Quote from: kryptto on April 16, 2023, 06:58:57 PM
Hey all,
New to this forum, I am looking to be schooled on the blow off valve. I have heard many say - great for an effect - no benefits. Have heard others tell stories about performance - any chance someone can school me on this discussion?
Have a tuned 2014 27K - typical bolt on's, CAI - 170 Thermostat - 3 BAR MAP - catch can - cold range plugs - others I am forgetting.
Thanks
All turbocharged vehicles have a BOV (sometimes called a divertor or bypass valve), it's just referred to differently, depending on who you speak with. The term "BOV" USUALLY refers to Venting To Atmosphere, though, which is what I'm assuming you are curious about. Whether that is done by modifying the stock BOV or installing an aftermarket one, the concept is the same.
Class is in session:
1) Essentially there are 2 ways to "meter" the fuel in a vehicle. One method is to use a Mass Air Flow sensor (MAF) and the other is to use a Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor (MAP). MAF uses the flow of air across an element to measure this, while a MAP uses a pressure transducer to measure how high the pressure in the system is (called a "speed density" system).
2) A BOV, or divertor/bypass valve, is designed to release any excess pressure buildup beyond what the system is calling for at any given moment. Excessive pressure buildup can cause turbo-flutter and really kills power by making your turbo less efficient (overly simplified explanation) and can prematurely kill the turbo. In both types of fuel-delivery systems (MAF & MAP), the BOV diverts air back into the intake system, but for different reasons. A MAF-based system diverts this air back into the system because it has already been "measured" and, thus, is required in order to achieve the correct AFRs in the system. If you dump that air into the atmosphere in a MAF system, it can throw off the fuel measurements because the system has counted that air and is adding fuel accordingly. Without it, now the mixture is rich...and robbing power. That being said, many people still VTA MAF-based systems as the effect can be minor in some cases or it is tuned-out by an aftermarket tune. VERDICT: I'd be careful VTA a MAF-based system.
3) That leads us to a MAP-based system. It reads pressure within the system and the fuel measurement is taken before the valve is opened to release that excess pressure I mentioned earlier. So why does it divert air back into the intake system? No real reason other than to satisfy emissions compliance and to remove NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harmonics). Majority of car owners want their cars quiet, and that diversion back into the system keeps the noise down. As for emissions compliance, the air inside the intake system can sometimes carry contaminants such as oil vapor, especially if a turbo is beginning to fail. So instead of polluting the atmosphere, the EPA mandates that we destroy our engines instead, LOL. VERDICT: Basically, there is no performance reason why you need to divert the air back into the system on a MAP-based, speed density platform...it's harmless, VTA to your hearts content.
4) Most turbocharged vehicles utilize speed density while most NA platforms use the MAF technique. AFAIK, all ecoboost engines use this method, so you're good to go.
I may have overly-simplified the explanation, but it was done for effect. I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule, so for the engineers in here that may pick apart my explanation, just know that I'm aware there is more nuance than what I've described.