How much boost should my car have? We get this question a lot!
There are a lot of variables here depending on mods, the type of boost gauge your looking at, and even what gear you are in.
Here is what you should see from the current Eurocompulsion Phase 1 tune on an otherwise 100 percent stock 500 Abarth.
The factory boost gauge should be pegged at 24psi right around 3300 rpm. At that RPM it will reach this level of boost in third gear. It will peg the gauge a bit sooner if in a higher gear, or if going up hill.
Keep in mind the factory boost gauge shows pressure in the boost pipe. This will be slightly higher than what you will see on a good aftermarket gauge showing manifold pressure. Actual peak boost as shown on a good aftermarket boost gauge should be just over 23psi.
The car will keep the factory gauge pegged until about 4500rpm.
From there boost will start to drop. This is normal. With a given level of safety the car can run more boost in the mid range than at the high end, and of course we take advantage of that.
At 5000rpm you should be seeing about 23psi on the factory boost gauge.
Boost will continue to drop as RPM rises. At 6000rpm it should show about 18.5-19.0 psi.
The boost curve should be nice as smooth as seen in the video.
Again, all this is with a dead stock car. Certain things can lower the boost, like poorly designed air intake systems or certain waste gate actuators. If you have a Phase 1 car and are not seeing these boost levels, it's very likely your car has a mechanical problem. In that case you can contact us for advice and support.