5 Signs of a Bad Wastegate Hose & How to Fix

Last Updated on: 27th November 2023, 11:10 pm

An issue with a wastegate could lead to a variety of issues, such as the turbo under boosting, a decrease in engine performance, acceleration and fuel efficiency.

In this article, we’ll discuss the various symptoms of a bad wastegate hose and how you can fix it.

What the Wastegate Hose Is

The wastegate hose is a small and important part of the wastegate system in a turbocharged engine. It’s a flexible hollow tube that connects to the wastegate valve.

• The wastegate valve controls the flow of exhaust gases, regulating how much exhaust gas bypasses the turbine wheel within the turbocharger
• The wastegate hose controls the valves position

Symptoms of a Bad Hose

Listed below are the most common signs of a faulty wastegate hose. Sometimes the vehicle may only experience some of these issues and not others.

1. Illuminated Check Engine Light

One of the first signs that something is wrong with the wastegate hose is the illumination of the check engine light on the dashboard.

However, this could indicate a range of other issues and doesn’t narrow it down to a faulty hose.

It may be worth doing a check of the vehicles OBD system using an OBD scanner to see if any fault codes appear which can help narrow down the issue.

2. Low Turbo Boost Pressure

If the wastegate hose is damaged or leaking, it can lead to low boost pressure, often called under-boosting.

This can result in a lack of engine power and a decrease in performance when needed, such as overtaking, accelerating, or going up steep inclines and hills.

3. Fluctuating Boost Pressure

Another sign of a failing wastegate hose is fluctuating boost pressure. This is where the boost pressure generated by the turbo is not consistent and changes rapidly.

Sometimes it may boost normally and then over a few seconds the pressure will drop again and go back up, it may do this rapidly and repeatedly.

This can cause the engine to feel sluggish and hard to control.

4. Decrease in Engine Performance

If the wastegate hose is not functioning correctly, it can lead to a decrease in overall engine performance.

This can manifest as a lack of power, reduced acceleration, and difficulty maintaining speed.

5. Decrease in Fuel Efficiency

This issue can also affect the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. However, this can also be caused by a multitude of other issues.

Can You Drive If It’s Faulty?

It’s not recommended to drive with a bad wastegate hose. This issue can lead to reduced engine power, acceleration and fuel efficiency, and in severe cases, it can lead to engine damage.

If you suspect that there is a problem, it is best to have it checked and repaired as soon as possible.

Conclusion

This issue can lead to a range of issues that can affect the performance and efficiency of your vehicle.

Signs of a bad wastegate hose include the check engine light coming on, low or fluctuating boost pressure, decreased engine performance and fuel efficiency.