I just installed a new engine in my car. I have an intake similar to M2, PFS stock mount intercooler, N-tech Dp, & Blitz Nur-Spec Cat-back & a PFC orginally tuned for my old motor with all the goodies except the cat-back. I still have the main cat in place.

The car starts & idles fine. When ever the boost goes up at all it seems to run poorly, even noticible in first gear. The car seems to be bogging down/hessitating. Running at higher rpm >2500 with little or no boost seems much smoother. If I get into say 5lbs of boost at 4k rpm then I hear what I think is detonation (cracking/snapping sound from the engine/turbo area, once I realized what this was I stopped doing it). When this happens the knock reading jumps way up to like 170 on the PFC. Here is what I have checked so far:

changed spark plugs, checked map sensor to make sure it was plugged in.

Next I am going to:

change the oil (when originally attempting to start the engine one of the plugs was fouled and the car flooded, I believe that there is fuel in the oil. I know on a piston engine this can cause detonation, don't know if this is true for a rotary), put stock computer back in (the pfc was unplugged for a long time 8 months, I think it should hold the maps, but this is just to eliminate possibilities).

What else should I check? If anyone has any suggestions or similar experiences they would be greatly appreciated.

 

Make sure the plug wires aren't switched around, especially the trailing plug wires. If the trailing wires are switched, you get detonation REALLY quick.

Dale

 

you shouldn't be getting into boost at all on a new motor, at least until 500 miles.

 

dcfc3s, thanks, I will check those to make sure.

zayrx7, 1-2 pounds of boost isn't going to kill the engine & I am seeing issues at this level. I'm not redlining the engine at 12 pounds of boost or anything, just checking out normal drivability. Thanks for the concern though.

 

DOn't bitch when you motor has poor compression or cracks an apex seal. Because you started beating on the motor. You should not use any boost durring the first 500 miles period! Then run 1-5psi till 1000miles. Then you should be good to start tuning the motor.

 

Does anyone have any further input concerning my problem? Thanks again for the advice on no boost, I'll put a post-it on my steering wheel so I don't forget!

Has anyone ever had experience with fuel in the oil causing detonation?

Does this sound like maybe my secondary fuel injectors aren't working? I didn't think they began to play until like 3k or so though. I feel lugging or hessitation at 1.2k when applying throttle at & no boost, just less vaccum as I apply throttle, I will check the wires as soon as I get home.

Thanks for the input so far.

 

A little bit of boost helps to seat the seals, and doesn't hurt a thing. I am talking a couple of psi.......I have broken in many motors and have this on authority from 3 of the most well-known engine builders in the country.

 

Wrong. Where are you getting this info from that you're (you are) parrotting?

Oh, and you have the wrong "your" in your avatar text. Seems kind of appropriate, lol.

 

lol, owned.

I love when people jump in and start typing away, knowing nothing about the information they are spouting. Break the car in with 0 boost? How, stick the airfilter on the elbow?

Right..

 

It turns out that my mechanic routed the ignition coil wiring harness the wrong way, back to front instead of front to back, so I believe that this should solve the problem, I'll post back once I have switched it and know for sure. Anyone else who is experiencing a similar problem make sure you don't just plug them in according to some color pattern, it appears that different years have the colors of the plugs switched around (blue & black switched I think), just make sure the harness runs from front to back and the plugs are plugged the first one on the front coil, second one on the middle coil and last one on the back coil. I don't believe that this has damaged my engine, of course I won't know until I do a compression test once completely broken in.

 

Whew, good luck with that Jason.

Dave