I live in Nebraska but my wife and I both have family in Colorado. So, we are in the state often. Once the car is up around 5000 feet the engine is pretty soft.

Last week we returned from yet another trip to Colorado and I happened to encounter a fuel outlet with 93 octane, pretty unusual for Colorado. Most places sell 91 as premium, some 89. Well, what a difference, the car started running just like it does at home. So, I'm thinking much of gas sold in Colorado is crummy.

 

Remember also that unless your boost guage is recalibrated, 20 psi of boost at sea level is not the same as 20 psi at 2500 ft above sea level.

 

I live here in CO and I boost to 19psi just fine. I'm all stock and I go 19-16psi just like everyone else. Yeah, without boost it's damn near dead, and VERY sluggish under 2500 rpm. But that's why turbo cars handle altitude better, the turbo will just keep spooling until it sees the max boost the ECU allows. Either your gauge is off or something else is wrong.

 

oak2207
can you get your boost up to 19psi if say you put it in 3rd gear slow the car down to 2000rpm's, then floor it? also it was not MY gauge, the boost reading came from the dyno

 

Yeah, and it actually spikes a tad higher, like the needle just brushes 20. I though the thin air was actually giving me a higher spike. I have the Defi Imperial BF gauges. I figured it was the dyno... Where'd you get it done at?

 

got it done at logic imports here in boulder on a dynomometer dyno.
thanks for all the replies, guess i'll just wait till my new gauges come in early next week and then go from there

 

To add another data point, I have a VIII and I boost to 23psi max stock at this altitude - Defi BF gauge. Driving up to 11600 feet (from 5500 feet where I live), there is no noticeable change.

My friend has an IX, and I drove that, and it peaks at ~20psi, tapering to ~18psi (though he has the crappy stock boost gauge in his MR).

 

Dang, I didn't know there was one in Boulder. I drove all the way down to Parker to Mac.

 

3rd gear is the proper gear on the dyno...even for the 6spd.

 

There is also an AWD dyno in lakewood.

 

Im in Boulder too. I noticed my boost doesnt get quite as high either (compared to so cal). I dont know if anyone said this, but isnt it cause the thinner air doesnt spool the turbo as good? or am I way off?

 

All things on 2 cars the same, one at SL and one up here

Less denser air = less cylinder pressure = less exhaust pressure = slower spool up, as compared to sea level results.

Some calculate that if the turbo is pushing 20 psi up here, that it is working as as hard as it would to push aprx 22 at sea level because of the difference in air pressure.

Keep that in mind when you are comparing boost levels with guys at Civilized Altitudes.

(Born here so I can say that )

 

Here are a couple of links for those who would like a better understanding of this topic. The first one is a USA article concerning atmospheric air density and how temp, pressure and humidity affect density. How many here believe (assuming temp and press are held constant) that humid air is less dense that dryer air?


http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wdensity.htm

The second link is an excellent technical discussion concerning altitude density and turbo chargers.

http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/archiv...p/t-61581.html

 

the humidity displaces the oxy

Some may remember this oldie, most will not
"Love is like oxygen
You get too much you get too high
Not enough and you're gonna die"