down on power...

[mike0105]

I've recently got the Torque Pro app (paid) and it is already earning its keep well. Diagnosed 2 fault codes on my colleague's Mazda 6 and have uncovered an issue with my FR.

The coolant temp seems to be stuck in the low 80°s, only rising in traffic. The dash gauge is a rock solid 90°, but as DanFR pointed out to me in another thread, it will be reading 90° from 75-100°. I have also noticed a lack of grunt and, sure enough, the app is suggesting I have only got 159whp to play with (I make that about 190bhp. The MAF gauge agrees with a readout of 160 g/s (which ÷ 0.8 gives 187bhp). There are no fault codes, no lights on, no smoke and power delivery is mainly smooth, just less of it.

This is 10bhp down on stock and the car is supposed to be running 240ish! It is particularly beyond 3-3.5k rpm that it seems to be lacking.

Did my first ever 0-62 attempt and managed only 7.8, even allowing for error that is pretty poor.

Would a dodgy stat be able to cause such a loss in power? Is it the diverted valve? PCV? Climatronic works fine by the way. I have already have a new HPFP recently too...

Any help/thoughts would be greatly appreciated! I have warranty (that works) and will be taking it into the garage, but ideas would help!

 

[MJ]

Check the divertor valve. Any codes stored?

 

[Dan FR]

Take any HP readings with a huge pinch of salt. Saying that your MAF readings do seem low - little more than what mine used to get when standard. The MAF ÷ 0.8 rule is useless and again - huge pinch of salt. Mine only reads 195g/s and made 270hp at flywheel.

Have you logged boost? above 3-3.5k is where these engines make their power so it shouldnt feel lacking. Guessing its ticking over smoothly so unlikely to be PCV related. Diverter Valve would be prime suspect as mentioned above

 

[mike0105]

Thanks guys

I know the figures are to be taken with a dollop of scepticism, but using them as a ball park figure does show something is awry at least. No fault codes stored as far as I can tell with the app, last cleared 1200km ago when new HPFP was fitted (under warranty no less!).

It is defiantly top end power that is missing, overtook a car in third gear and it took so.long to get from 3k rpm to 6k rpm.

I'm going to look into diverter valve and some exploration of the dodgy stat causing cool runnings.

 

[MJ]

I'd ignore the measured temps.

They always fluctuate but the gauge remains still at 90. This does not necessarily denote there is an issue and the gauge is only there to give a rough guide of the temps. If the gauge itself fluctuates from past 90 to below it and never stabilises then that would be a cause for concern but as it is your chasing a ghost.

 

[Dan FR]

They do fluctuate but it shouldn't be consistantly in the low 80's. This won't be the cause of the issues though so i wouldn't worry about that for now.

Pull the diverter valve out, chances are its on it's original which is probably a rev c and it could well be split

 

[mike0105]

Ok, I'll focus on dv. Which revision is the latest and greatest?

 

[banksy21]

Rev g

 

[mike0105]

Thanks

 

[MJ]

They do fluctuate but it shouldn't be consistantly in the low 80's. This won't be the cause of the issues though so i wouldn't worry about that for now.

Pull the diverter valve out, chances are its on it's original which is probably a rev c and it could well be split

Or it's a D and leaks or a G and it's fell to bits!

 

[banksy21]

the D's leak from the factory and the G 'WILL' break eventually.

decisions decisions.

 

[mike0105]

So either way, there is no good option to resolve it long term? Is the G going to be the best of a bad bunch?

 

[banksy21]

yes G is best.

 

[mike0105]

Just had a chat with a local VW specialist (lvs) who recommended a forge dv, but over £200 including fitting.

I guess that this is going to be a warranty claim, so I assume it will have to be a rev g.

 

[banksy21]

dont the forge ones leak?

 

[Dan FR]

Funny how companies like that always recommend a premium priced product that they just happen to sell......

Stick with a G

 

[mike0105]

Thought as much.

 

[mike0105]

Haven't sorted it yet, but just as an update the turbo seems much louder today and boost is definitely missing, so pretty sure it is a leak somewhere (prime suspect remains the dv). I'm going to book the car in for as soon as possible. Would I be right to assume that, provided I am careful and avoid going anywhere near WOT, it would be ok to commute into work in the meantime?

 

[betty_swollox]

Funny how companies like that always recommend a premium priced product that they just happen to sell......

Stick with a G

True dat.

 

[MJ]

Truth be told if I had to recommend a more stable alternative then it'd be the forge unit BUT;

A. It requires maintenance to keep it working correctly
B. Costs 5 times more than a rev G
C. Requires other items such as a separate solenoid valve to be fitted to allow it to work

You'll be fine driving it in the mean time if it's the DV.