Air recirculation valve on turbo
 

Hi folks:
My turbo are has a high pitch whistle that was narrowed down to the Air recirculation valve( not the EGR valve) on top of the turbo. I plugged the ARV at the rubber connector by a ball bearing, ( EGR is already blocked). The whistle is gone only the regular turbo sound.
My Q is does blocking the ARV have bad effect on performance or mechanical wear on turbo unit??

MVK

The ARC valve does thee things -- causes your cruise control to surge like crazy as it switches in and out, dumps the boost when you don't need it but leaves the turbo spinning (to help eliminate turbo lag) and supposedly lets the trap oxidizer warm up more slowly to prevent it cracking.

You can live without the cruise control surge, I'm sure. I can, anyway!.

The boost cut while flying down the highway at low throttle will probably save you some gas -- I got 36 mpg on the last tank before mine quit, only 31 after. Not a big deal unless you do a lot of highway travel in light traffic.

The turbo lag elimination may or may not be a benefit, I didn't see much change.

I suspect it is there for the trap oxidizer more than anything, and you don't have one anymore.

I don't think anything will be different with the ARV blocked, certainly no extra wear on the turbo. However, if you can hear the air whistling when it opens up, I suspect your air filter to turbo hose is shot, you shouldn't hear either the vent or the turbo!

Peter

Thanks Peter. Could not have asked for a better explaination. I am now at ease. Yes I will check out the hoses again I am sure they are fine.

MVK

Sorry to revive an old thread...

PSFRED...did you get 36mpg with the ARV connected or with the vacuum line disconnected?

I believe both the air recirc and EGR were working. Shortly thereafter, the actuators for both blew and I've not replaced them. Never gotten over 32 mpg since, either!

I think that the air recirc will open on the highway while cruising, this lowers the fuel consumption while allowing near instant return of boost as the turbo stays up to speed.

I could be wrong, though, and have just goofed up while filling the tank...

Peter