couple factory models using them now:

Ford Powerstroke Diesel
Acura RDX
2007 Porsche 911 Turbo

possibly the BMW 335I

technology seems to make sense-works like a small turbo off boost & a big one on boost. i know few Turbo Dodge (not SRT-4) guys that are using them w/great success. what are everyone's thoughts on this???

 

My company has replaced 7 VV turbo's on our two F-550 service trucks. They seem to last about 3000 miles for us. I can't say I recommend them...yet.

 

Variable vane turbos have been around for a long time on diesels. That RDX K23A would be best suited as a replacement for the S2000 Piece of Chit engine, and I don't know what you guys are doing on the F550, but in out test cells, Cal. guys crack heads with some of the software they write on 6.0L powerstrokes and under medium to heavy duty cycles these engines last thousands of hours. The turbo is difenately not their weak side.

 

^S2000 piece of chit engine? Are you joking? How in any way shape or form is the F20 or F22 a bad engine?

Scorke

 

Hmm...I would like to know also why the S2 engine is a chit engine.
I can not currently think of a n/a 4cyl that put that kind of numbers.

 

Hmm...interesting technology. From the brief description, would it be safe to assume they're used for gas mileage? I'll have to look this up...haven't heard of a 'vane' turbo.

 

I've actually been waiting for one to be available to the aftermarket.. I think they have great potential..

 

Shelby/Dodge put them on their reworked, showroom-offered Shadow CSX's in 89. I've heard little-to-nothing about the technology since. I'd think if it was a silver-bullet we'd have seen it in widespread use by now ...

 

pic

 

We should get a more in-depth overview of the technology in this thread. I'll see if I can get a link to 'How Stuff Works' or something.

 

the ones on the turbo dodge's were cool but they wouldn't make anymore and 15 psi maxed out. im sure they've done other things now so they don't "run out of breath"

 

The benefit is that you can have a big turbo that you can make small by closing vanes in the compressor housing I believe. Basically they stay shut creating a smaller area for spool and low end tq then once you are further into the turbos efficiency range they open up and top end power is vastly improved.

Scorke

 

So, effectively, a sequential turbo 'setup' in ONE turbo, vs. two? Just more moving parts and complexity to the unit?

 

No. It's only one turbo, and you don't have the same losses attributed to running sequential setup in the sense that you are no longer wasting exhaust gasses spinning the smaller turbine when all the air is really coming from the bigger unit.

This variable vane stuff is a much more efficient way of accomplishing what sequential turbo's do, with half the weight, plumbing, the only downside is longevity I am sure, however Borg Warner tends to know what they are doing..... You are correct, the only real downsides are the increased moving parts, controlling it, and tuning for it I am sure. Also I am sure that you can keep under hood temps way down with a single turbo vs a sequential setup. Also I suppose that on sequential setups that the larger turbo takes a beating taking the hot/pressurized air from the first and running it through itself, being that again this is only one unit I assume it keeps the IAT a lot cooler.

However imagine a 42R that could spool like a 30R mmmmmmmmmmm....... I'll keep
dreaming.

Scorke

 

Yeah, if you'll note above, I did say "a sequential setup in ONE turbo, instead of two".

But, yeah, sounds like my assumptions were correct. I could see how it might be tricky to tune, repair and use one of those. If the technology has been around for a long while, are there any reasons it hasn't developed or been used? Certain limitations they haven't been able to get over? Seems to me that if it worked, it'd be more than logical to run with it.