Hi,

I am new to the forumand have been thinking about going FI. I have been reading a lot of posts on the subject of FI and have found a lot of good information. It seems that the general consensus in these posts is that FI on stock internals is unreliable and potentially dangerous even when tuned correctly. If this is the case, then why does Stillen offer a 3yr/36,000mi engine warranty for their SC? You would think that if the engine is truly incapable of FI, that Stillen would lose their shirt on this warranty. Is the problem maybe not with a conservative amount of tuned boost, but with overboosting the engine to get those few extra ponies?

 

I have been told that the fine print on the stillen says that there warrant sucks. Plus alot of people on the forums say that there customer service is VERY bad.

 

Most of the folks who have had engines blow up boosted much higher than 400-HP on stock internals and/or drove their newly boosted engines before they were tuned properly. Rods have broken, maybe rod bolts have failed, AFR's have gone way lean, causing detonation... stuff like that. Stillen's Stage 2 kit produces under 400-HP, and is very safely/conservatively tuned right out of the box.

Stillen's warranty applies only to their (unmodified) stage 2 kit, which includes an intercooler. This set-up generates about 80-90 WHP over stock. Our cars' mechanicals handle this amount of HP and torque fairly well, apparently, since nobody's heard of a Stillen SC blowing up an engine yet. Some like the Stillen SC because it gives you great response and a satisfying rush. It does not have the high HP potential of other F/I units out there, but it's a good, reliable set-up. Use one-step colder plugs with this, to help avoid knock.

The warranty might save you money in possible repairs, but statistically speaking, you're better off not getting the warranty. Like you said, if the warranty was not a good bet for the insurance company, insurance would not be offered.

The Stillen SC sticks up on top of the engine, so the stock hood will not close. You have to get a new hood (from Stillen) that is redesigned to fit over the SC. They're available in both fiberglass and carbon-fiber versions. Some folks like the new hood. Some do not.

I have heard folks complain about Stillen, but I have dealt with them on several occasions over several years modifying three cars, and have *never* had a problem. I've spent thousands of dollars with them. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I doubt it.

The most vocal group of folks who report problems with Stillen seem to be boost ****** who modify their parts (thus voiding the warranty), use parts for a period of time and then attempt a return, or others with obviously dubious circumstances. I believe Stillen must be pretty good at catching those who would attempt to defraud them by now. They've been doing business for a long time. Other Stillen nay-sayers seem to be folks who have never dealt with Stillen personally, but just repeat what they've read on the boards, like parrots.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

 

Thanks Bullseye, that was exactly what I was getting at. In looking at the posts about blown motors, it would appear that most of them came from high boost pressures or improper tuning.

I realize that any type of FI is a risk. But is it a calculated risk of having a weaker then average stock motor or a faulty SC kit, or is it the "ticking time bomb" that some on the boards have described?

 

I just purchased a Stage 1 from them and have had great service. They are a step above everyone else as far as information and follow up. So far.

 

How do you assess the risk of putting F/I on any engine? How risk averse are you? How much money do you have available to spend on a depreciating asset? These are tough questions.

Clearly, it has been very well demonstrated that a stock engine cannot tolerate too much boost, nor not enough tune. There are no guarantees. Even a Stillen SC equipped engine will have to stand up to wear and tear on the mechanicals, whether induced by the installation itself, or by the driver (go-pedal abuse). There are many related issues, like engine oil breakdown, deterioration of hoses, belts, gaskets/seals, & brakes, clutch/tranny problems, traction, and so on... And don't overlook this issue: Are your driving skills up to the challenge of controlling a high HP beast?

Do you want to take proactive steps to ensure the engine won't blow with F/I? If so, you're in for a large initial investment, as well as a robust, ongoing maintenance program. Putting F/I on your car is like buying a new pet: Buying it is only the first step. You're going to have to take care of it for the rest of its life.

Pray your suppliers, installers and tuners are all knowledgeable, conscientious, thorough, trustworthy, etc. Fight the urge to "test" your new F/I set-up before the installation, tuning, and break-in period are completed. Neurotically monitor the health of your engine by checking fluids, spark plugs, gauge readings, etc. at every opportunity. Find the strength to avoid stupid street antics, to keep po-po, insurance agents, lawyers, doctors, thieves, and morticians away.

Keep asking questions. Learn more about the pit-falls. You'll learn how to navigate through the rocks and shoals one way or the other. Or you may decide to invest your discretionary income in something more likely to appreciate in value over time: junk bonds! For me, now.. I'm just experiencing F/I vicariously by reading the posts on this board on a regular basis.

Good luck.

 

Anyone know what it is we need to monitor on a warranty boosted engine by Stillen? When I was tuning my L67 blown Grand Prix GTP it was simply KR (Knock retard which detonates your engine due to heat and other factors) and the mixture of air/fuel mixture. Basically if you monitored those two and fed it the correct amount then you have yourself a 12 second fwd daily driven reliable car. Well other than the tranny.

 

I have not come accross anyone who blew their Z using a stillen SC stage one or two. THe stillen kits are nice, and tuned very well, but are pretty conservative to keep warranty issues in line. Their kit is tuned above the rest IMO. There are things that you cannot do to your car in order not to void their warranty etc....