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Blow off valves

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:01 am
by bduffman
hey guys have just been reading ( reserching ) for a future turbo project and saw this page saying that for a maf sensor set up you should use a Re-circulating rather then vented bov
Recirculating Blow Off Valve

A re-circulated BOV is one where the boost pressure is re-circulated back into the intake just before the turbo. This type of set-up is a must for those that are running a Mass Air Fuel ( MAF) sensor. The reason for this is that the MAF has already accounted for the air that is in the intake manifold, and if it was allowed to escape to the atmosphere, the car would run overly rich due to the fact that the ECU still believes that the air is in the intake tract. A bonus to running a re-circulated BOV is that the air being re-circulated can be brought back into the turbochargers intake pipe at a location and angle so that the air pressure is forced directly onto the compressor wheel. This will aid even more in helping to keep the turbo spooled up and running in-between shifts, or times when you are quickly on and off the gas pedal.

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:05 am
by spency
The later EVO's (correct me if I'm wrong) run an internal BOV system like this.

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:32 am
by Bennoz
If you're gonna go to the trouble of turboing your car, go to the trouble of using an ECU that doesn't require a MAF. I don't even run a BOV either.

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:50 am
by bduffman
how can you not run a bov ?
i thought you needed one so you dont create presure when the turbo is still spinning but the throttle is closed

well i was looking at I8A4RE turbo set up that he plans on making copys of as a quick less fuss way and hes using a GFB Deceptor bov but still running a maf sensor

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 10:40 am
by I8A4RE
You can run recirculating or atmospheric with a maf, it does not matter.
The reason for this is that the MAF has already accounted for the air that is in the intake manifold, and if it was allowed to escape to the atmosphere, the car would run overly rich due to the fact that the ECU still believes that the air is in the intake tract.


Yeah it might run overly rich for about .3 of a second. The BOV is only working when you release the accelerator pedal. So unless you intend to drive by constantly putting your foot on and off the pedal, then you wont have a problem. However in saying that if you want it legal and to be engineered you will need to have recirculating anyway. Atmospheric BOV are illegal.
Bennoz wrote:If you're gonna go to the trouble of turboing your car, go to the trouble of using an ECU that doesn't require a MAF. I don't even run a BOV either.
This is quite true and my ECU can run a MAP, so when I have cash ($180) I can easily remove the MAF.

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 2:58 pm
by bduffman
ok kool but will the recirculating one give more power ? im sure it wouldnt be much air but every little bit counts or would the engine just not suck in as much due to air already being in there

while on topic how hot dose the maf sensor wire get would it heat the air up at all or not

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 3:56 pm
by spency
Bens set up means when he changes gears, he keeps most of his boost as it's going back into circulation, instead of having to spool all the way back to full boost, it only has to spool the little bit it lost.

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 3:57 pm
by I8A4RE
spency wrote:Bens set up means when he changes gears, he keeps most of his boost as it's going back into circulation, instead of having to spool all the way back to full boost, it only has to spool the little bit it lost.

Mine does that 2 ;)

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 7:16 pm
by Bennoz
Plus my tubs are only little baby things. Not a huge amount of reticulating mass means they spool up super fast.

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 7:47 pm
by phunkydude
and Ben'z got those loud kappishhh..kapishhh sounds, even without a BOV. :lol:
Is that back pressure?

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 7:55 pm
by Bennoz
That's the sound of compressed air forced into the spinning compressor blades and stalling them dead, due to it having nowhere to go after I've shut the throttle ;)

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:05 pm
by bduffman
isnt that really bad for your turbos though wont it blow the seals in the turbo

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 2:09 am
by gotboost?
Yes, it's not the best thing for your turbo. However, if it's only a low amount of boost that's hitting against the blades at the time, then there shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Worst case scenario is that the constant bashing of air back against the compressor fins could possibly flatten them out or put the shaft out of alignment.

With regards to the recirculating systems, it's previously been mentioned that the benefit of these is that they provide better throttle response due to the compressed air being 'recycled'.

Now, depending on the way in which the recirculation is set up, one possible little downside is that the recirculated air might not be as cold and therefore, less dense. This can result in a slight loss in performance.

It's really all about the way in which it's all plumbed in, but I'd say that I'd be leaning more towards the recirculated system due to the fact that it provides better throttle response and keeps the boys in blue relatively happy.

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:25 pm
by Delvance
Everyone says that and sure makes sense in theory but i don't think anyone really has come up with conclusive proof/evidence for it. It's one of those subjects where some agree and some don't. I've a mate running a large turbo without a bov/recirv valve for a fair while on a street turned track pig and the turbo shows no signs of damage.

Personally i prefer running a recirc valve. You can also get 50/50 valves if you want some kinda bov - i believe turbosmart or gfb makes 'em.

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:12 pm
by gotboost?
Yeah, you won't see any signs of damage... You'll just see the little chunks of compressor wheel inside the engine when the shaft finally gives up the ghost... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:31 pm
by Delvance
Well actually, it was running like so for years on the street then got turned into a drift pig at a semi pro level and all is still in good health.

Like i said, in theory it should damage but no one has shown any conclusive evidence. There are others on S.AU running no bov/recirc on their track pigs either and they have not had any turbo issues. I for one would like to see some conclusive evidence one way or another instead of internetz warring on the topic.

And don't link me to some performance manufacturer's website stating it's bad...of course they say that seeing as they're trying to sell their bovs etc.

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:41 pm
by gotboost?
Meh, not my car.

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:48 pm
by bduffman
That's cause your fto isn't turbo dispite your name being gotboost

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:58 pm
by gotboost?
gotboost? wrote:Meh, not my car.
bduffman wrote:That's cause your fto isn't turbo dispite your name being gotboost
How does your sentence even bear any relevance to what I said?

I've got the username 'gotboost?' due to the fact that I've had several turbo'd cars in the past and performed several turbo engine conversions and sell parts for turbo'd cars. I decided the username best summed up what I'm into, so I've carried it across some of the forums I've been a member of.

I suppose the username bduffman must be a pleasant change from rogercordia... :lol: :lol:

Re: Blow off valves

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:25 am
by Shane001
^^ someone get these 2 a room :lol: