BOV

When you shift at light throttle, is it venting? If so, is it a pure straight vent, or do you get a little bit of a “chufchchchc” noise right before it vents? That noise is compressor surge. Which isn’t as bad as some people like to think and say. Ideally, you are looking to hear a little surge then a vent. Or no sound at all. Either is ok. Now drive it hard, does it surge a little or just straight vent?
Get out of the car and tighten the valve and drive it again. Repeat this until you get a LOT of surge when you lift under boost. Now start loosening it until you JUST start to hear no almost surge.
What the surge means is that it fought opening just a little bit. If you hear a LITTLE surge just as it begins to vent, that means that the valve is holding itself shut as tightly as it is capable of, without being so tight that it doesn’t vent properly.

I have had XXXX brand valve for years, it has never leaked. How do you know? By looking at your boost gauge? Looking at the boost levels in your datalog? Neither of those prove that the valve isn’t leaking. The advice above tells you how to set it and KNOW for 100% sure.

But compressor surge will kill my turbo! Unless its really bad, it really isn’t going to kill it.

I have had XXXX brand valve for years, it has never leaked. How do you know? By looking at your boost gauge? Looking at the boost levels in your datalog? Neither of those prove that the valve isn’t leaking.

Where do I buy aftermarket BOVs/BPVs? Every Subaru/Import performance store sells BOVs.

How hard is it to install aftermarket BOVs/BPVs? Allow around 1 hour for install time. Professional installation, depending on your area, is around $75. This is one vehicle modification that is very simple and can be successfully accomplished by even the greenest shade tree mechanic.

How do I install BOVs/BPVs? Refer to the BOV/BPV manufacturer’s instructions. For BOVs/BPVs without instructions, below is a link to one of the better known installation instructions: