PRESSERtech Kia Stinger GT Dyno RESULTS!!

[jdouga]

Would you be willing to comment on why other tunes seem to require different plugs? There's a thread going talking about replacements, but what do you do differently that does not require them to be changed?

.. and if not, that's fine too! I plan to "drop by" your shop next time I go to Adventure Outdoors..

Second question - in the Stinger Talk forum, there's discussion about launch control being "a joke" - if indeed the case, what would fix that, and, would that be something you could incorporate into a tune?

Just a little heads up, i have the jb4 and it didnt require new plugs, just re-gapping them. Personally i changed them out to hks m45il just in case.

 

[eflyguy]

Just a little heads up, i have the jb4 and it didnt require new plugs, just re-gapping them. Personally i changed them out to hks m45il just in case.

Thx.. didn't mean to imply any particular tune was better, worse, whatever. Just wanting to understand the science behind it all, why it could cause failure. These guys have been around a while, and are known primarily for their work on German performance cars - AMG, M-series - but many others. I don't doubt their claims.

 

[robz32]

The reason why some piggyback boxes require regapping or even replacing spark plugs is because they increase the boost so much that the spark plug heats up and the car starts breaking up at higher RPMs, until eventually the plug fails completely and gets damaged along with the coil.

This occurs due to the fact that piggyback tunes can not change ignition tables on the ECU.

 

[4wheelpilot]

The reason why some piggyback boxes require regapping or even replacing spark plugs is because they increase the boost so much that the spark plug heats up and the car starts breaking up at higher RPMs, until eventually the plug fails completely and gets damaged along with the coil.

This occurs due to the fact that piggyback tunes can not change ignition tables on the ECU.

Great explanation.
So to be clear, the pressertech ECU tune does not require re gapping OEM plugs nor new plugs, correct?

 

[MisterMac]

Great explanation.
So to be clear, the pressertech ECU tune does not require re gapping OEM plugs nor new plugs, correct?

Correct

 

[KLR STINGER]

Completely incorrect. See the Damn sticky I made already. Has nothing to do with piggy back tunes "creating to much heat on the spark plug". Timing in no way affects spark plug "heat" ( thought timing can affect overall cylinder pressures, and temps). Piggy back still leverage OEM timing strategies which react to IAT, ECT and Knock and correct just the same based on the modifiers and limits int hte OEM strategy which are always super conservative. Frankly I have no idea where you heard such nonsense.

I've repeatedly posted that the issue with misfires that have occurred on both stock and tuned cars( piggy back or ECU flash) is due to whats commonly called spark blow out. This is soley due to the dynamic cylinder pressures overcoming the ability of the plug to fire. The OEM plug gaps have been measured from low .030's to .040's. This is entirely too large for a high performance FI motor. On a FI/DI you need to run low .020's to maintain spark performance in high load situations. Has nothing to do with one tune vs the other, one type vs the other, octane used etc. This is an electro-mechanical principle that is basic tuning 101. Any car with OEM plugs ( specifically OEM gap range) will experience blow out sooner or later. The pressertech car may be fine right now, but as gap erodes it won't be. Surprised given their experience with the MB platform they would be more transparent about this as it its common problem on M157 cars.

 

[4wheelpilot]

Advise from the more experienced forum members...
Might be ideal for everyone (pressertech and stingerforum members) to consider a group buy when we are confident that the spark plug concerns are put to rest, maybe after test car passes 5k without a problem.
What do you think?

 

[4wheelpilot]

Completely incorrect. See the Damn sticky I made already. Has nothing to do with piggy back tunes "creating to much heat on the spark plug". Timing in no way affects spark plug "heat" ( thought timing can affect overall cylinder pressures, and temps). Piggy back still leverage OEM timing strategies which react to IAT, ECT and Knock and correct just the same based on the modifiers and limits int hte OEM strategy which are always super conservative. Frankly I have no idea where you heard such nonsense.

I've repeatedly posted that the issue with misfires that have occurred on both stock and tuned cars( piggy back or ECU flash) is due to whats commonly called spark blow out. This is soley due to the dynamic cylinder pressures overcoming the ability of the plug to fire. The OEM plug gaps have been measured from low .030's to .040's. This is entirely too large for a high performance FI motor. On a FI/DI you need to run low .020's to maintain spark performance in high load situations. Has nothing to do with one tune vs the other, one type vs the other, octane used etc. This is an electro-mechanical principle that is basic tuning 101. Any car with OEM plugs ( specifically OEM gap range) will experience blow out sooner or later. The pressertech car may be fine right now, but as gap erodes it won't be. Surprised given their experience with the MB platform they would be more transparent about this as it its common problem on M157 cars.

OK. So put my prior post on a back burner for now.
Pressertech, kindly respond to post #106.
Many of us want more power, responsiveness and performance.
But not at the expense of "avoidable" problems.

 

[KLR STINGER]

Advise from the more experienced forum members...
Might be ideal for everyone (pressertech and stingerforum members) to consider a group buy when we are confident that the spark plug concerns are put to rest, maybe after test car passes 5k without a problem.
What do you think?

And Again......unless the plug gap is appropriately set for high load operation, any tune ( or stock car for that matter) will experience blowout and misfire sooner than later. Its basic engine operation mechanics and is table stakes for tuning. I'm actually not sure what the big deal people have with changing the plugs. Once you do it once, you'll see how easy it is. I can do it in 20 mins now. Its really not a big deal.

 

[eflyguy]

So is it pressure (from not firing) or heat that ultimately breaks the plug?

 

[PRESSERtech LLC]

OK. So put my prior post on a back burner for now.
Pressertech, kindly respond to post #106.
Many of us want more power, responsiveness and performance.
But not at the expense of "avoidable" problems.

Hi. We are not going to respond to any spark plug questions. All this is does is cause non productive arguments. If for any reason, we feel the spark plugs must be changed or gapped you guys will be the first to know.

As far as our MB clients are concerned,
Some of Our m157 and m278 (this is the v8 biturbo found in the 63 and 550) customers have over 100k on their cars and changed them at the recommended service interval (70k). With stock plugs

 

[PRESSERtech LLC]

Would you be willing to comment on why other tunes seem to require different plugs? There's a thread going talking about replacements, but what do you do differently that does not require them to be changed?

.. and if not, that's fine too! I plan to "drop by" your shop next time I go to Adventure Outdoors..

Second question - in the Stinger Talk forum, there's discussion about launch control being "a joke" - if indeed the case, what would fix that, and, would that be something you could incorporate into a tune?

Please come by and meet us! We are literally a 1.5 miles from adventure outdoors.

 

[KLR STINGER]

So is it pressure (from not firing) or heat that ultimately breaks the plug?

Most of the "cracked" plug I've seen are clearly carbon tracked. Carbon tracking means the spark is discharging between the upper terminal at the boot and the "nut" part of the spark shell. Basically the high energy voltage is going into the terminal and has to go somewhere, and when it cannot discharge as intended between the center and ground electrodes ( due to cylinder conditions preventing from discharge), it finds the next path of least resistance. Fire a large discharge across the insulator long enough, you crack it.

 

[KLR STINGER]

Hi. We are not going to respond to any spark plug questions. All this is does is cause non productive arguments. If for any reason, we feel the spark plugs must be changed or gapped you guys will be the first to know.

As far as our MB clients are concerned,
Some of Our m157 and m278 (this is the v8 biturbo found in the 63 and 550) customers have over 100k on their cars and changed them at the recommended service interval (70k). With stock plugs

I get you are not having issues yet, so you can't comment, but literally every tuner has had cars experience breakup issue under boost. Even when their initial recommendation was it did not require adjustments to gap or plugs for their tune or piggy back. This has nothing to do with your tune, which I'm sure is a quality offering. Kia/Hyundai put in plugs with too big a gap from OEM plain and simple. People should be aware that this isn;t a one tune vs the next that will keep them from having to change plugs. Have you actually pulled a plug and check gap? I've personally seen them between .031 and .044. No Bueno for a tuned FI/DI car period. I assure you, you will be revisiting this recommendation, unless you somehow got a car gapped appropriately from the factory.

 

[PRESSERtech LLC]

I get you are not having issues yet, so you can't comment, but literally every tuner has had cars experience breakup issue under boost. Even when their initial recommendation was it did not require adjustments to gap or plugs for their tune or piggy back. This has nothing to do with your tune, which I'm sure is a quality offering. Kia/Hyundai put in plugs with too big a gap from OEM plain and simple. People should be aware that this isn;t a one tune vs the next that will keep them from having to change plugs. Have you actually pulled a plug and check gap? I've personally seen them between .031 and .044. No Bueno for a tuned FI/DI car period. I assure you, you will be revisiting this recommendation, unless you somehow got a car gapped appropriately from the factory.

Our development car was built at end of march. We did check gap on #1. I will have to check my notes on Monday to see where it was.

 

[eflyguy]

Please come by and meet us! We are literally a 1.5 miles from adventure outdoors.

I most certainly will!

Also, my GF just bought a CLS400, not sure if I can convince her as she got a ticket on the 3rd day, but I'm hoping... drives real nice, as I'm sure you know! lol..

 

[Angel]

Me personally I would not tune this car without changing to new colder plugs and re-gaping.....I agree 100% with KRL STINGER... i dont care what anybody says...seriously if you spending 1000 bucks on tune dont cut corners it is well documented........no disrespect to pressertech but I am still debating between them and tork motorsports....can your tune take the speed limit governer off?? any more details on the tune please?

 

[Kamauxx]

Advise from the more experienced forum members...
Might be ideal for everyone (pressertech and stingerforum members) to consider a group buy when we are confident that the spark plug concerns are put to rest, maybe after test car passes 5k without a problem.
What do you think?

I think it would be a better idea to just re-gap your plugs prior to adding any boost to the car.

It's a 1 hour $3 job. Why risk the headache?

 

[Angel]

I dont know about 1 hour LOL but yes it not a hard job if you have some basic tools and basic sense working on a car. I would say more like 2-3 hour job but then again i am not a pro....

 

[Kamauxx]

I dont know about 1 hour LOL but yes it not a hard job if you have some basic tools and basic sense working on a car. I would say more like 2-3 hour job but then again i am not a pro....

It took me about 2 hours but I figured it took so long because I've never gapped plugs before. I've seen more seasoned tuners post that it took them 30-45 minutes.