Boondocker Turbo-Port™

and Aluminum Big Volume Intake Tube 

For Polaris Boost. 

This precision ported billet compressor housing is easy to install, is no tuning required and increases response throughout the RPM range, giving your turbocharged sled a significant boost especially when tackling challenging terrain that requires aggressive on and off throttle movements.

How Does Boondocker Turbo-Port™ Improve Performance?

A ported turbo compressor housing works by incorporating a series of ports near the inlet of the compressor housing. These ports allow some of the high-pressure air at the compressor's edge to recirculate back to the inlet during low airflow conditions. This mechanism helps reduce compressor surge, which occurs when the turbo is operating at high speeds but the engine cannot ingest all the air the compressor produces.

The benefits of a ported housing include:

1. Wider Compressor Map: It extends the operational range of the turbocharger, allowing it to perform efficiently at lower engine speeds without surging.

2. Improved Stability: By reducing surge, it ensures smoother operation and protects the turbo from potential damage caused by fluctuating pressures.

3. Enhanced Low-End Performance: This setup allows the turbo to spool earlier without the risk of instability, improving responsiveness.

In essence, a ported housing optimizes airflow dynamics within the turbo, enhancing performance and reliability across a broader range of operating conditions.

What Is Turbo Surge?

Turbo surge, or compressor surge, occurs when the turbocharger produces more compressed air than the engine can consume, leading to a reversal of airflow in the turbocharger's compressor. This often happens at high boost pressures when the throttle is suddenly closed or at low engine speeds with insufficient airflow demand.

Key characteristics:

• Symptoms: A distinct chattering or fluttering noise from the turbocharger.

• Cause: Airflow instability, where the compressor operates outside its optimal efficiency range on its performance map.

• Effects: Reduced performance, potential damage to the turbocharger, including stress on bearings and blades, and shortened turbocharger lifespan.

Surge can be mitigated by using advanced housing designs (e.g., ported compressor housings) to stabilize airflow and prevent reverse flow.

Why Does Boondocker Turbo-Port™ Not Require Retuning?

Tuning is generally not required when adding a ported compressor housing to an existing turbocharger because the modification primarily affects the airflow dynamics within the turbo itself, not the overall boost pressure or air-fuel ratios delivered to the engine. Here’s why:

1. Internal Airflow Management

• Boondocker Turbo-Port™ improves airflow stability by recirculating excess high-pressure air during low-demand conditions. This happens inside the turbo system without altering the engine's intake airflow volume or pressure that the ECU controls.

2. No Change to Boost Target

• Boondocker Turbo-Port™ doesn't increase or decrease the turbocharger's maximum boost pressure. It only prevents surge by enabling the compressor to operate efficiently across a broader range, keeping the performance within the original tuning parameters.

3. Passive Modification

• Unlike larger turbo upgrades, a ported housing is a passive design feature that optimizes how the compressor works within its existing limits.

4. ECU Compensation

• Modern engine control units (ECUs) are equipped to handle small variations in airflow behavior without requiring adjustments, as long as the overall boost pressure and flow remain within expected ranges.

5. No Additional Components

• Adding a ported housing doesn't involve external components like larger injectors, a higher-flow intake, or different turbo geometry, which might necessitate tuning to ensure compatibility.

In Conclusion 

The Boondocker Turbo-Port™ ported compressor housing is an engineering improvement to prevent surge and enhance turbo efficiency. Since it doesn’t alter the turbo’s output parameters in a way that would impact engine calibration, the existing ECU tune remains effective and compatible.

Is Boondocker Turbo-Port™ Better Than a BOV?

A ported compressor housing and a blow-off valve (BOV) serve different purposes. Here’s why a ported housing may be a better option:

1. Continuous Surge Prevention

• A ported compressor housing works continuously to prevent surge by recirculating airflow at the compressor inlet during low-flow conditions. This expands the operational range of the turbo, especially at lower engine speeds or partial throttle.

• A BOV, on the other hand, is primarily effective during sudden throttle closures, as it releases excess pressure to avoid surge. It doesn't address surge that may occur during steady-state, low-speed operation.

2. Improved Low-End Performance

• Ported housings allow the turbo to spool more aggressively without risking surge, providing better low-end response and drivability.

• A BOV does not influence low-speed turbo performance; it only activates when pressure exceeds a set threshold.

3. Reliability and Simplicity

• A ported housing is a passive, mechanical solution integrated into the turbo design, requiring no additional components or maintenance.

• A BOV is an active device with moving parts that may require adjustment, maintenance, or replacement and can fail over time.

4. Enhanced Turbo Efficiency

• By stabilizing the airflow, a ported housing ensures the compressor operates within its optimal efficiency range, reducing heat and wear on the turbo.

• While a BOV prevents pressure spikes, it does not enhance the overall efficiency or performance characteristics of the compressor.

Is Boondocker Turbo-Port™ Better Than a Big Compressor Wheel Mod?

A ported compressor housing offers several advantages over replacing the turbocharger's compressor wheel with a larger one. Here’s why it’s a better option:

1. Balanced Performance with Stock Turbo

• Boondocker Turbo-Port™: Works with the stock turbo setup, optimizing the existing compressor and exhaust wheel pairing. It improves airflow stability without altering the turbo's core dynamics.
• Big Compressor Wheel Replacement: A larger compressor wheel may increase airflow potential but may not be well-matched to the stock exhaust wheel. This imbalance can lead to slower spool times, inefficient operation, or reduced performance at low engine speeds.

2. No Turbo Disassembly or Rebalancing Required

• Boondocker Turbo-Port™: Can be installed as a bolt-on modification to the turbo housing. It doesn’t require disassembly of the turbocharger or rebalancing, which simplifies the upgrade process and reduces costs.
• Big Compressor Wheel Replacement: Requires complete turbo disassembly to swap the wheel. Since the new wheel changes the rotating mass and dynamics, rebalancing the turbo is mandatory to avoid vibration and potential damage.

3. Cost-Effectiveness

• Boondocker Turbo-Port™: Less expensive and labor-intensive than a compressor wheel upgrade. It’s a practical way to enhance performance without having to invest in additional supporting modifications.
• Big Compressor Wheel Replacement: Often costs more due to the new wheel, labor for turbo disassembly, and the necessity of rebalancing. Additional modifications, like a higher-flow fuel system or retuning, may also be needed.

4. Better Than Stock Spool Characteristics

• Boondocker Turbo-Port™: Improves the turbo’s efficiency and surge resistance while maintaining its original spool characteristics, ensuring good low-end responsiveness and drivability.
• Big Compressor Wheel Replacement: Typically increases lag because the larger wheel takes longer to spool, which can hurt low-end performance.

5. Broader Compressor Efficiency Range

• Boondocker Turbo-Port™: Expands the compressor's efficiency range, allowing it to handle higher pressure ratios and flow demands without surge. This widens the turbo's operational sweet spot without major changes to the system.
• Big Compressor Wheel Replacement: Increases maximum airflow potential but may reduce efficiency at lower boost or airflow levels, limiting flexibility in real-world riding conditions.

6. Retains Factory Reliability

• Boondocker Turbo-Port™: Keeps the stock turbo internals intact, preserving factory-tested reliability. This reduces the risk of premature wear or failure due to mismatched components.
• Big Compressor Wheel Replacement: Alters the turbo's internal balance and load characteristics, which can increase stress on bearings and other components, potentially reducing lifespan.

Summary

Boondocker Turbo-Port™ is a simpler, cost-effective upgrade that enhances the stock turbo's performance by improving efficiency and surge resistance without requiring turbo disassembly, rebalancing, or altering spool characteristics. In contrast, a big compressor wheel replacement  may compromise spool time, efficiency, and reliability when paired with a stock exhaust wheel.

Will Boondocker Turbo-Port™ Make Me a Better Rider?

Yep...

Definitely, Yes!