what actually is the purpose of a blow-off valve? one of my friends was saying he wanted to put one on his v-6... and he does not have a turbo... i couldnt see the purpose of it
i was curious if someone could explain this to me...
i really dont think it would do anything, but im not exactly sure

 

Here's a site that should give you all the info you need/want to know but as far as my knowledge goes I don't forsee how adding a blow off valve is going to do jack to his engine.... let alone gain him HP...

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc...9/eng99202.htm

 

okay, thats what i was thinking
thank you very much sir_nasty

 

yeah, the bov's use it to release the presure created by a backsurge between shifting and letting off the throttle fast. Adding a bov without the use of a turbo does nothing what so ever. Theres no pressure to let off the air intake thats unexpectedly rushing

 

yea when you have a turbo you want it to spin. when the turbo stops it takes a little while to spin back up which is called lag. when you let you foot off the gas and close the throttle plate. a buildup of pressure is created in the turbo lines which brings the turbo to a halt. if you let that pressure out between shifts, then the turbo is allowed to spin freely. on a n/a car it would do nothing. you will never hear it open even once.