TECH
OPTIMIZE YOUR VGT
TESTING TURBO TIME USA’S LIGHTNING BOLT PERFORMANCE VGT SOLENOID ON A RETROFITTED ’13 6.7L POWER STROKE
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY MIKE MCGLOTHLIN
DIESEL WORLD MAGAZINE
With the factory turbo mechanically checking out on this ’13 F-250, we pulled it into the shop for its GT37 (’15-newer turbo) retrofit, followed by Lightning Bolt Performance VGT Solenoid testing. First things first, both cooling systems were drained, followed by the removal of the factory air intake system and the turbo boost sensor. After that, all upper intake bolts were broken free and the composite piece was lifted off of the engine.
Both the factory hot-side and cold-side intercooler tubes would be retained in the turbo swap. Here, the hot-side pipe has been disconnected from the failed GT32 SST turbo’s compressor outlet and the water-to-air intercooler’s inlet, and is on its way out of the engine bay.
When variable geometry turbochargers hit the diesel market in 2003, it was a giant leap forward. Turbo lag was minimized, drivability increased considerably, transient response was quicker, and emissions standards could more easily be met while also increasing horsepower. However, in both stock and larger VGT applications there has always been room for improvement. One of the key components in Garrett GT37-based variable geometry turbo applications is the VGT solenoid. The solenoid receives its commands from the engine’s computer (i.e. ECM or PCM) and converts that electrical signal into hydraulic work—essentially opening and closing the vanes in the turbine housing according to throttle position.
To improve the performance of a factory VGT, as well as a larger one, Turbo Time USA developed the Lightning Bolt Performance VGT Solenoid. Its internal design works to increase the resistance strength on the vane system to help retain positions at longer rates—the result of which is improved spooling potential and boosted efficiency. With our hands on a ’13 6.7L Power Stroke that was set to receive a ’15-newer Garrett GT37—a turbo that’s larger and known to be laggier than its GT32 SST predecessor—it was the perfect time to put the Lightning Bolt Performance VGT Solenoid through its paces. Join us for the turbo swap, the new VGT solenoid install, and our initial impressions of Turbo Time USA’s drivability-enhancing product.