Background:
I installed the Mabotech M600 turbocharger in my GTI to gather boost onset data. The first logging session to record this data was done with a tune tailored for the Shuenk IS48 turbocharger. For this second logging session, I flashed to the tune made for the Mabotech M520 turbo, which I last operated in October 2024.
Test setup:
The GTI is set up as follows:
- Mabotech M600 (0.58 A/R turbine) turbocharger
- Russell Road and Racing M520 E50 ECU tune
- Eventuri Intake
- MST Performance turbo inlet hose
- DBV2 turbo inlet elbow
- 034 Motorsport TMD
- aFe Power charge pipes
- Majesty Competition IC & FMIC
- Stock “Euro” intake manifold
- CC Design 4″ GESi cat downpipe
- CC Design 3.5″ catback exhaust
Boost onset data is logged in third gear, varying the starting engine speed from around 2,000 to 4,000 RPM.
A single full-throttle fourth-gear pull starting around 2,000 RPM is made to collect turbine inlet pressure measurements.
Test results:
The full-range boost curve is shown below, compared with two versions of the IS48 turbocharger that I tested.
Note: IS48 is a standard configuration with a full-blade IS38 turbine wheel; the IS48T used a 5+5 splitter turbine wheel.
Boost onset logged with the different tunes is shown next:
Turbine inlet pressure was also logged, and the next series of charts compare this measure with the IS48 configurations.
The last chart shows an estimate of the power and torque curves based on the Virtual Dyno application calculations from the vehicle’s time-to-speed data.
Conclusions:
The Mabotech M600 turbocharger was operated to record boost onset and full-throttle acceleration using a tune for the Mabotech M520 turbocharger. Boost onset measurements were compared with the same turbocharger using a tune made for the Shuenk IS48 turbo, with no significant differences noted.
A single 4th gear pull was made to record turbine inlet pressure. Compared to the hot side of the IS38-based IS48 turbo, the M600 offers less resistance to the exhaust gas.