Snabb T5M Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 So my car keeps misfiring in this cold weather and I can't figure out how to solve this problem. Here's the setup: - running 18.5psi of boost - running NGK 6E plugs gapped at 0.026 - new cap/rotor - new IPD performance plug wires - running 87 octane fuel (but also had misfires with 89 and 93 octane). - see signature for rest of pertinent mods I'm running 87 octane fuel because I figured with the cold weather the charge going in would be cold/dense enough so perhaps no need for higher octane fuel to delay the igniting. The misfires occur over 50mph, crusing in 4th gear, RPMs around 3,000. Might the IPD Stage III tune be dialed in for 93 octane fuel? With the very cold charge going in (due to FMIC), might the fuel not be atomizing enough for a good burn? Would a smaller gap (perhaps 0.025) be a solution? I don't know else to do. Granted the car is not driven much in the winter, but I just want to solve this problem. Any other directions I should be trying please? :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socal850tuner Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Higher octane for sure... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bergmjs Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 I'm running 87 octane fuel because I figured with the cold weather the charge going in would be cold/dense enough so perhaps no need for higher octane fuel to delay the igniting. Wait, what? Denser charge means more oxygen present and once compressed a higher final pressure. Go get yourself some 93 octane and maybe some OEM plugs. I've just never heard anyone having misfires on OEM plugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snabb T5M Posted February 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 OEM plugs at what gap? 0.026? Wait, what? Denser charge means more oxygen present and once compressed a higher final pressure. Go get yourself some 93 octane and maybe some OEM plugs. I've just never heard anyone having misfires on OEM plugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GltGreco Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 93 should help, i believe ipd tunes are made for it, but idk how much leeway there is with it, and i would try oem plugs, i am actually running the same plugs as you now, but keep hearing better things about oem. As for gap they will be gapped to .028 but i would close it up a little like you said for saftey with your setup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scandalo Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Gotta run 91 or higher brah. iPd says so. Don't run cheap gas anyway at least not with turbocharged cars or anything that isn't a smallblock :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snabb T5M Posted February 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 ok, will get a hold of the OEM plugs and see if I drive my car anymore in this winter. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project_850 Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 I know I've read this before somewhere on Volvospeed, but supposedly Stage III has aggressive ignition timing that causes premature wear on the spark plugs. I run 94 octane day in and day out and change my spark plugs out every oil change. Champion coppers gapped at 0.024, they are cheap so no biggie. Might sound a bit excessive, but I like to play on the safe side. Also, for the winter months I dial the boost down to 12psi. 14 in the summer for puttering around, and 18 on track days only. Never had an issue, and I have the exact same setup as you except my motor isn't built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scandalo Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 To be fair I am having my share of misfiring issues as well but my wastgate is not set correctly and I haven't been driving so I have left it alone. Whether boosting at 21psi is the issue I am not sure as misfires can happen for a lot of reasons. Like cheap gas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
550 Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 I'm running my 2.4L at .028" with an MSD 6a and champion RC9YC-4's. As you know I replaced my cap and rotor last night, and the plugs were new with the MSD. I will let you know if my issue has been solved. But like I said yesterday it may be too high of timing and not enough pull because of the cold weather. My mis-fires seem to be partial throttle (around 30% or so) when the boost goes over 7 PSI. I can usually guarantee it will pop a code after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snabb T5M Posted February 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Yea, I think my misfires are in the upper ranges of boost, and RPMs probably around 3K+ or so too. Cars fine in low throtle. I'm running my 2.4L at .028" with an MSD 6a and champion RC9YC-4's. As you know I replaced my cap and rotor last night, and the plugs were new with the MSD. I will let you know if my issue has been solved. But like I said yesterday it may be too high of timing and not enough pull because of the cold weather. My mis-fires seem to be partial throttle (around 30% or so) when the boost goes over 7 PSI. I can usually guarantee it will pop a code after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
550 Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 I would try and see what IPD has to say about the timing and if that could possibly be it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snabb T5M Posted February 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 Will do, thanks Joe. Wonder if I'm running too much boost in this cold weather? I would try and see what IPD has to say about the timing and if that could possibly be it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
550 Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 I don't know I run the same thing winter and summer. But I also decided to run the Meth injection this winter as well, and so far has done awesomely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AverageVolvo Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 First off 91 is the minimum octane that you can use effectively. Secondly, ditch the plugs for Oem or Copper single prong plugs gapped @.025 - .026 Almost guarantee it's the plugs though, 89 octane isn't helping though. There are numerous threads about ngk misfires. Also there are threads about the Msd ignition coils causing misfires, but I have no personal experience with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.