My 2010 turbo is new to me. I've learned a little by changing the drive train fluids, belt, tensioner and water pump. I know when I am hearing the turbo spin up but not much more but there are other noises. I know how turbos work generally. Can someone point me to a place that explains what is going on. I think I understand what a waste gate is. A diverter? Perhaps explain using an engine that is out of the car. I've helped with the rebuild of a number of air cooled flat sixes, but nothing this modern. How can I get higher on the learning curve without taking out my engine?

 

Lot's of videos on youtube you can watch that will break it down very clearly. At the end of the day, all a turbo does is force more air into your engine, and more air means more power as oxygen is a key component of making fire (fuel, air, spark). A turbo is nothing more than a air compressor powered from your exhaust gas (the exhaust gas spins the exhaust side of the turbo's turbine, which spins the intake side compressor wheel and compresses air). The wastegate manages the amount of compressed air the turbos make (aka the PSI), they open up a little valve on the turbo exhaust side to let some exhaust gas flow past the exhaust turbine, effectively allowing you to control the amount of boost you run. Diverter valve allows you to recycle boost pressure throughout the system instead of bleeding it off to the atmosphere (like with a blowoff value) when you close your throttle body (aka, left off the gas to shift), the turbo is still spinning creating pressure, but with the throttle body closed, that pressure needs to go somewhere.

It sounds more complicated than it is, it's fairly simple technology that's been around a long time. The main difference with the 997 Turbo and older 911 Turbos (or most other turbos cars even today), is the VGT system. That system effectively changes the exhaust side turbine to different sizes depending on RPM's and thus helping the cars lower end RPM spool up characteristics, or top end efficiency. Pretty slick system.

 

The description above is a really good summary. And as he pointed out, there are tons of videos on YouTube… you can even watch the channel of Protomotive, a great contributor to the site, and an amazing engine builder for anything Porsches, especially 930/964/993/996 & 997’s!!

 

To add to Moxie's call out about the turbos. If you decide to dig into how your vgt (vtg in porsche lingo) turbo's work. They are used a lot on diesel engines and the technology is the same, called vgt, vft or vnt by different vendors.

 

I continue to build a collection of information related to our cars here: https://rennkit.com/rennkit-home/996...als-brochures/

 

Its advised to read articles on this topic