Powerboost valve

[Si_GTi]

A guy I konw has a 106 GTi with a number of performance mods - zorst, filter, cat bypass and a "Powerboost valve". Haven't heard of the latter, so:

What is it?

How does it work?

Should I consider getting one for the Polo, in time?

Ta.

[polopowah]

hi
The Power Boost Valve is a high performance tuning part which replaces the original equipment valve (fitted to the vehicle), my mate has one also on his civic
heres some info ifound whilst browsing the net :

Ref: Original Equipment Fuel Pressure Control Valve
The electric fuel pump supplies fuel at a high pressure to the fuel rail and injectors, which is then regulated by a fuel pressure control valve. Typically, the regulator is not adjustable and is pre-set to a 3 bar maximum pressure. At idle the fuel pressure valve reduces it by 0.5 bar approximately to 2.5 bar. When accelerating quickly from standstill the fuel pressure increases at a proportional rate retaining a lean fuel mixture strength as required by the E.E.C. for new vehicles. However, the resultant effects of the standard valve produce:

-lethargic throttle response

-occasional drivability problems at slow traffic speeds

-intermediate performance 'flat spots' when accelerating

By comparison:
Ref: Power Boost Valve (replacement)
Firstly, this valve has an adjustable fuel pressure, effected by the movement of an adjustment screw on the crown of the unit.
New Power Boost Valves are pre-set with a maximum fuel pressure of 2.5, 3.0 or 3.5 bar, depending on the vehicle in question, and similarly (to the original valve) the fuel pressure is reduced by 0.5 bar approximately at idle. There the similarities end.
On acceleration from standstill the Power Boost Valve fuel pressure will increase at 1.7 times the standard rate. This will produce a healthy, strong fuel mixture strength which will instantly improve the drivability of your vehicle, providing:-

-instant throttle response

-removal of performance flat spots

-faster acceleration

-extra engine performance

The regulator enhances engine performance on acceleration by enriching the mixture strength. On constant throttle and cruise conditions the valve returns to a normal regulator function.

-Ben-

[bstardchild]

A guy I konw has a 106 GTi with a number of performance mods - zorst, filter, cat bypass and a "Powerboost valve". Haven't heard of the latter, so:

What is it?

How does it work?

Should I consider getting one for the Polo, in time?

Ta.

I think I had a rant about these before - in answer to your questions

Its an adjustable fuel pressure regulator

It has a mechanical adjustment on the spring tension that presses against the valve diaphram - hence adjustability of fuel pressure

No - never!

Here's a precis of my last rant......

They are a hack performance addition with dubious benefits on modern engines

- increasing the fuel pressure is an accross the range thing so at tickover/low revs the engine can be overfueled

- A poor substitute for a good ECU Remap where fueling can be increased (if needed) where it's required

- increasing the fuel presure on a car with a modern ECU reliant on a number of sensors will only result in a reduction in injector dwell time - in other words the effect will be negated and could also result in you engine going outside the block learn limits so bring on the engine warning lamp

Bottom line and the nicest way I can put it is if they are so wonderfull and can be obtained for £60 ish then why don't manufactures fit them from new...... Because the engine and electronics are much better designed these days

*Rant over

[bstardchild]

heres some info ifound whilst browsing the net :

Ref: Original Equipment Fuel Pressure Control Valve
The electric fuel pump supplies fuel at a high pressure to the fuel rail and injectors, which is then regulated by a fuel pressure control valve. Typically, the regulator is not adjustable and is pre-set to a 3 bar maximum pressure. At idle the fuel pressure valve reduces it by 0.5 bar approximately to 2.5 bar. When accelerating quickly from standstill the fuel pressure increases at a proportional rate retaining a lean fuel mixture strength as required by the E.E.C. for new vehicles. However, the resultant effects of the standard valve produce:

-lethargic throttle response

-occasional drivability problems at slow traffic speeds

-intermediate performance 'flat spots' when accelerating

By comparison:
Ref: Power Boost Valve (replacement)
Firstly, this valve has an adjustable fuel pressure, effected by the movement of an adjustment screw on the crown of the unit.
New Power Boost Valves are pre-set with a maximum fuel pressure of 2.5, 3.0 or 3.5 bar, depending on the vehicle in question, and similarly (to the original valve) the fuel pressure is reduced by 0.5 bar approximately at idle. There the similarities end.
On acceleration from standstill the Power Boost Valve fuel pressure will increase at 1.7 times the standard rate. This will produce a healthy, strong fuel mixture strength which will instantly improve the drivability of your vehicle, providing:-

-instant throttle response

-removal of performance flat spots

-faster acceleration

-extra engine performance

The regulator enhances engine performance on acceleration by enriching the mixture strength. On constant throttle and cruise conditions the valve returns to a normal regulator function.

-Ben-

Ben - please don't take offence - this is not directed at you but the content of what you cut and pasted into the post

*Re-starts rant
Just goes to show the seductive power of advertising and the ability of people to dress overfueling as a perfomance aid in pretty language while missing off any of the downsides

Scuse my french but this is all b*******s if I had time I'd go through it line by line but I haven't......

I've worked on a lot of modified cars (in particular 24V 6 cyl 3.0 Vauxhall lumps) and every single time I have been presented with a car with one fitted I've been told it's the best thing since sliced bread and how quick the car is with it fitted

I have never been proved wrong - all the cars have performed better - used fuel more effectively (ie mpg has improved) and normally owners are shocked at how much better the car performed

One guy was living with 22mpg average on the trip computer but down in Portsmouth - he'd spent hours on the phone to me getting assistance with how to make his car run better and despite the fact I had told him on numerous occasions to remove the FSE Power boost valve he was adamant that it wasn't that that was causing the problems - why he wouldn't remove it turned out to be the OE regulator had been removed by the garage that fitted the PBV and had never given it to him.

I eventually lost patience and gave him an offer he couldn't refuse - drive up to me and let me look at the car - see if I could improve on it - if I couldn't I would pay his petrol costs for the day

I asked him to re-set the trip computor for the journey up to me so we had some data to compare with and drive it exactly how he did everyday.

He turned up took me for a spin and I drove the car too - it was well sick fuelling was all over the oplace and I found a few other 24V issues. I ripped it all out - not the easiest job - fitted a spare std regulator that I had chipped the ECU properly and checked out all the engine settings......

Right chap now take it up the road...... Sit back and have a cuppa

Q return and a very shocked chap

I asked him to reset the trip computer for the journey home (Norfolk - Portsmouth) and to drive it exactly as he did before - when he got home he rang me to say - he couldn't drive it the same as he kept going over a ton so easily but he did return 32mpg on the way home and took 15mins of his journey time without even trying

* Rant over again

[polopowah]

ok m8 lol
obviously the company is talking out of their asses
are they bad for your car then??
-Ben-

[bstardchild]

ok m8 lol
obviously the company is talking out of their asses
are they bad for your car then??
-Ben-

Thank God (*wipes brow)

Marketing Hype for an old generation product from bygone days when LE Jetronic ECU were lean on fuel right across the rev range

Not so much bad - just a waste of precious fossil fuel -long term maybe bore wear might be accelerated but it's hard to tell

The worst thing about them is they really need setting up proffesionally on a rolling road (£'s) and normally the setting that you get is damm near std setting on the OE item as far as fuel pressure - but people always think they'll get a bit more go from a little tweak here and there - they don't want to pay for a rolling road again do they

[Si_GTi]

Cheers for clearing that up then

So the definitive answer is... I won't be buying one in a month of Sundays I'll stick with the original plan of getting a BMC induction kit sometime around about next August.

Thanks for helping me in not wasting my money though!

[bstardchild]

Cheers for clearing that up then

So the definitive answer is... I won't be buying one in a month of Sundays I'll stick with the original plan of getting a BMC induction kit sometime around about next August.

Thanks for helping me in not wasting my money though!

It's my definative answer - plenty might disagree

Induction Kit - de-cat - and a good ECU remap are the key to squeezing a little bit more out - most of the time a good re-map will improve mpg

[Criz]

Most of the time i.e if you dont have the foot to the floor all the time.

Increases the fuel when the engine is under load and decreases it when its not.

Roll on Dastek.