14 PSI on Stock Tune?

[A4B8C16D32]

Hey guys, I've had my a4 for a couple months now, and just installed a boost gauge the other day. From what i've read, the stock tune should have a boost pressure of 9 psi with spikes up to 11 or 12 psi.. My car is holding at 14 psi with spikes up to 17 psi... So now i'm trying to figure out if it has a stage 1 tune. i bought the car from a used car dealer thinking it was 100% stock (which it was mechanically).

The only mods i've done so far is a high flow cat, 3" downpipe without a resonator, and a drop in H&N filter.. but that shouldn't effect the boost pressure because that's regulated by the ecu, right..?

Are there any easy ways to find out if my car is tuned?

Thanks in advance

[van462]

If you call APR with your VIN they can check their records. You local tuner usually doesn't have the tune on hand, it comes from the mother ship. At least that is how I understand it happens.

[Roadtrippn]

Just put a boost gauge in myself and I'm on the stock tune. I'm boosting those same numbers with spikes up to 17 as well. I highly doubt my car has been tuned. I got it as a CPO with 27k on it. Maybe this is normal for stock?

[hyperunion]

Seems normal for stock tune running a hfc

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[jjvwg]

Same numbers mine hits and Im 100% stock motor wise

[A4B8C16D32]

So consensus is that it probably is stock tune, and the higher boost pressure is due to the hfc. Semi disappointing because now i have to go spend money on a tune ;P

Thanks for the input guys!

[IHave2Turbos]

I have noticed with my GIAC tune that peak boost is different per gear (torque management?). I am not actually sure what peak #'s per gear are supposed to be for my GIAC Stage 2- (6MT version). Anyone know what they "should" be?

[hyperunion]

So consensus is that it probably is stock tune, and the higher boost pressure is due to the hfc. Semi disappointing because now i have to go spend money on a tune ;P

Thanks for the input guys!

Probably a good idea.. you'll most likely run a cel emissions code soon.. o2 spacers for hfc's and test pipes don't always work well half the time...

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[A4B8C16D32]

Probably a good idea.. you'll most likely run a cel emissions code soon.. o2 spacers for hfc's and test pipes don't always work well half the time...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Been running a cel since the day the hfc went on the car lol I check the code periodically just to ensure nothing else is throwing a code, and it's just been the O2 sensor so far

[The Infiltrator]

I'm in stock mode right now and run a 90 degree spacer. I've never had a CEL and maybe it's because the angle of it. I even ran this setup when I first installed it 5 years ago for a year without a CEL. Just throwing that out there for options.

(stock mode right now for oil consumption fix)

[A4B8C16D32]

I'm in stock mode right now and run a 90 degree spacer. I've never had a CEL and maybe it's because the angle of it. I even ran this setup when I first installed it 5 years ago for a year without a CEL. Just throwing that out there for options.

(stock mode right now for oil consumption fix)

I've always heard that spacers don't work so i haven't bothered to spend the time or money putting one on my car, but since you've had success with a 90 degree spacer for so long i might grab one and try it.

What brand spacer do you have?

[The Infiltrator]

I've always heard that spacers don't work so i haven't bothered to spend the time or money putting one on my car, but since you've had success with a 90 degree spacer for so long i might grab one and try it.

What brand spacer do you have?

Might as well, the one I have is a Stratmosphere, bad thing is they're out of business.

[IHave2Turbos]

I can say that for my car the spacer works 100%. GIAC Stage 2- + CTS HFC + Custom spacers (straight w/ catalyst plus a 45*) and no CEL.

[The Infiltrator]

I can say that for my car the spacer works 100%. GIAC Stage 2- + CTS HFC + Custom spacers (straight w/ catalyst plus a 45*) and no CEL.

A tune will turn off the O2 CEL. I was talking about being in stock mode.

[TJet1.8]

What about APR STG2 PSI?
My P3Cars gauge is showing me ~26PSI.
Is the gauge over compensating? My tuner tells me it should peek ~24...not sure what to believe...

[The Infiltrator]

What about APR STG2 PSI?
My P3Cars gauge is showing me ~26PSI.
Is the gauge over compensating? My tuner tells me it should peek ~24...not sure what to believe...

When I had my tune on it was about 24.

[TJet1.8]

Hmm...time to switch from digital to analog boost...

[The Infiltrator]

Hmm...time to switch from digital to analog boost...

Check my thread, Podi is the way to go.

[A4B8C16D32]

Check my thread, Podi is the way to go.

Podi is absolutely the way to go. I installed the column mount kit from ECS and absolutely love it

[TJet1.8]

Advice taken!

Thanks Guys!

[seangrimes590]

Hmm...time to switch from digital to analog boost...

The P3 gauge way overestimated when I had it reading from the ECU....32psi on K04. Once the boost tap / analog boost sender was put in and I changed the mode to analog the reading is accurate. No reason to switch to a new gauge just order the analog sender unit and put in a boost tap / line.

[IHave2Turbos]

I may have received incorrect information but GIAC has stated that their tune in no way does anything with the cat, AWE doesn't even sell an HFC. The spacers are "working" in this case.

[The Infiltrator]

I may have received incorrect information but GIAC has stated that their tune in no way does anything with the cat, AWE doesn't even sell an HFC. The spacers are "working" in this case.

Interesting, I stand corrected. I guess APR are the only ones then.

[AWDLover]

Stock I would level out at about 13-14 psi. APR stage 1 would spike in the low 20's and level off around 18. That was being read from the cars sensor with a vag com, so the same data that P3 gauge would pull from

[Liquid Smoke]

Roc Euro O2 spacer with the built in catalyst is the way to go, that's the only one i've seen almost all positive reviews on. i have a stock cat but it's probably going bad soon and been throwing 'catalyst errors' for awhile, installed the spacer and nothing since, will be keeping that when i get an HFC.

also damn didnt know HFC improves the boost by that much, may need to get that sooner than later, i'm still worried about tuning, this is my DD so i'll prob leave it on stock just to avoid any engine longetivity issues.

[A4x]

Roc Euro O2 spacer with the built in catalyst is the way to go, that's the only one i've seen almost all positive reviews on. i have a stock cat but it's probably going bad soon and been throwing 'catalyst errors' for awhile, installed the spacer and nothing since, will be keeping that when i get an HFC.

also damn didnt know HFC improves the boost by that much, may need to get that sooner than later, i'm still worried about tuning, this is my DD so i'll prob leave it on stock just to avoid any engine longetivity issues.

I doubt just a HFC would increase the boost. Wouldn't that be regulated by the ECU and the wastegate in the turbo? I think you might just reach specified boost a little sooner with a HFC, but you won't make extra without a tune.

[van462]

I doubt just a HFC would increase the boost. Wouldn't that be regulated by the ECU and the wastegate in the turbo? I think you might just reach specified boost a little sooner with a HFC, but you won't make extra without a tune.

I think you would still register a spike (likely sustained until around 3500 rpm. With the HFC it effective changes air pressure ratio from across the turbine. It will overspeed the turbo, ECU can't correct it yet; as the compressor side is still building the pressure the MAP is going to read (after the entire intake system pressurizes). If you are really in the throttle the engine will also eat the extra air being made and be a bit harder to initially detect. Additional the ECU likely has a standard deviation between requested to actual boost so it doesn't spit fault codes out constantly. Put it all together and a few PSI difference.
Lower RPM the waste gate is clamped shut, the ECU can't even open it until 5.5 lbs of boost are present in the compressor housing. The ECU will regain control at higher RPM as things become more linear. Here you may still make a tiny amount more boost if the actual vs specified boost numbers are closer together.