lost boost

[fixer941]

Alright, here goes............On the weekend I replaced my factory exhaust with a playtime 3" (can't believe it took me so long to do it, what a difference!) anyhoo, since the change I have gone from 16lb boost down to 9lb and i am stuck.
Its a chinese cheapie turbo for the record.
Today I replaced the turbo hoses cause I can hear a whistle, not sure if it is the new exhaust, that I reused the dump pipe gasket, that the bastard bolt on the back of the turbo is not in properly or a combination of all three.
Its a 04 zd30
playtime auto 3" with cat delete and muffler
I did since accidentally pinch the catch can hose and pressurise the turbo leading to an oil leak into the exhaust side, it was remedied and seems fine.
All this leads me to think it might be a failing actuator, anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[tweak'e]

i suspect exhaust leak. probably the turbo is not sealed well to the exhaust manifold.
fairly common to remove the turbo to fit the dump pipe, so probably havn't got the turbo sitting quite right.

 

[fixer941]

didn't actually remove turbo to do it, i just popped the old dump off and dropped it out the bottom, a poor seal from the turbo to the dump wouldn't affect boost would it?

 

[Old.Tony]

That doesn't preclude the possibility that the turbocharger-manifold interface isn't coincidentally loose. I'd also check EGR tube for leaks. Black soot points right at it.

 

[fixer941]

true that, next day off i will pull the turbo and dump i guess and re mount them. egr pipe seems fine for leaks.

 

[Rumpig]

Changing the exhaust alone shouldn't have that big an effect, something else must be going on, you didn't unbolt the wastegate actuator at the time and change it somehow?

 

[jonney]

make sure all mating surfaces are true, any leaks will cause a non turbo effect. when you take the turbo and dump off check for any signs of black soot leaks.

 

[fixer941]

Didn't change anything, though i noticed the bolt holding the actuator bracket is missing and the bracket is sitting an inch or so away from the turbo housing, that might do it i think.