It is closed in the absence of vacuum, when the engine is off or at WOT, but what about when the car is running, it's under vacuum and open, right? (Stick car, no brake-boosting) I'm not arguing, just trying to learn more. :
The wastegate is spring loaded in the closed position, the only thing at all that will open it is boost pressure supplied by the wastegate solinoid when the engine is under boost of course.
