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VAGtech Limited

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The 1.8 20 valve turbo engine is probably the most widely used engine in the VAG group, it has found a home in almost every mark in the VAG range. The base engine can be found is several different forms, but the fundamentals of the engines are very similar. The fact the the engine was turbocharged from the factory has completely reinvented the VAG tuning seen. There are now a huge number of company's offering products to enhance this engine, as time has gone on the huge tuning potential of this engine has been explored to it's maximum, so today we can offer just a simple remap of the engine control system or get big power gains with a big turbo kit. Below is a selection of some of the options available. If you don't see what you are looking for please contact us.


Performance stage 1 - 1.8T

Performance optimizing by reprogramming engine control system (e.c.u)

Gains vary depending on engine but typically we see an increase between 40 - 50 bhp and the same with torque.


We recommend upgrading the air filter and the dump valve when performing a stage 1 tune.


Performance stage 2 - 1.8T

With stage 2 we build on what was installed in stage 1. Adding a sports exhaust system will not only give a pleasant soundtrack but also enable the engine to breath more easily adding to it's efficiency and producing more power and torque.

With the addition of hi flow sports cats coupled with a sports exhaust system we can carry out a stage 2 performance program to further increase bhp and torque.


Additional components

To further enhance the tuning potential of your car you may consider the following upgrades.

 

We recommend upgrading the intake system to the turbocharger, the Forge turbo intake pipe (TIP) offers a good increase in intake size as well as being less restrictive, adding to the overall efficiency of the engine offering an increase in bhp and torque

Upgrade the intake system further by adding a cold air intake system like the Carbonio.

Adding a front mounted intercooler can reduce intake temperatures and is a must if you plan to upgrade the turbo latter on.


Upgrading your turbo

By upgrading your turbocharger you will be able to increase the power and torque output of your engine. There are many different turbo upgrade routes, all involve a larger turbo, some form of manifold and down pipe and different arrangement of pipe work and components under the bonnet. When upgrading your turbo it is important to understand what you are getting into. Having the biggest turbo you can is not always the best route. With the advancements in turbo technology it is now possible to size quite big turbos on the relatively small 1.8 litre engine with good results.

K04 Turbo as used on the 210 - 225 bhp 1.8T

Upgrading to a K04 turbo is one of the best options if you have a 150 - 180 bhp car, it is possible to tune the 1.8T engine to around the 285 bhp mark with the K04 turbo. As the K04 turbo is a factory turbo fitted in the Audi TT, S3 it offers the best combination of power, driveability and reliability. As you can see in our project 1.8T MK4 GTI you can source the components from a factory engine to bolt a K04 turbo setup onto your car.

Hybrid K04 turbo options are now available, the modified K04 has been tuned to allow it to flow more efficiently to enable tuning to 300 bhp. The big advantage of the hybrid K04 it is still a K04, so factory fit location and the investment you have made in tuning the exhaust etc is not waisted.


Big turbos

There are a number of big turbo kits on the market. Most are based around a ball baring turbo charger from Garret or a similar manufacturers. The advantage of a ball baring turbo is it's ability to spin up more freely, so a bigger turbo can be sourced without introducing too much lag. Lag is the time it takes a turbo to spin up to a level where the compressor part of the turbo is generating boost. The trade of is a bigger turbo will generate more heat as it takes more exhaust gasses to make it work as it makes more boost witch in turn means more heat, it is a bit of a vicious circle. The key in building any boosted engine system is to get the balance right. A bigger turbo is just one component in the chain. Upgrading all the key components is vital in order to get the best out of a big turbo setup.

Most of the turbo kits on the market represent some of the key components but not all, it is important to remember when considering a big turbo all the factors.

  • Upgrade your engine internals to handle more heat and bigger combustion force when looking at taking things to extremes. it's not bad practice to upgrade internals on higher millage engines and for good measure depending on budget and requirements when doing any big turbo upgrade.

  • Make sure you control the extra heat a bigger turbo will produce by having a good intercooler setup.

  • A high quality exhaust manifold is part of most kits, this allows a smother flow of exhaust gasses to the turbo to aid spool up times.

  • A large bore downpipe and high flow cat are usually part of most kits and aid in keeping head temperatures in check by allowing the hot exhaust gasses to flow quickly away from the turbo.

  • Larger fuel injectors are needed in order to get the right air to fuel ratio with out maxing out the standard ones.

  • Protect key components from heat generated by big turbos. Some times overlooked is the need to heat shield key car systems, like brake lines, ac lines, brake servo lines etc. Designing a sensible heat shielding system is very important for safety and reliability.

  • Make sure the rest of the car is up to the job, upgrading suspension, brakes and the clutch is needed in most cases.


If you would like to talk to us in more detail about a big turbo solution please contact us.

 
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