Hey guys,

So I'm finally looking to upgrade my downpipe to the Milltek catless one, follow with a tune. Its going on a R58 JCW (N14) but just want to seek some advice beforehand.

Would there be a great risk of over temp if I were to do a stage 2 map without an upgraded FMIC? The car is currently running a stage 1 map with the Forge recirculation valve, stock JCW intake/FMIC etc etc. On a sidenote, I live in New Zealand where temperatures rarely gets above 25C/77F, if ever, even on a hot summer day.

P.S. First thread after a year of stalking, woohoo! and here's a photo of how he looks anyway.

 

I think an IC is mandatory regardless of what tune you run. Anytime you can cool the air going into the engine you are maintaining horsepower better (not losing as much due to heat soak) and it increases the reliability of the motor without sacrificing performance.

 

Understand that, I would be looking to upgrade my intercooler in the near future. But as of now my budget can only withstand upgrading one thing at a time and right now, I would prefer a power mod.

But I mean would I greatly put risk on the motor if I don't upgrade my FMIC (as of now) with the mod I'm planning on?

 

With any ECU tune that applies more boost to the system, the air charge temperature increases. More notability is that due to the increase air temperature, auto-ignition ("knock") could occur because the air charge temp is high enough that hot-spots in the combustion chamber could ignite the air/fuel mixture prior to the spark plug arcing. The ECU does pull timing via the knock sensor; but you should be trying to cool down the input air as much as you can. Add the intercooler before or at the same time as your ECU tune.

- Erik

 

Hi I'm originally from Wellington where even on a sunny summers day the air temp could still be low like 18°C.

I'm stage 3 Evolve with a stock intercooler but running W/M injection. It stopped working for a bit but I never got any knock this is in winter in Melbourne so temp was pretty low, Max 18°C.

I'd think you'd get away with it if its short term and you don't push it when it gets hot and obviously only run premium 98 fuel.

The ecu will pull timing if your intake temps get too high anyway.

 

I wouldn't worry too much if its short term. Thats what I did. I was running a Stage 2 Battle/DNA tune with the stock FMIC. When I got my FMIC then I bumped it up to stage 3. Not sure how the tune levels translate to each other, but with your ambient temps you're driving in, I wouldn't worry.

 

Got in contact with my local tuner that did my stage 1 map, this was his reply "Stage 2 without a intercooler is fine and wont cause any over heating issues. Downpipes help keep the exhaust gas temps cooler and safer."

Although they're specialisied in tuning VAG cars (Volkswagen Audi Group)... But with their custom maps, it looks like I'll be trusting their words and settle in with this mod.

Will update if my engine blows.

 

Looking forward to hearing how it goes.

Nice whirlybird mod there too.