Hey all, long time lurker first time poster. I pride myself in being a pretty good automotive troubleshooter, but this issue has been absolutely kicking my ass on my fresh engine and setup. I need the help of the MPS hive mind. ENGINE/DRIVEABILITY Year/Make/Model: 2010 USDM Speed3 Mileage: 210k kms body/trans 1800kms engine Location: PEI Canada Concern: 3+ KR after approximately 5800RPM DTC's: Nothing interesting. P0401 P0421 P2006 P2009 (No EGR, no VCTS, catless) Modifications: Built engine with stock valvetrain. 88mm Mahle 4032 pistons, Manley H-Tuff rods. Machining done by Arsenault Cylinder Heads in NB Canada, and assembled by yours truly (there's the issue right there) CST4 IWG CS EBCS Damond 3.5 TIP Damond Focus ST Mani adapter, non PI Damond BSD Damond "stage 1" catch can with the VTA check valve + breather Damond street RMM Damond EGR delete Stock side mounts (sus) Corksport TB Corksport TB Spacer AEM methanol kit shooting into the TB spacer (not active in this stage of the tuning) Treadstone TR8 core and custom piping ACT ZX5-HDSS clutch kit Autotech HPFP bits VS Racing x50 BOV (tial clone) with a 12psi spring Serviced fuel injectors + new Overspeed seals purchased from Chris Ward Turbochargers with only 1600kms on them at this point (I pray that these are not the problem, I did everything right boys ) ECU/Tuning Software: Stock/ Accessport v3 Tuner: Will Dawson @ PD Is the concern intermittent? Nope Can you duplicate the concern? Yes, every time Recent Repairs/Troubleshooting Steps: - Secured the knock sensor wire REALLY well (the sensor is torqued to 15 ft lbs) - Tried another set of brand new NGK 6510 plugs gapped by me to 24 thou - Tried two different sets of OEM coil packs off of my parts cars - Tried tweaking/ re springing the terminals inside the injector connectors to ensure a good connection - Checked the visual cleanliness/ resistance readings of the five engine bay ground locations I know of - Checked the resistance between the connector and each injector connector terminal searching for internal breakages - Cleaned mystery dark fluid out of the inside of injector connector #4 (wtf? it is positively not wicking up the harness, is it leaking out of the injector? I will be monitoring this as I continue to drive the car) - Did the same for the coil pack connectors - Completely drained the tank and filled up with 91 from a different gas station - Did a hot compression test, 186/186/192/190 - Boost leak test, putting 20psi in the system takes 65 seconds to reach 10psi, I think that's a good result? - Cleaned my OEM maf sensor with maf cleaner - Got pissed off about it, somehow no improvement I am on my first revision from Will trying to run 21psi on 91 octane. The car pulls nice and hard until ~5800rpm and even after that, you wouldn't always know there was an issue until you look at the KR. Sometimes the pulled timing is felt, sometimes not as much. At this point I do not know if it is genuine predetonation or the sensor picking up noise. I do not have access to E85 to see if it goes away. I am including four data logs. 12 is when the issue was first discovered, 22 and 23 are after I tried new coils and plugs, and 36 is after attempting everything mentioned above just the other day. 36 appears to be a mild improvement but it may have been a fluke or related to hot weather, but still not where I'd like to see the readings. Also worth mentioning is that I am running a f#@ked up stock PMM that has lost all its fluid. I just lubed up and ordered the Damond side mount combo set as I already have their RMM. Could be the source of the readings, but I doubt it. We will see. Thanks gang
Couple of things: 1. If there is a race track somewhere nearby, you can probably get 3 gallons of E85 racing fuel from them (it will be expensive but worth it for peace of mind) 2. Does the issue happen regardless of engine load? Happening at the same RPM range ish every time seems like a resonance issue to me; like maybe a cover or some other small piece of metal isn't fully tightened down to the engine or is barely touching maybe. 3. Though it would be strange, I wouldn't count out the PMM.
Thanks for your thoughts. I actually made a note in my phone to try a pull at partial throttle to see if it's load or RPM related. Will probably give that a try this evening. Also may try holding the clutch pedal in slightly during the problematic area to see if it's related to my throwout bearing making a racket - it's pretty loud at idle once the car is warmed up. Just another theory to disprove. My province sucks majorly for motorsports, the closest drag strip is 3 hours away. If I completely run out of ideas, I may order some boostane octane booster to bring the octane rating up a few numbers to get a better idea if it is true predetonation or not.
You can buy science grade ethanol on Amazon, but it's pricey ($30/gallon). One gallon at under half a tank would probably work to show some kind of change, but you'd need to swerve the car back and forth pretty hard to make sure it's mixed in well.
