Alright. Here's the scoop.
My newest 2004 Tidal Wave has been running great overall since I installed the HKS SSQV. However, I still experience a few odd issues from time to time, and short of throwing parts at the car in search of a solution, I'm just about stumped. So let's see what you guys think...
First - I used the RIPP provided S-AFC II to tune my first SDS on my 2003 Carbon Blue, and when I purchased this latest one, it had a MAFterburner installed. Now while I fully understand how both fuel tuners operate, the two cars have a totally different tune. And I'm not talking a few percent here... but at many points in the RPM range, there's like a 65% difference in fuel requirements (-40% to +25%), with the 2004 being the one requiring more fuel.
Now I know "every car is different"... but THAT different? Perhaps they leaned out the stock ECU fuel maps somewhat from 2003 to 2004, but I just don't see why I should be having to add roughly 25% fuel on the low throttle map on 290cc injectors just to get things to even out (and even then, my LT fuel trims are in the positives with the occasional lean hiccup). As such, it would seem at first glance like I'm either getting too much air, or not enough fuel.
However, I have NO signs of intake vacuum leaks whatsoever, so getting extra, unmetered air in the system doesn't make sense. I have theorized that with the HKS SSQV not venting under steady vacuum might be messing with the MAF readings somewhat, and not allowing enough air to flow by the MAF under these conditions (which would mean less fuel)... but there wasn't much of a difference that I can recall with the RIPP BPV (or not a 65% difference, at least).
Anyway - here are the differences between the 2 cars.
2003:
S-AFC II
290cc Injectors
NGM Stage III Upper IM
HotShot Headers
Lightweight Crank Pulley
Injen SES Exhaust
Both Stock and Malpassi FPR (vacuum to both)
Stock Drivetrain
Stock Fuel Rail
RIPP BPV
Stock Fuel Pump
2004:
MAFterburner
290cc Injectors
Stock Upper IM
RIPP Prototype Headers
Stock Crank Pulley
Injen SES Exhaust
Malpassi FPR (stock removed)
Clutchmasters Stage 3 Clutch, Lightwiehgt Flywheel, Quaife LSD
NGM Fuel Rail with Gauge
HKS SSQV BOV
Bosch Hi-Flow Fuel Pump
Now I don't believe the upper IM, headers, crank pulley or drivetrain would make a 65% difference in fuel requirements, and the exhaust is the same (other than a possible small exhaust leak on the 2004 at the joint behind the cat). Also, the difference was there before I removed the stock FPR from the 2004, so that shouldn't be it, either. That leaves the fuel tuner, injectors, fuel rail, BPV/BOV and fuel pump.
Now the fuel rail itself also shouldn't make a big difference at low throttle, and if the pump made a difference, it should make things richer. Also, the fuel settings seemed high even before the HKS BOV (even though idle and driveability sucked), so unless something is wrong with the tuner (and it seems to work fine, albeit with higher than expected settings), I'm currently thinking maybe the injectors could be clogged? I do know the guy I bought the car from said he had some major issues with the first gauge that came with the NGM fuel rails, so maybe something got into the rails (I also think the idiot put anti-seize on the threads rather than thread sealant) and clogged an injector or two? I'm just shooting in the dark here...
So... any off-the-wall, outside-the-box opinions? As I said - this is my last step short of getting new (and probably larger) injectors, and replacing the FPR/BOV ... none of which I really want to do at the moment considering I'm trying to prioritize rebuilding the hurt engine in my 2003.
My newest 2004 Tidal Wave has been running great overall since I installed the HKS SSQV. However, I still experience a few odd issues from time to time, and short of throwing parts at the car in search of a solution, I'm just about stumped. So let's see what you guys think...
First - I used the RIPP provided S-AFC II to tune my first SDS on my 2003 Carbon Blue, and when I purchased this latest one, it had a MAFterburner installed. Now while I fully understand how both fuel tuners operate, the two cars have a totally different tune. And I'm not talking a few percent here... but at many points in the RPM range, there's like a 65% difference in fuel requirements (-40% to +25%), with the 2004 being the one requiring more fuel.
Now I know "every car is different"... but THAT different? Perhaps they leaned out the stock ECU fuel maps somewhat from 2003 to 2004, but I just don't see why I should be having to add roughly 25% fuel on the low throttle map on 290cc injectors just to get things to even out (and even then, my LT fuel trims are in the positives with the occasional lean hiccup). As such, it would seem at first glance like I'm either getting too much air, or not enough fuel.
However, I have NO signs of intake vacuum leaks whatsoever, so getting extra, unmetered air in the system doesn't make sense. I have theorized that with the HKS SSQV not venting under steady vacuum might be messing with the MAF readings somewhat, and not allowing enough air to flow by the MAF under these conditions (which would mean less fuel)... but there wasn't much of a difference that I can recall with the RIPP BPV (or not a 65% difference, at least).
Anyway - here are the differences between the 2 cars.
2003:
S-AFC II
290cc Injectors
NGM Stage III Upper IM
HotShot Headers
Lightweight Crank Pulley
Injen SES Exhaust
Both Stock and Malpassi FPR (vacuum to both)
Stock Drivetrain
Stock Fuel Rail
RIPP BPV
Stock Fuel Pump
2004:
MAFterburner
290cc Injectors
Stock Upper IM
RIPP Prototype Headers
Stock Crank Pulley
Injen SES Exhaust
Malpassi FPR (stock removed)
Clutchmasters Stage 3 Clutch, Lightwiehgt Flywheel, Quaife LSD
NGM Fuel Rail with Gauge
HKS SSQV BOV
Bosch Hi-Flow Fuel Pump
Now I don't believe the upper IM, headers, crank pulley or drivetrain would make a 65% difference in fuel requirements, and the exhaust is the same (other than a possible small exhaust leak on the 2004 at the joint behind the cat). Also, the difference was there before I removed the stock FPR from the 2004, so that shouldn't be it, either. That leaves the fuel tuner, injectors, fuel rail, BPV/BOV and fuel pump.
Now the fuel rail itself also shouldn't make a big difference at low throttle, and if the pump made a difference, it should make things richer. Also, the fuel settings seemed high even before the HKS BOV (even though idle and driveability sucked), so unless something is wrong with the tuner (and it seems to work fine, albeit with higher than expected settings), I'm currently thinking maybe the injectors could be clogged? I do know the guy I bought the car from said he had some major issues with the first gauge that came with the NGM fuel rails, so maybe something got into the rails (I also think the idiot put anti-seize on the threads rather than thread sealant) and clogged an injector or two? I'm just shooting in the dark here...
So... any off-the-wall, outside-the-box opinions? As I said - this is my last step short of getting new (and probably larger) injectors, and replacing the FPR/BOV ... none of which I really want to do at the moment considering I'm trying to prioritize rebuilding the hurt engine in my 2003.