Pulled the Forge DV 006 today to lubricate the piston and O-rings (still with Blue spring) and tried to fit it back in reverse.
It does not impede operation, the valve works by
pressure differential on the sides of the piston: that is, if there is pressure in both thin hose (from manifold to the valve top) and charge pipe (connected to the valve side by hose), both forces counteract each other and it stays closed. While lack of pressure or vacuum in the thin hose combines with pressure in the charge pipe to move the piston and dump boost. (It works somehow like the triple valve of an air brake on a truck or train.)
So, if fitted in reverse, the pressure from the charge pipe would push the dimpled bottom of the piston instead of the curved side, but the
pressure differential between piston top and piston sides/bottom stays the same.
Tested it on a stretch on open road to see if it still holds boost
as it should.
Conclusion:
+ It still holds boost up to 1.5 bar at lower rpm.
+ It still holds boost over 1 bar at 6000 rpm (throttle had not been pushed to the floor, so it may hold even better than 1.1 bar).
+ It does not appear to
spike anymore, as weird as it sounds - boost raises and stays there.
+
Sound of wastegate whirring / fluttering disappears. (Why?)
+ Spooling is slightly quicker.
+ Dumping boost is slightly quicker.
+ Acceleration feels a bit quicker and smoother (but why?).
+ Engine feels a bit more lively under throttle (due to quicker spooling). In fact, it raises rpm and torque so quick that movement of the engine under torque can be felt in the chassis, despite the Powerflex dogbone.
+ Sound of dumping is just as before, a slight "pssssssh" instead of the loud noise of the splitter BOVs or open-air BOVs.
Later Edit:
Explanation:
"Piston type:
Boost to bottom of valve
Return to side of valve
Putting it this way allows the pressure from the turbo to help open the valve quicker. If you put it in backwards you end up with boost pushing on the side of the valve forcing it against 1 side of the valve body, this can also cause the valve to start leaking since the valve is not sitting 100% straight."
http://www.audiforums.com/forum/b5-models-69/dv-valve-reverse-158753/page2/#post1254498
~Nautilus