since installing my turbo gauge, I have yet to see it reach the 10 psi mark...highest I've seen it was around 3-4 psi...

I'm not sure if it's the gauge or the turbo is faulty. I have confirmed that the turbine spins smoothly though, even at idle.

I have a messy leak coming from the base of the intake runners... could enough pressure be escaping from there? How big/small of a leak affects turbo pressure anyway?

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85 190E 2.3(SOLD)
86 230E (-->300D) sold
87 300D (-->300TD) sold
68 250S w/ a 615 and manual tranny (RIP)
87 300TD (SOLD)
95 S280 "The KRAKEN" (Turbo 2.9 602 transplant) traded
86 190E 2.3... current project

Turbos don't produce appreciable pressure unless the engine is loaded. Revving up the engine with hood open standing there is not a good way to detect pressure, or its losses.

How does the car pull at around 2500 rpm? Do you notice any new power kicking-in?

Borrow another gauge and try it out. Maybe it's just bad.

A quick thing to try is pull off the wastegate hose from turbo and go for a short drive. This will produce maximum boost.

If you get nothing, then you've got possible issues with fueling, wastegate, leaks, etc.

The next quick thing to try is unscrew (take off) your ALDA, leaving the wastegate hose off. Go for a drive. This eliminates a common potential low fueling issue... no help? Can you blow black smoke at all? No -> move on to your fuel filters.

If you can get black smoke at will, and a 2nd gauge says poor boost. It's the turbo, and lots of threads about turbo diagnosis to help you out.

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

To find a Manifold leak get a spray bottle mixed with Dawn Dish Soap+water.
Starting off with the Engine completely cold spray on the Dawn mix on the parts you want to check.
Start the Engine and rev it some. If there is any leaks it will bubble.

One member had an issue where the big O-rings where the Turbo Intake mounted to the Intake Manifold were not sealing well.

Others have had Wastegates that were opening too early.
Some of the people with the above issue bought adjustable WasteGate Controllers. (Check the DIY Section for details.)

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

excellent advice guys, will get right on it...

I do have the wastegate hose off, at 2500rpm I do not recall feeling anything kicking in.
At idle I CAN produce black smoke at will... does this mean anything?
ALDA is still in the car btw.

__________________

85 190E 2.3(SOLD)
86 230E (-->300D) sold
87 300D (-->300TD) sold
68 250S w/ a 615 and manual tranny (RIP)
87 300TD (SOLD)
95 S280 "The KRAKEN" (Turbo 2.9 602 transplant) traded
86 190E 2.3... current project

Well if your turbine is spinning or at least spin-able, this is starting to sound like a stuck-open, chipped, or cracked wastegate valve inside the turbo, or softened wastegate spring.

__________________
Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

can you see the wastegate move with vacuum? IIRC, your model is vacuum actuated, so the hose off, would result in an open wastegate, and no turbo boost.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

his sig file indicates he has an 87 300TD, wastegate is pressure driven (apply controlled compressed air to watch it move)... don't put more than 30 psi or so into the wastegate.

__________________
Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D