a pathetic log... HELP

[tim_korn_99]

Well, here's the deal. EVOIII 16g, 3" exhaust, Intake, 550cc injectors, SAFCII, 255 walbro pump, bpr7es plugs, accell wires. 93 octane.
My car pretty much runs like crap compared to others with the same setup... I'm running 18psi, but it creeps a little higher during a long WOT pull. Normal accellerating at about 20% throttle is smooth up to around 2800 rpms, then it gets jerky til 4000 rpms, then its smooth again. Checked for boost leaks, found that the throttle body seals were leaking, so i replaced them. Also, my BOV was leaking at the base. I RTV'd that, but i'm not 100% sure it doesnt leak a little bit. Point is, the logs were the SAME BEFORE i fixed the boost leaks....

This is a 3rd gear pull.

RPM - Timing - O2
3244 8 .93
3404 -3 .93
3524 9 .93
3744 11 .93
4112 11 .93
4260 10 .95
4432 10 .95
4500 9 .95
4624 9 .97
4780 10 .95
4948 11 .95
5096 12 .95
5564 12 .95
5720 12 .95
6000 12 .95
6160 9 .95
6304 11 .95

as soon as i let off, rpms at 6152 and timing goes to 26.
I bet you are saying, add more fuel with the AFC, right? Well...... that's the best i could get it. I added more fuel. and the 02's were at .97 instead of .95, and timing was LOWER. I even added more, and then i could smell gas, and it sputtered from being too rich.
Any ideas here?
The car has never really been "smooth." Even when it was stock with the T25. It's always been kinda jerky throughout the RPMs. I dont think i can tune this out.
During the loggging runs, it feels sluggish, not like it should. You can definately feel it jerk when the ECU pulls timing real fast.
Thanks
-Tim

 

[xcelr8n]

looks to be rich, lean it out.

 

[ikickuintheball]

Turn the boost down to like 15psi and tune from there. Once you get a good timing curve there, then turn it up to 18psi and try again. It's safer and you will find problems easier after taking "high" boost out of the picture.

 

[tim_korn_99]

I just have a manual boost controller, i can turn it down to 15, but it creeps right on up... Do you guys think it could be my coil pack being weak?
This morning it was like 30degrees outside, and the air intake temp on my logger was showing 45degrees, and i went to do a log, and at about 5k rpm in 3rd, BAM, fuel cut....
I'll search for a way to check my coil packs to see if they need replacing.
Thanks for the replys, and keep em coming!
-Tim

 

[Mike000]

Your car is knocking, i dont think its the coils.

 

[scottsee]

15psi, lean it out.

 

[tim_korn_99]

Ok, you guys are telling me to lean it out, but one said that it was knocking... AND, timing is being pulled, so, would leaning it out really be good for it?
BTW, i did another boost leak test today, and there are 0 boost leaks.

My settings on my AFC right now are -19% from 3k up on the HI settings. The thing im trying to figure out is why it jerks/stumbles at even 20% throttle in the 3 to 4k RPM range. That's a 0 boost too. That's why i thought maybe coil pack. I'm putting some brand new NGk BPR7ES plugs in tonight, and maybe that'll help some.
Does everyone still think i should lean it out?

 

[truwarrior]

Are you on the stock intercooler? I read a post a while back regarding someone with an evoIII using the stock intercooler and said it feels almost as fast as it did before. Upgraded to a bigger sidemount and all was better.

 

[tim_korn_99]

Yeah i am as of right now. However, i do 1 pull, then cruise on the interstate until the IC is ice cold to the touch before i do another. So, heatsoak isnt really a problem. Also, being 20 degrees outside helps too.
-Tim

 

[truwarrior]

Maybe your base timing is off. Did you clean out the stock intercooler with some gas? Get's kinda oily in there...

 

[tim_korn_99]

I cleaned out the intercooler really well a month or so ago. I also cleaned up the outside and did some polishing on it to get even cleaner. My base timing is fine.
I leaned it out some more, to -21%, and wow, that made a huge difference. Power hits really hard now, and it smoothed it out a lot. I was just scared to try it since the ECU was pulling timing already, but i guess that was from being rich. Just not what i expected... I think i can go a little leaner in the upper RPMs, as it blows some rich smoke out of the exhaust still. I'm going to do another log to find out though.
One of the reasons why i wasnt leaning it out more, is that i've always read that with 550cc injectors, and an evoIII running 18psi, you should only be leaning it out a little bit, not 21%... Anyone else hear that?
Thanks
-Tim

 

[sweet97]

I'm replying to share my happiness for you as I have been having tuning problems also and when I saw your timing and 02's I thought that they looked familiar. Please continue to report your improvements. mark

 

[tim_korn_99]

I finally got it running great. I went to a 2.5" exhaust from my 3" downpipe back to a 2.5" muffler. The added backpressure eliminated my boost creep problem and really smothed the car out a lot. Lots more low-end torque. I got my fuel trims to 0, and set my boost at a rock steady 18psi, which it reaches by 3000 rpms.
This is my latest log with my AFC set at -23% from 3k up on the HI setting:

RPM Timing o2
3324 8 .95
3552 10 .95
4000 11 .95
4252 11 .95
4596 12 .95
4824 12 .95
5160 13 .97
5340 13 .97
5428 15 .97
5896 19 .97
6104 19 .97

The car feels really strong now. I think i have a little room to lean it out a bit more from 5k up, do you guys think so? The way it is right now, im very happy with it. Switching to 2.5" exhaust really smoothed out the low end.
Thanks
-Tim

 

[98spydert]

I cleaned out the intercooler really well a month or so ago. I also cleaned up the outside and did some polishing on it to get even cleaner. My base timing is fine.
I leaned it out some more, to -21%, and wow, that made a huge difference. Power hits really hard now, and it smoothed it out a lot. I was just scared to try it since the ECU was pulling timing already, but i guess that was from being rich. Just not what i expected... I think i can go a little leaner in the upper RPMs, as it blows some rich smoke out of the exhaust still. I'm going to do another log to find out though.
One of the reasons why i wasnt leaning it out more, is that i've always read that with 550cc injectors, and an evoIII running 18psi, you should only be leaning it out a little bit, not 21%... Anyone else hear that?
Thanks
-Tim

You're going to take 18% away just to compensate for the injectors so an additional 5% isn't that much. You can probably take a little more out like you're saying.

Next step is to ditch that side mount, I was boosting 18 psi on the same turbo on my 98 and couldn't do it without uber knock. Had to back it down to 14-15psi. Now with a front mount, I'm back up to 18-20psi and 10-15% leaner with no sign of knock on pump. Really let's that evo3 breath! Good luck with your tuning.

 

[tim_korn_99]

You're going to take 18% away just to compensate for the injectors so an additional 5% isn't that much. You can probably take a little more out like you're saying.

Next step is to ditch that side mount, I was boosting 18 psi on the same turbo on my 98 and couldn't do it without uber knock. Had to back it down to 14-15psi. Now with a front mount, I'm back up to 18-20psi and 10-15% leaner with no sign of knock on pump. Really let's that evo3 breath! Good luck with your tuning.

I know its definately time for a front mount. When i do my logs its in ~30 degree temps, so that helps the SMIC out a little bit. I can do a 3rd gear pull, and stop and feel the intercooler, and the bottom is cool to the touch and the top is ice cold. As long as i keep the runs scattered out, it does alright. Though it doesnt flow as well as an FMIC... I wish the local track was still open this season, i'd like to do a run like it is now, and then another after i buy a FMIC. Oh well, guess i have to wait til Feb. for the track to open up again.
-Tim