wastegate adjuster rods - LotusTalk

SteelrzLotus · 06-01-2007, 07:27 AM

I hear so much about adjusting the wastegate adjuster rods. What are they? Where are they located? How do you adjust them? Is there a guide out there about adjusting them and what the recommended adustment is?

Thanks

Mike

Alphonse · 06-01-2007, 10:06 AM

Mike,

The adjustor rods connect the turbo waste gate to the diaphragm operator.
As boost is applied the rod moves and opens the wastegate. I'm sure there is a more technical description available but that's it in a nutshell.
Any adjustment, if needed, should be done by an experienced Lotus tech.
If your Turbo is working correctly then no adjustment shoud be required.
There is no, to my knowledge, performance tweaking to be had with any adjustment at the rod.

Al B.
89 Esprit Turbo

jtj · 06-01-2007, 01:41 PM

adjusting the rods is possible but you WILL damage your motor if thats how you are gaining boost. the engine will not be able to fully/correctly compensate for the added boost with proper fuel. if no issues are present requiring parts replacement that affects thier current settings, then I would leave them alone.

Dmbrown34 · 06-01-2007, 02:25 PM

+1 It will add more boost which means more power. However, it will make your engine run on the lean side if you do not get more fuel in there. Thus your engine will DIE.

Ask your uncle google about wastegate adjustments and he might give you advice like:
http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EGui...Wastegate.html
http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/e...djustment.html
http://www.saab9000.com/procedures/e...seboostadj.php

Many cars run on the rich side so you can add some boost without harm. If you decide to do this mod...it can be done safely. Get a A/F gauge so you know the engine is not running lean!

lotuson74 · 06-01-2007, 07:56 PM

The rod does operate the wastegate and by "screwing in" the rods the wastegate will only be able to open so far & boost will build faster and go higher. You DO NOT need to worry about a "lean condition" with the hollowed cats that I keep saying you need to have. The sensors read the air / fuel and will compensate for the additional air mass.
Believe me, I have done it to 4 Esprit V8's for over 30,000 miles total! But do it in increments WITH unleaded race fuel (I recomend V.P. motorsport 109). If you are reasonable about it, your car will last and get unbeilevebly fast.

codymac · 06-01-2007, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphonse

There is no, to my knowledge, performance tweaking to be had with any adjustment at the rod.

On the 4-cyl., it'll make the boost come on faster, higher, and harder - at least until it cuts or the engine goes bang.

We've been @#$!! with Michael's trying to get the wastegate set... until he realized it was a bad solenoid.

m111mk2 · 06-05-2007, 03:06 PM

By adjusting the wastegate rods shorter you WILL damage your engine. The cast alloy pistons by design are limited to how much boost pressure they can handle, and the piston ring lands will suffer from it. The correct adjustment procedure is in the workshop manual. Wategate capsules should be checked for free and correct movement at every service interval to prevent such damage occuring.

Dmbrown34 · 06-05-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotuson74

The rod does operate the wastegate and by "screwing in" the rods the wastegate will only be able to open so far & boost will build faster and go higher. You DO NOT need to worry about a "lean condition" with the hollowed cats that I keep saying you need to have. The sensors read the air / fuel and will compensate for the additional air mass.
Believe me, I have done it to 4 Esprit V8's for over 30,000 miles total! But do it in increments WITH unleaded race fuel (I recomend V.P. motorsport 109). If you are reasonable about it, your car will last and get unbeilevebly fast.

Its my understanding that race fuel has higher octane levels which basically means that the engine runs richer with less gas (which is what prevents the pinging/detenation). If you have to run on racing gas...then you are leaning out the engine with the extra boost.

maz · 06-05-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m111mk2

By adjusting the wastegate rods shorter you WILL damage your engine. The cast alloy pistons by design are limited to how much boost pressure they can handle, and the piston ring lands will suffer from it. The correct adjustment procedure is in the workshop manual. Wategate capsules should be checked for free and correct movement at every service interval to prevent such damage occuring.

rubbish. please adjust the crap out of the wastegates. i am looking for a "project esprit"...

JeffYoung · 06-05-2007, 07:01 PM

Maz -- lol.

Lotuson74, why do you think that hollowing the cats and running on race fuel will have anything to do preventing detonation and harm to the pistons and ring lands that extra boost by screwing in the wastegate actuators will provide?

Hollowing out the cats will give you more flow through the exhaust and possibly MORE boost. THe higher octane doesn't give you any more power, it simply allows the car to run at higher compression without detonating. You still have problems with the pistons and ring lands not being up to handling the boost you are putting through it.

I know you guys are having fun with these cars, but I'm telling you, they will go boom.

lotuson74 · 06-05-2007, 08:31 PM

For exactly the reason you list after you posed the question

However, the V.P. fuel will provide more power in addition to adding a lot of power by NOT detonating early & preventing the ECU. from retarding the timing.
Damage to the pistons & rings is more a matter of driving style and the way you apply the power. Also, note that I usually run around 14 to 18psi. of boost. Rarely have I turned it up to 26. Please take notice that my 04 Esprit has 18,000 miles on it & I have had it on the track a lot! But I will be the first to admit that 26psi. is pushing it.

25psi_Elise_Killer · 06-05-2007, 08:39 PM

BOOOOOST!

StallionX · 06-05-2007, 09:24 PM

well, since according to jeffyoung.. the esprit v8 is basically a "box of rocks" "kitcar" timebomb then what is the risk is boosting up to 26?

Why not have this car just blow to hell we as well be doing that at 220MPH w/ our hair on fire!!

lotuson74 · 06-05-2007, 09:30 PM

Sorry Stallion, It tops out at 204mph. (that's 8000rpm. in 5th.) So far I have only seen 7600 in 5th. (that's just 194.8mph.) but then again... I only had a public street for the test and I ran out of room. But it was still pulling hard!

StallionX · 06-06-2007, 09:54 PM

ONLY 194.8!!!!

this is a KIT CAR with a BOX S OF ROCKS engine that will go boom any second now I just wait for it to happen!!!!!!!!

lotuson74 · 06-06-2007, 10:15 PM

I tried to pull my car in the garage tonight and it blew a BIG blast of smoke & stalled! Now it won't start

JeffYoung · 06-07-2007, 05:10 AM

stallion, you just choose to read the bad in my posts about Esprits, and not the good. Your choice I guess. All I am saying is be realistic about these cars. Running 26 lbs of boost is not realistic. Claiming the car will go 204 when it is gear limited less than it is not realistic.

THis is precisely the type of thread that a potential Esprit owner SHOULD NOT read.

In any event, Lotus, what are the symptons with the no start? Is there spark? Will the motor turn over freely? What color was the smoke that you saw?

StallionX · 06-07-2007, 05:35 AM

Jeffyoung,

I dont want to dredge through your old posts and quote them but you said many things that would lead any reasonable person to believe you have little appreciation and respect for these cars..

"ever take the engine lid off the box of rocks v8"
"But Esprits aren't real cars. Once step above a kit car and every time you run it hard you have your fingers crossed that it won't go boom."
"liked my Esprit but it was a bucket of bolts"

you keep tossing out a positive right before you give a resounding negative about the car like.. "don't get me wrong I liked my esprit but it's total ****" <-- that wont work.. just face the facts yourself.. you don't like the car.. you have animosity on some level for the amount of maintenance you had to deal with and every post you make is laced with that animosity..

No big deal.. these cars are expensive and if I didnt enjoy mine so much I would be pissed about the 15k I put into it this year..

JeffYoung · 06-07-2007, 06:19 AM

Stallion, I have plenty of respect and appreciation for these cars. Lotus did amazing things with very few dollars and parts bin parts. That I agree with.

The reason why I say one thing positive, and then one thing negative, IS BECAUSE THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT AN ESPRIT IS. A mass of contradictions. Faster than most equivalent Ferraris but crappy engine dynamics (sound and feel). Great steering, but crap gearbox. Reliable in many ways, with silly little (and expensive) faults (rusting gas tanks, bad tranny mounts, cracking exhaust manifolds) that are frustrating.

All I am trying to do is make these threads realistic for the potential Esprit purchaser, because most of what you guys post is totally one sided and I would truly hate for an Elise owner to buy an Esprit based on the expectations that get thrown out here. Read the Fact File and EspritWorld, do your research and decide if an Esprit is for you. But don't come on here and read about $40k Esprits running 26 lbs boost and going 204 mph. That my friend is just a bunch of crap-o-la.

StallionX · 06-07-2007, 06:49 AM

and here we go again
"have plenty of respect and appreciation for these cars. Lotus did amazing things with very few dollars and parts bin parts." <-- positive first side, and then you gotta toss in the nasty little hits here and there..

listen man, I never had a problem with frame mounts, or cracking manifolds or rusting gas tanks.. nor have other owners I have known in the past.. The Esprit is not the only exotic car that has problems, you need to accept that.. this is not a corvette or even the toyota based elise.. it is more from the realm of diablo/ferrari 355/348 ideals..

Where a true exotic isn't just work to purchase, but work/expense to keep running.. if you can accept that (and many people do) then you will LOVE the car..

"Faster than most equivalent Ferraris but crappy engine dynamics (sound and feel)." <-- here we go again.. no offense but have you ever heard an esprit? what in christs name is wrong with the cars you have owned? Many people including ferrari owners go NUTS over how awesome my cars sounds and feels.. have you HEARD a v8 without a muffler and high flow cats? The sound is almost a work of art in of itself!

oh and BTW you say 40k Esprits.. while I cannot control what some tool sells this car on the market for.. I can tell you the Esprit is not a 40k car it is a 95k base price car.. that is the value of the car, period.

Also, I just visited lotuson74's garage (he has a sick stable) and I can attest first hand that his esprit is for real and ran great.. Not to mention Johan and a few others who have all reached 200mph with these cars..

Again JeffYoung you can keep posting over and over again about how much you love these cars then make your "be realistic" statements all day long, it still seems pretty obvious amigo..

06-01-2007, 07:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
SteelrzLotus Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 47	wastegate adjuster rods I hear so much about adjusting the wastegate adjuster rods. What are they? Where are they located? How do you adjust them? Is there a guide out there about adjusting them and what the recommended adustment is? Thanks Mike __________________ 1997 Lotus Esprit V8 - Performance Exhaust, Johan Chip, K&N 1969 Camaro SS - ZZ502 Big Block 1965 Shelby Cobra - 454 Big Block

06-01-2007, 02:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dmbrown34 Grrrrrr Baby Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,617	+1 It will add more boost which means more power. However, it will make your engine run on the lean side if you do not get more fuel in there. Thus your engine will DIE. Ask your uncle google about wastegate adjustments and he might give you advice like: http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EGui...Wastegate.html http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/e...djustment.html http://www.saab9000.com/procedures/e...seboostadj.php Many cars run on the rich side so you can add some boost without harm. If you decide to do this mod...it can be done safely. Get a A/F gauge so you know the engine is not running lean! __________________ 2005 Lotus Elise LSS 2003 Corvette 50th Anniversary Convertible

06-01-2007, 07:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
lotuson74 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 567	The rod does operate the wastegate and by "screwing in" the rods the wastegate will only be able to open so far & boost will build faster and go higher. You DO NOT need to worry about a "lean condition" with the hollowed cats that I keep saying you need to have. The sensors read the air / fuel and will compensate for the additional air mass. Believe me, I have done it to 4 Esprit V8's for over 30,000 miles total! But do it in increments WITH unleaded race fuel (I recomend V.P. motorsport 109). If you are reasonable about it, your car will last and get unbeilevebly fast. __________________ Kirk Will this do??? Artic silver Elise, Ohlins, Monolites, Q.S. header Arqray Ti. & more 99 Sport 190 Elise 02 Mini Cooper S 03 Dinan BMW S-3 Supercharged X-5 4.6is 06 F-250 Diesel, 11 inch lift, 1000lb ft. hauler 04 Radical SR-4 Racecar 97 Lotus Esprit V-8 TT 04 Lotus Esprit V-8 TT 90 Nissan 300 zx TT showcar with 680 r.w.h.p.!! 02 BMW 330i (needed something practical!) 06 BMW M5 with Schnitzer & Dinan mods. (3) Racebikes built by Richard of Attack Racing

06-05-2007, 08:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
lotuson74 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 567	For exactly the reason you list after you posed the question However, the V.P. fuel will provide more power in addition to adding a lot of power by NOT detonating early & preventing the ECU. from retarding the timing. Damage to the pistons & rings is more a matter of driving style and the way you apply the power. Also, note that I usually run around 14 to 18psi. of boost. Rarely have I turned it up to 26. Please take notice that my 04 Esprit has 18,000 miles on it & I have had it on the track a lot! But I will be the first to admit that 26psi. is pushing it. __________________ Kirk Will this do??? Artic silver Elise, Ohlins, Monolites, Q.S. header Arqray Ti. & more 99 Sport 190 Elise 02 Mini Cooper S 03 Dinan BMW S-3 Supercharged X-5 4.6is 06 F-250 Diesel, 11 inch lift, 1000lb ft. hauler 04 Radical SR-4 Racecar 97 Lotus Esprit V-8 TT 04 Lotus Esprit V-8 TT 90 Nissan 300 zx TT showcar with 680 r.w.h.p.!! 02 BMW 330i (needed something practical!) 06 BMW M5 with Schnitzer & Dinan mods. (3) Racebikes built by Richard of Attack Racing

06-05-2007, 08:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
25psi_Elise_Killer Drunk on alcohol Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,130	BOOOOOST! __________________ '06 Evo IX Stage 1E Tuned by Road Race Engineering(Stock:turbo,intake,internals,ECU) Walbro 255lph fuel pump,RC Engineering1000cc Injectors, AVO exhaust,RRE dyno tune flash, Dejon Tool boost controller (325whp @ 22PSI Costco 91 octane, 353whp @ 25psi on 100 octane, 383whp @30psi on E85) , Zeitronix wideband,Zeitronix Ethanol Content Analyzer, Defi BF gauges, Stoptech rotors, SS brakelines,Graphic/Interior Design,Brand Identities,Invitations www.nomadic-nomads.com

06-01-2007, 10:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
Alphonse Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 910 Images: 10	Mike, The adjustor rods connect the turbo waste gate to the diaphragm operator. As boost is applied the rod moves and opens the wastegate. I'm sure there is a more technical description available but that's it in a nutshell. Any adjustment, if needed, should be done by an experienced Lotus tech. If your Turbo is working correctly then no adjustment shoud be required. There is no, to my knowledge, performance tweaking to be had with any adjustment at the rod. Al B. 89 Esprit Turbo

06-01-2007, 01:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
jtj Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 266	adjusting the rods is possible but you WILL damage your motor if thats how you are gaining boost. the engine will not be able to fully/correctly compensate for the added boost with proper fuel. if no issues are present requiring parts replacement that affects thier current settings, then I would leave them alone.

06-05-2007, 03:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
m111mk2 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 23	By adjusting the wastegate rods shorter you WILL damage your engine. The cast alloy pistons by design are limited to how much boost pressure they can handle, and the piston ring lands will suffer from it. The correct adjustment procedure is in the workshop manual. Wategate capsules should be checked for free and correct movement at every service interval to prevent such damage occuring.

06-05-2007, 07:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
JeffYoung Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 837	Maz -- lol. Lotuson74, why do you think that hollowing the cats and running on race fuel will have anything to do preventing detonation and harm to the pistons and ring lands that extra boost by screwing in the wastegate actuators will provide? Hollowing out the cats will give you more flow through the exhaust and possibly MORE boost. THe higher octane doesn't give you any more power, it simply allows the car to run at higher compression without detonating. You still have problems with the pistons and ring lands not being up to handling the boost you are putting through it. I know you guys are having fun with these cars, but I'm telling you, they will go boom.

06-05-2007, 09:24 PM	#13 (permalink)
StallionX BANNED Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 841	well, since according to jeffyoung.. the esprit v8 is basically a "box of rocks" "kitcar" timebomb then what is the risk is boosting up to 26? Why not have this car just blow to hell we as well be doing that at 220MPH w/ our hair on fire!!

06-05-2007, 09:30 PM	#14 (permalink)
lotuson74 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 567	Sorry Stallion, It tops out at 204mph. (that's 8000rpm. in 5th.) So far I have only seen 7600 in 5th. (that's just 194.8mph.) but then again... I only had a public street for the test and I ran out of room. But it was still pulling hard! __________________ Kirk Will this do??? Artic silver Elise, Ohlins, Monolites, Q.S. header Arqray Ti. & more 99 Sport 190 Elise 02 Mini Cooper S 03 Dinan BMW S-3 Supercharged X-5 4.6is 06 F-250 Diesel, 11 inch lift, 1000lb ft. hauler 04 Radical SR-4 Racecar 97 Lotus Esprit V-8 TT 04 Lotus Esprit V-8 TT 90 Nissan 300 zx TT showcar with 680 r.w.h.p.!! 02 BMW 330i (needed something practical!) 06 BMW M5 with Schnitzer & Dinan mods. (3) Racebikes built by Richard of Attack Racing

06-06-2007, 09:54 PM	#15 (permalink)
StallionX BANNED Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 841	ONLY 194.8!!!! this is a KIT CAR with a BOX S OF ROCKS engine that will go boom any second now I just wait for it to happen!!!!!!!!

06-06-2007, 10:15 PM	#16 (permalink)
lotuson74 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 567	I tried to pull my car in the garage tonight and it blew a BIG blast of smoke & stalled! Now it won't start __________________ Kirk Will this do??? Artic silver Elise, Ohlins, Monolites, Q.S. header Arqray Ti. & more 99 Sport 190 Elise 02 Mini Cooper S 03 Dinan BMW S-3 Supercharged X-5 4.6is 06 F-250 Diesel, 11 inch lift, 1000lb ft. hauler 04 Radical SR-4 Racecar 97 Lotus Esprit V-8 TT 04 Lotus Esprit V-8 TT 90 Nissan 300 zx TT showcar with 680 r.w.h.p.!! 02 BMW 330i (needed something practical!) 06 BMW M5 with Schnitzer & Dinan mods. (3) Racebikes built by Richard of Attack Racing

06-07-2007, 05:10 AM	#17 (permalink)
JeffYoung Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 837	stallion, you just choose to read the bad in my posts about Esprits, and not the good. Your choice I guess. All I am saying is be realistic about these cars. Running 26 lbs of boost is not realistic. Claiming the car will go 204 when it is gear limited less than it is not realistic. THis is precisely the type of thread that a potential Esprit owner SHOULD NOT read. In any event, Lotus, what are the symptons with the no start? Is there spark? Will the motor turn over freely? What color was the smoke that you saw?

06-07-2007, 05:35 AM	#18 (permalink)
StallionX BANNED Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 841	Jeffyoung, I dont want to dredge through your old posts and quote them but you said many things that would lead any reasonable person to believe you have little appreciation and respect for these cars.. "ever take the engine lid off the box of rocks v8" "But Esprits aren't real cars. Once step above a kit car and every time you run it hard you have your fingers crossed that it won't go boom." "liked my Esprit but it was a bucket of bolts" you keep tossing out a positive right before you give a resounding negative about the car like.. "don't get me wrong I liked my esprit but it's total ***" <-- that wont work.. just face the facts yourself.. you don't like the car.. you have animosity on some level for the amount of maintenance you had to deal with and every post you make is laced with that animosity.. No big deal.. these cars are expensive and if I didnt enjoy mine so much I would be pissed about the 15k I put into it this year.. Last edited by StallionX : 06-07-2007 at 05:49 AM.*

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06-07-2007, 06:19 AM	#19 (permalink)
JeffYoung Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 837	Stallion, I have plenty of respect and appreciation for these cars. Lotus did amazing things with very few dollars and parts bin parts. That I agree with. The reason why I say one thing positive, and then one thing negative, IS BECAUSE THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT AN ESPRIT IS. A mass of contradictions. Faster than most equivalent Ferraris but crappy engine dynamics (sound and feel). Great steering, but crap gearbox. Reliable in many ways, with silly little (and expensive) faults (rusting gas tanks, bad tranny mounts, cracking exhaust manifolds) that are frustrating. All I am trying to do is make these threads realistic for the potential Esprit purchaser, because most of what you guys post is totally one sided and I would truly hate for an Elise owner to buy an Esprit based on the expectations that get thrown out here. Read the Fact File and EspritWorld, do your research and decide if an Esprit is for you. But don't come on here and read about $40k Esprits running 26 lbs boost and going 204 mph. That my friend is just a bunch of crap-o-la.

06-07-2007, 06:49 AM	#20 (permalink)
StallionX BANNED Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 841	and here we go again "have plenty of respect and appreciation for these cars. Lotus did amazing things with very few dollars and parts bin parts." <-- positive first side, and then you gotta toss in the nasty little hits here and there.. listen man, I never had a problem with frame mounts, or cracking manifolds or rusting gas tanks.. nor have other owners I have known in the past.. The Esprit is not the only exotic car that has problems, you need to accept that.. this is not a corvette or even the toyota based elise.. it is more from the realm of diablo/ferrari 355/348 ideals.. Where a true exotic isn't just work to purchase, but work/expense to keep running.. if you can accept that (and many people do) then you will LOVE the car.. "Faster than most equivalent Ferraris but crappy engine dynamics (sound and feel)." <-- here we go again.. no offense but have you ever heard an esprit? what in christs name is wrong with the cars you have owned? Many people including ferrari owners go NUTS over how awesome my cars sounds and feels.. have you HEARD a v8 without a muffler and high flow cats? The sound is almost a work of art in of itself! oh and BTW you say 40k Esprits.. while I cannot control what some tool sells this car on the market for.. I can tell you the Esprit is not a 40k car it is a 95k base price car.. that is the value of the car, period. Also, I just visited lotuson74's garage (he has a sick stable) and I can attest first hand that his esprit is for real and ran great.. Not to mention Johan and a few others who have all reached 200mph with these cars.. Again JeffYoung you can keep posting over and over again about how much you love these cars then make your "be realistic" statements all day long, it still seems pretty obvious amigo..