell have a play with it and see if it changes
 
MikeGlanzaV

MikeGlanzaV

Trader
As a bit of an update on the way home out of desperation I put the car in low boost mode to see what happens. Now I dont know whether I should have been surprised or not but it seems to have made the car behave itself. It perhaps doesn't boost quite as hard but it goes very well and seems to max out a 0.9bar under full throttle which is what I wanted. If i did the same in high boost it would have flown over 1bar in second and third almost before you could react under full throttle conditions. Whats happening?

Is this an acceptable if not ideal solution?
 
Dub-Se7en

Dub-Se7en

Lifer
obvious one this but did the guy actually unclip the actuator from the wastegate before measuring it's length? schoolboy error i know but it's worth checking.
 
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