This may be dumb but what is the stock boost on the SRT-4? I was thinking about getting a boost controller. So my next question is how much boost can you run on the stock fuel system? What is the ideal boost for the most power? I am just looking on getting this till I can afford the stage 2 w turbo toys. I heard it comes with one.
Right now I have a AEM cold air intake, Borla exhaust, stage 1, forge WGA, Pressure pipe with GReddy type RS BOV, and short shifter. Looking for just a little more power for the new kids on the block, like the GTO, and Cobalt SS.

Thanks.

 

Depending upon temperature, elevation, etc etc.....anywhere from 11lbs-15lbs The stock intercooler cannot flow adequately past 19lbs of boost. Any more than that and your really killing the system and not doing it any good. Try around 16-17lbs with an MBC....that should be optimal.

You definitely dont need more power for the Cobalt SS....thats for damned sure. The GTO isnt really a walk in the park but its in an entirely different class than we are.

 

11 to 15 psi seems to be the maximum boost range most people on here get with a stock srt-4. Humidity also appears to affect maximum boost. My 04 is totally stock and most of the time it ranges from 11psi in winter to 15psi in summer.

At times in the summer it will hit 16 psi for a few seconds and then start to drop back. Last summer I saw it hit 17 psi several times when the temperature was 30+ celcius. Am I the only one getting these higher numbers, or is it normal?

I realize I spend too much time looking at the boost gage.

 

to explain y u will see more boost in the summer: the turbo tends to like more heat. the reason being is so it's able to cool it off. the turbo in the cold doesnt have to do as much "cooling" it just does spooling [sm=icon_rock.gif] so to make this short u will see higher psi when its hot out and and lower when its cold out. so if u see it raise for one second and go back down it is because u went over part of the road that's warmer.

 

actually you have it backwards. turbos do not like heat, and love cool, dense air. cooler, denser air allows the turbo to work more efficiently, so you will get the same power output at 11 psi on a cool day that you would at 14 on a hot (for example).

 

You're kidding right? hee hee - the turbo likes heat - hee hee

Cold air is good. It holds oxygen better and oxygen makes explosions, which your car needs to move the pistons up and down. When you compress air, like you do with a turbo, this carries on right into the combustion chamber, so cold air will help you detonate fuel more efficiently, which means you go faster, easier.

If we could get the air in the engine to 54 degrees or so it would be optimal, but, since that is unachievable, and other things need heat to run well, cooler charge air to help get closer to that temperature will help a lot.

Now some may argue with some validity, that it doesn't matter what temp. the air in the engine is, as long as the source of the air is at a good level, since we are compressing air, and sending it through without changing its composition. Thus the cold air intake.

Just go by feel and see how much you enjoy the drop in temperature this fall. I know my car and I are loving it. Much quicker than the dead of summer.