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Author Topic: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?  (Read 19965 times)

Offline Homer

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I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« on: April 05, 2011, 12:39:13 pm »
From what I can gather this is accurate? If so what is the advantage of a KO4 over KO3 and is it possible to change the turbo to a KO4 and how much would this cost? Thanks in advance

Offline Richn83

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2011, 12:45:19 pm »
KO4 is a bigger turbo and is capable of shifting more air, but it takes longer to spool up as any bigger turbo does, people have done KO4 conversions its fairly expensive as you also need new software etc and KO4 engines normally have some different engine internals to cope with the extra torque so its pushing the standard KO3 block.  You would probably be better changing your car rather than changing your turbo unless you want something out of the ordinary.

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Offline Hurdy

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2011, 09:30:24 pm »
I agree.

Moving to an ED30/Pirelli/Cupra/S3/Golf R would be a better way to get into a KO4'd car than doing a conversion.  :happy2:
Golf R gone.

Offline stealthwolf

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2011, 09:30:51 pm »
Aye. K03 spools up at around 1750 and K04 is nearer the 3000 rpm mark.

The GTI isn't just a machine. It's very much a living, breathing thing.

Offline rich83

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #4 on: April 05, 2011, 09:33:33 pm »
Ed30 can feel a bit boggy especially in 2nd gear below 3K rpm!

Offline berg

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #5 on: April 05, 2011, 09:48:15 pm »
Aye. K03 spools up at around 1750 and K04 is nearer the 3000 rpm mark.


Would i be right in thinking then that because of this the stock edition 30 is only marginally quicker to 60 than the stock Gti because the KO3 is prob a fraction quicker to say 30?
Diamond Black Pearl Edition 30, still going strong but now back to Stg 1

Offline stealthwolf

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2011, 10:24:54 pm »
Think that's correct. In fact there's 0.3 seconds difference between the two in 0-60mph.

The GTI isn't just a machine. It's very much a living, breathing thing.

golfecho5

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2011, 02:12:29 am »
Looked at doing the K04 upgrade and it just came to too much dosh to do it the right way, easier to sell your car standard and go up a grand or 2 and get an ED30 or similar and then spend the other 1k on suspension and towards a chip. It needs new turbo (obviously), new cam and followers with a new upgraded fuel pump... that was were I lost track of what I was told. Cool if you can do all the work yourself I suppose but hand it to a trusted specialised and you don't get much change from 3k if your lucky.

Saw a brand new K04 turbo go on ebay for about 750 and thought it was the time to act until I got the estimate on the other work - then calculated how much less my car would be worth after the work, not being a true ED30. Hard to sell a half thing unless you go for the full retard and upgrade everything and sell it as a fully sorted car - even then it's not a good marketplace at the moment for getting rid of these cars.

I would still do the job though if I decided to keep the car for track days and fun and didn't care about selling it but until then it will be a rip-snoarter K03, lets face it your only losing out on about 40hp in real world high tune. Throw in a Milltek full, filter and a stage 2 chip and you gt 260-270 anyhow, some get 300 if you push the boat out and with the ED30 you will get a similar increase 290 - 340 if u push the boat out.

Love your K03 and cherish it, it's what you were blessed with.


Offline cmdrfire

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #8 on: April 06, 2011, 12:09:13 pm »
It's a K03s remember, not a regular K03.


...also, if you're talking turbo upgrades, don't be a girl; GT35 is the way to go.


Offline Hedge

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #9 on: April 06, 2011, 12:15:07 pm »
don't be a girl; GT35 is the way to go.



Pah GT35 load of tosh!

Now this is a turbo.


:laugh:

Offline Richn83

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #10 on: April 06, 2011, 01:07:36 pm »
It's a K03s remember, not a regular K03.


Interesting got any more specs cmdfire?  would love some stats on the turbo.

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Offline cmdrfire

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2011, 03:07:47 pm »
^^^
Stolen from GolfGTI.co.uk

Quote
Ko3 - 97-2000

COMPRESSOR WHEEL
Inducer: 33.6mm
Exducer: 46mm
Tip height: 3.7mm

TURBINE WHEEL
Inducer: 45mm
Exducer: 38mm
Tip height: 6.8mm
Blades: 11

Ko3S - 01+

COMPRESSOR WHEEL
Inducer: 38mm
Exducer: 51mm
Tip height: 4.4mm

TURBINE WHEEL
Inducer: 45mm
Exducer: 38mm
Tip height: 6.8mm
Blades: 11

Ko4-015

COMPRESSOR WHEEL
Inducer: 35mm
Exducer: 50mm
Tip height: 3.7mm

TURBINE WHEEL
Inducer: 50mm
Exducer: 42mm
Tip height: 6.4mm
Blades: 11

Offline Richn83

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #12 on: April 06, 2011, 03:19:34 pm »
hmm interesting, so the compressor wheel is the cold are side I assume and the turbine wheel the hot exhaust gas side?

And the Ko4 isnt bigger in all dimensions.... I'm guessing there is some sort of gearing advantage with the ratio between the wheels.  You dont have a nice diagram to explain it all do you just thinking of your nice golf ball one for the under body components  :wink:

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Offline rich83

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #13 on: April 06, 2011, 03:50:44 pm »
hmm interesting, so the compressor wheel is the cold are side I assume and the turbine wheel the hot exhaust gas side?

And the Ko4 isnt bigger in all dimensions.... I'm guessing there is some sort of gearing advantage with the ratio between the wheels.  You dont have a nice diagram to explain it all do you just thinking of your nice golf ball one for the under body components  :wink:

There no gearing in a turbo... its just a shaft.

Offline cmdrfire

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Re: I take it a KO4 turbo is better than a KO3?
« Reply #14 on: April 06, 2011, 04:49:15 pm »
Yes, the two wheels are connected via a straight shaft but there is a "gearing" effect in the sense of airflow and spin-up times.

No diagram atm but I'll see what I can dig up after work.