Anyone got the UTEC boost controller to work in closed loop mode?

I can get it to hold boost fairly well, but as soon as the weather changes it changes. I have my boost gain pulled all the way back to 90, and a setting of 2xx in the boost map. I thought I actually had it working until I went out last night and hit boost cut several times. The temp had dropped quite a bit.

For my boost solenoid I'm using a custom two solenoid setup (OEM GM solenoids). I don't think the solenoids are causing my problem, as I can get it to hold boost until the temp changes. I also had pretty good luck in open loop mode, but since I live in Ohio I want a closed loop system. I know they've had some bugs in the boost controller software, so before I waste too much of my time (or money buying a different solenoid) I would like to find someone who actually has it working.

 

I am running closed loop and have very consistant results. Of course, we don't get much change in weather down here is S. FLa.

I haven't seen much of a difference in the boost gain feature. I have played with it, and I just don't see that it is doing anything.

my boost number is set to "50" which gives right around 10 psi on my greddy TT. my only gripe is that I get different boost number depending on the gear I am in. The higher gear pbviously put more load on the engine, and I hit higher boost levels as the gears go up.

for example, in second gear, I may only hit 9 psi.....3rd will go up to about 9.5......4 will be about 10......and 5th will be about 10.3

my boost value stays within 3 psi of the peak value in each gear so the solenoid must be doing its job correctly.

I am using the TXS BCS but I retapped the bcs and the wastegates to run all -4AN fittings and nitrous-grade SS braided lines instead of the rubber lines normally used.

here's a pic...It is hard to see, but you get the idea:

 

I haven't really noticed a difference in the boost gain value either, I would guess that at '90' it should NEVER spike, but mine does.

Thats interesting that you have different boost in different gears. I'll have to play around a bit and see if mine does the same thing.

 

I think it is due the different load creatd by taller gears.

I have begged TXS to make an update so that the valus on closed loop boost control represent actual "psi" figures. They have it that way in their Dtec boost controller, and they say it will be changed in the 350Z UTEC soon......It has already been done for the Subies.

 

As of yesterday I am no longer running in closed loop mode with my UTEC. It just wasn't able to stop boost spikes when I went from partial throttle to full throttle.

From a stop, I had no spikes at all, but if I was at 3500RPM and floored it it would hit boost cut almost everytime. My boost cut was about 3psi higher then my boost target.

Here is what I found - the 'boost gain' that is adjustable from 0 - 100 has absolutely NO effect on boost gain. From what I've seen with the UTEC I am assuming that this is a bug and something they probably never tested. I had the exact same boost response with that programmed to 0 as I did with it at 100. The 'stock' setting may be OK for people running low boost with a certain solenoid, but for high boost control with my dual solenoid setup it just isn't fast enough to react.

In open loop mode my boost is spot on all the way to redline. So, until the next firmware upgrade I guess I'm stuck in open loop mode - which really sucks because the weather changes around here every day.

 

I'm thinking that your boost spikes are due to the "actuator" style boost control that built into your turbos. I BCS on your setup is like using a "ball and spring" manual boost controller. you really don;t have control over the actuators. You only have a a single "boost port", and the BCS has to limit the amount of boost going to the actuator to increase boost. On an external dual port wastegate, the side port of the WG sees a pure boost signal from the intake manifold. the top port is the one that BCS controls. the BCS controls how much boost goes to the top port...so that way you can control the pressure differential on both sode of the WG diaphram.

I have also heard that the APS design tends to boost creap as the rpms climb.

what about your "wastegate closed bfore" setting? where did you have that set to? Here's my thoughts on that feature( copied from another thread).........

I don;t see how the "wastegate closed before" can possibly work. the utec would have to know if you have an internal or external wastegate. the BCS is hooked up differently to each wastegate type. on an external setup, the BCS is regualting the boost that is going to the "top" wastegate port, and the "side" port gets a direct (unobstructed) boost signal from the intake manifold so, to keep the wastegate shut, the BCS would have to open up the solenoid and hold it open (so the WG would have equal pressure on both sides of the diaphram) until the preset level. Conversely, for an internal wastegate setup, the BCS is limiting how boost boost goes to the actuator. To keep the actuator from seeing boost, the BCS, would have to keep the solenoid in the closed position. So, how can this feature possibly work for both configurations? It can't. the UTEC would need another parameter for the user to define which wastegate setup they are using.

 

I only have that climb on closed loop though, so I'm pretty sure it is the UTEC. In open loop I have a nice flat boost log.

 

hmmmmm...........

what about your "wastegate closed before" feature? where is that set?

 

I had it set to 8 for a while, then turned it off (0).

I'm pretty sure that if the boost gain would actually work that I could have made the system work in closed loop.

At the track, it did a pretty good job of holding boost, but like I said, on the street I hit boost cut all the time.