Exploded View Of HKS GT-II...
Exploded View Of HKS GT-II External Wastegate:
Stainless-Steel Lower Body
V-Clamp
Valve
Diaphragm
Wastegate Spring
Upper Housing
A turbo system's wastegate is like a sentry constantly pacing the boundaries, keeping the flow of boost in check. It prevents the turbo from overboosting by bleeding off exhaust gases, or more specifically, bypassing said gas around the turbine housing and dumping it back into the exhaust system downstream of the turbine. In some race applications the wastegate uses a dump tube to vent the exhaust gasses into the atmosphere in lieu of recirculation. An external wastegate is mounted off the turbo, incorporated into the exhaust manifold compared to the plunger-style integral wastegate (sometimes called internal wastegate) that bolts to the turbo housing. Integral wastegates are the type that come stock on factory turbo cars. An integral setup is adequate for stock, and a bit beyond stock, boost levels. But when a turbo upgrade and big boost are in the cards an external wastegate is a key component of the package.
There are two factors to consider when it comes to choosing an external wastegate-the first is valve size which is how many wastegates are generally described; for instance, "a 46mm wastegate."
The second factor is spring rate. The valve, usually made of stainless-steel to survive the high-heat environment of the engine compartment, is forced open by the gate's internal diaphragm. The valve reacts to pressure piped in from the compressor side of the turbo system. The point at which the diaphragm opens the valve is determined by the unit's spring rate.
Vacuum Hose from top port...
Vacuum Hose from top port of wastegate to Port #3 (middle) of HKS EVC Stepper motor.
Vacuum hose from bottom port of gate to Port #2 (left) of HKS EVC Stepper motor with T-fitting leading to pressurized air source between compressor housing and intercooler.
The purple pipe represents a section of the intake tract after the throttlebody, usually on the intake manifold itself.
The spring rate is also the base boost level of the gate. So a 0.7-bar spring will allow the diaphragm to open the valve at 0.7 bar, a 1-bar gate at 1 bar and so on. It should be noted that boost controllers can double the rated spring pressure of the external wastegate. So that a trusty 0.7-bar spring can regulate up to 1.4 bar of pressure. If more boost is desired a stiffer spring must be installed in the wastegate.
A common mistake among novice turbo fiends is that they think a wastegate is a one-size-fits-all proposition. This is not true. The larger the valve the more the gate can flow and, further, the range of spring rates can vary from gate to gate. Also, larger wastegates can take up scarce room under the hood so there is an evil compromise at work.
An electronic boost controller fools the wastegate by using a stepper motor to alter the pressures seen by the diaphragm. The ECU portion of the boost controller uses feedback from the hot and cold sides of the system to know what the boost level is and how to attain the desired level of boost dialed in. The wastegate has ports above and below the diaphragm that can actuate the gate by pulling or pushing on the diaphragm/spring assembly. A boost controller can use either or both of these ports via the stepper motor to manipulate the pressure and dictate when the wastegate opens.
The spring rate, or base boost...
The spring rate, or base boost level, of the gate is indicated on top of the diaphragm housing. This one is rated at 1.0 bar.
The Stepper motor is a critical...
The Stepper motor is a critical link in the HKS EVC. Acting on directions from the EVC ECU the motor alters the pressures seen at the diaphragm allowing the boost controller to substitute its own will upon the wastegate. Note the skittish manner in which the ports are referred to in HKS literature: 2-3-1.
Here we see how an external...
Here we see how an external wastegate would be plumbed without a boost controller. In this configuration the wastegate's rated spring pressure would dictate maximum realized boost pressure. The incoming pressure received via the bottom port, seen here piped in from a fitting on the compressor housing, can be plumbed in from anywhere between the compressor housing and the intercooler.
We mocked up a boost controller/external wastegate layout using HKS components to give you a visual example of the basic concepts of external wastegates and how they are hooked up.
Knowledge is power and knowing if you are going to use a boost controller and what your maximum boost pressure target is along with some of basic info dropped here will allow you to choose the right wastegate for the right job. Go forth and boost.
The GT Wastegate (left) and...
The GT Wastegate (left) and Racing Wastegate (right) are two of HKS' more popular units. The GT has a bigger valve and a twin port design. The GT has two upper ports and two bottom ports 180 degrees apart, which makes it easier to plumb in tight spaces. The unused ports are capped off.
Here we see plunger-style...
Here we see plunger-style integral wastegate (sometimes called an internal wastegate) as used on stock Toyota Supra turbos.
| WASTEGATE COMPARISON |
| |
Valve Size |
Spring Range |
Mounting |
| HKS Racing |
50mm |
0.7 bar - 1.6 bar |
Square Bolt Pattern |
| HKS GT |
60mm |
0.6 bar - 2.1 bar |
V-Band Clamp |