Hey fellas,
hope everyone's having a good sunday...

This Question is for the more serious turbo owners.

Well recently my tC hasn't been performing very good. I can feel that its slowed down.

earlier it used to brake traction in 2nd gear and sometimes in 3rd.
Now its not packin that punch.

earlier I used to feel the terror accelerating in 3rd gear.
now it just feels like a V-8

its been like this for a week or so now but today it started performing like before for a couple of miles and then got back to the V-8 feel.

I suspect its the spark plugs.
I am takin her to Ptuning tomorrow for the oil change and diagnostics.

BTW im runnin a Greddy Kit and 2step colder spark plugs.

should I run one step colder? My numbers are 258hp/273tq by Ptuning's load dyno. (baseline 137hp/150tq)


thanks fellas

also I dont need any sort of bashing on my numbers or my setup. I am running a great setup and dont need any thread jacking. thanks

 

Could be a number of things, bad plugs, exhaust leaks, clogged exhaust, dirty filter, low compression in your motor. Also worn clutch. Do a compression check then go from there. Nice TQ btw.

 

well Ptuning is gonna do a diagnostics run to see whats up. it could be the exaust-

I have a lot of popping and I Shoot flames a LOT! maybe im running lean... idk

thanks (tq) I always filled up on Premium- my pocket hurts, but my lead foot feels good.

 

If you're shooting flames you're most definetely not running lean.

 

If I were you pop the hood and check all your lines, vaccuum boost etc. you might have a leak, do you have a boost gauge? If so try nd remember what you nornally boost at and see if maybe your boost is low that could be a problem, if not then wait for ptuning to diagnose it they'll know what to do

 

She's still boosting at 8.9psi. just like always.

well I have a 3pm appointment... I'll let you know what they say

 

just another fyi-

I used to get 270-300miles to the tank... (well the 12.xx gallon mark)

now im getting 230-245miles to the tank.

thats why I think the spark plug/s may not be firing right so not all the gas is burning.

 

didn't know that... thanks

I always thought that if the car is runnin lean then it has excess gas exiting the exhaust- causing backfire.

guess u learn something new everyday

 

Bad plugs im suspecting.

filter is clean, don't remember the compression ratio.

got a brand new clutchmasters stage 4 clutch and lightweight flywheel like 6000miles ago.

I hope its the spark plugs.

U think I should go for 1 step colder instead of 2 step colder plugs?

 

how much boost? 2 step on low boost = bad

which is what im doing and my car runs like it's ____tinbricks

 

8.9psi

 

10+ = 2 step

which is what i was supposed to be running then i brought it down and my car ran like ____. i thought it was the tune but turns out hte plugs got fouled.

fuel wasn't burning all the way and it fouled hte plugs.

 

Maybe I need to get 1 step colder too...

Well I'll see what Mike at Ptuning says... and I'll keep u guys posted.

 

flames / popping = rich! Running extra rich will definatly slow you down.

 

Ait guys,

Took her to Ptuning...

she threw 11 cel codes. all were very minor...

Sparks were misfiring bad- got them replaced with 1step colder.

all hoses/ lines were in perfect condition.

Mike at Ptuning mentioned to clean the MAF sensor... a dirty/faulty MAF sensor goes in safe mode- causes the computer to dump immense amounts of fuel.

He also mentioned to not use any oil- based air filters as they may foul the MAF sensor.

so after everything, we did a test drive-> First 2 gears= complete loss of traction! thats what was missing.

she's running very very good. (knock on wood)

if anything happens, I'll just go back and get a leak- down test...

 

If anything, do a compression test before a leak-down test.

Compression test firsts tells you if you DO have a loss of compression. The leak-down test tells you Where that loss of compression is coming from.

 

^^^ makes sense.

 

dude i thought ur numbers were much higher!

 

its 258hp/273tq by Ptuning's dyno. a stock STI dyno'd at 231HP at their dyno.

my no.s are 302hp/ 327tq by dynapack (or dynopac... idk some like that) I dont really care cuz I go by Ptuning's no.

 

so what was the problem?