So last week i got my car dyno'd and came up with some interesting results.
Backround info: got the S/C installed in dec. and haven't had any problems. never tuned at install. right before i come up to oregon i noticed that i was kicking black smoke a little a thought that it might be time to change the plugs. got 1 step cooler NGKs and headed up to oregon. when i get here the S/C is making a much louder noise and a little whistle. the cog belt is fine and the sound seems to be comming from the S/C itself. The smoke that was little has turned heavy and under light throttle i get grey smoke and under WOT i get heavy black. so i get it tuned a recommened place in portland(4 hours away) and this is what i get. the first one is the one i ended up with and the second is what we tried to get when we pulled the timing.

 

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second

 

Why are the # so low? i don't get it? what might be causing the smoke and the louder noise. i haven't been able to get in touch with anyone at Vortech and at this point i don't know it i should be driving it. Forced, emmes, anyone can you help me? what should i think about doing from here. any kind of info would help

Dustin

 

Assuming you are pulling timing, the A/F numbers look pretty darn good. However, the HP is WAAAAYYY low, so something is not right. Pardon the questions:

Where were you seeing the smoke (tailpipe, etc)?
Are you still seeing black smoke after tuning?
Could the sound you're hearing be belt squeal?
Do you smell rubber?
What are you seeing as far as boost psi?

--Steve

 

i see the smoke from the tailpipes.
during and after tuning (they didn't get it either since the a/f was fine
might be belt squeal but it seems to come from the unit itself
don't smell rubber
i'm right over .5 bar so 8 lbs or so.

any more question i will gladly answer to the best of my abilities

dustin

(going to sushi be back later)

 

How much oil is your engine consuming between changes?

--Steve

 

Dustin, those numbers arent too bad. Maybe on the next tuning session, you can ask them to hook up a pressure line and map your boost with your power and RPM numbers. My first guess would be to see if your boost was off, or the belt was slipping. Second thing I would look at is maybe ditching your stock cats...they could be holding you back.

You might also consider having them richen up your curve before 4000rpm....it seems a bit lean before that point.

Lastly, the tuner could have taken out too much timing, which would result in a significant power loss.

 

my boost gauge also reads .5 bar, however the Splitsec box only shows 6.9 psi @ 6600. You should hook up a laptop and do a recording.

 

steve, funny you should ask because i changed my oil 900 miles ago and yesterday i saw that my oil pressure was dropping so i checked it and to my surprise i have no oil in the car!!! couldn't even get a reading. i added 3 1/2 qts and now i'm ok for the time being. that was my next question, why in the world am i going through oil so quickly?

sharif, i just ordered some kinetix test pipes with res. and DC headers. how would that affect the out pouring of smoke that i'm getting? less or more or what? i was thinking that the tuner took out too much timing but when he tired to put more back in (see second pic) there was a big drop of HP at the top and and the car really wasn't feeling it. not understanding why

dollar99 thats a good idea. i might have to but i want to find someone closer that could do the tuning, 4 hr drive is harsh when i am busy all the time with work. if only i had my own dynojet....

dustin

 

i was on z1 auto and saw the PE injectors and fuel pump package, anyone think that might be a good next step? (after i find out what is wrong with my car presently) I've done the show part now i want the go (6k sitting in pocket and wanting to be set free!!)

Dustin

 

I think your next step should be to do a compression check, three and half quarts in 900 miles sounds like you may have done some ring damage. Are you leaking any oil? Maybe the supercharger fittings? I don't know much about the vortech, but it sounds like you may have a serious problem.

 

not leaking any oil, and i was afraid of that. i was thinking that the bearing might be going on the s/c but that might not atest for the loss of oil since the s/c only uses the oil for lubrication, correct me if i wrong, but i hope its not internal. that bill won't be one that i will like to pay. for something that should be bolt on and not affect the internals.

i'm aslo thinking that the shop that i went to might not have compensated for the added oil for the s/c and the oil pump. and put in 4 qts total instead of 6. don't remember i was too busy moving in and can't find the copy of the service. but i will do a compression test. just to be sure

 

Dude if you're blowing smoke and have no oil its burning out through the pistons. You need to do a compression check ASAP and try to stay off it until you find out which cylinder is the culprit. If its number 5 the forum is going to go nucking futs.

 

Um, your mods list is too long to read You mentioned six quarts of oil--do you have a non-stock oil pan?

As far as doing an R4 recording, Dollar99 is referring to the ability that the R4 software has of logging boost versus rpms during normal street driving. No dyno needed.

It sounds, unfortunately, as though you have a serious problem. If you're burning that much oil you definitely need to have a compression check done--but it doesn't sound good AT ALL.

--Steve

 

Dustin, sorry, I skimmed over the part about your rapid oil consumption. Keep a close eye on it. As noted, if you are pouring blackish, or darkish smoke out the back, it's likely you are burning oil somewhere, or your are running too rich. Based on your dyno run, I dont think its too rich...so I suspect you have an engine problem.

There have been several documented cases of totally stock Z's that have gone through an entire fill of oil in less than a month! Not to freak you out or anything, but get the compression test done, and maybe take your car to a mod friendly dealer for a full diagnostic. The cuase of the oil burning my likely have nothing to do with your SC.....

And to answer the question about your kinetics test pipes and DC headers, they will make little difference in the color of your exhuast stream. You might get a bigger puff of smoke on a shift, but otherwise, they just increase power..and the smell of unburnt gas...LOL.

Good luck man!

 

the top chart looks close to what the stock vortech SS will produce, on a very stock car....

aside from the oil problems, you need remapping, bigtime....

and YES, if the serp belt is loose, you'll see a noticeable HP loss (even if the peak boost is close to the factory 8 or 9 pounds..)

tighten the serp belt

LOOSEN the cog belt to have ¼ play in it at all times (too tight there will strain the jackshaft bearing, and cause excessive compressor noise, echoing in the compressor i mean)

have you had the mapping done, cell-by-cell?

sorry to hear this; the kit is def. not working as it should

SMS

 

What remapping would he do? His A/F ratio is already as high as he'd want it to be (i.e. little margin of safety) unless he's pulling more timing than the stock map.

--Steve

 

Okay, I just talked to Vortech about my boost problems. Something the tech said may interest you. He said that if there is smoke coming out of the exhaust and a increase in oil consumption, it usually means that a seal inside the actual blower is blown allowing oil from the supercharger to leak into the discharge duct and into the plenum.

 

zim----

i dunno.....

i just think (even with the a/f being somewhat okay) the timing might be suspect.... dont see much room there, but i am betting there's belt slippage going on too...

the blower seal is another idea i never thought of before....

lets hope it is something easy that smacks us in the face!!!