Hello all,


I really don't post much but I thought I would share my story in the hopes that someone else might benefit from it. This is in now way meant to flame anyone but just a recount of what happened to me in the hope that others might benefit from it. Sorry for being long winded but it makes me feel better to type this out. Note: I am not the most mechanically inclined so if I am off on some of the details then too bad....

About 6 months ago, I took my 05 STI into S^2 to get some parts installed and a reflash(ECUtek). They installed my intake, catted dp, cat-back and upgraded fuel pump with no issue and Nate dyno tuned my car. I asked for a conservative pump gas tune ( I have the PM's to prove it) and was assured that all would be well. I came back to pick up the car, it sounded and looked great. Nate had left for the day but Joe handed me a dyno sheet and my car had put down 270 whp/280 tq. I wasn't give my a/f numbers but then I didn't ask for them either, I just assumed all was good. I know, I know my mistake.

About 1 month ago, the mod bug started to itch once again. I had noticed my car didn't feel as fast as it used to but I just thought I was getting used to the power and wanted more. I started researching larger turbos and different EM's. Its seemed liked Cobb AP was the way to go as it lets you run multiple maps and most of the larger turbo solutions don't really make full power unless they are running a race gas map. At any rate I scheduled an appointment this past Saturday at DBTuned, I was planning to have Ed(Equilibrum Tuning) do a protune pump gas and race gas map for me. My rational was to occasionally run the race gas map on my current setup to satisfy my more power itch while I continue to research which turbo I wanted to go with.

This past Saturday I arrive at DBTuned and Paul(DBTuned) throws my car on the dyno for some baseline pulls. It puts down 230 whp/ 260 tq, mind you this is with no changes to my car since I left S^2 6 months ago. This just happens to be the same exact dyno my car was tuned on before, now I realize you can't compare as there are many different conditions, calibrations, etc but the difference was significant to warrant further research. After some more logging of my current setup it comes to find out that my car as tuned very aggressively and was running really, really lean. My a/f was 11.5 at redline and pushing 20 psi. This was causing major knocking and detonation which in turned caused the ECU to pull back lots of timing. Thus resulting in my stock like numbers even though I had a tbe and reflash. Paul and Ed even pulled up my old file and showed me how much my car had lost since the last time it was on that dyno.

At Paul and Ed's suggestion I decided to do a compression and leakdown test to see what negative effects of running this lean could have on my motor for the past 6 months. The compression test showed 120-122 on the driver side cylinders and 110-112 on the passenger side. The leakdown test showed leakage in 3 of the 4 cylinders and traces of oil was found in my coolant. Both of them guessed that I had a blown headgasket at the least, with some potential of further damage to the pistons and rings. There would be no way to tell for sure until the motor was pulled and torn down. After hear this news, I had Ed still go ahead and put a conservative pump gas map on the car. The Cobb AP overwrote
my ECUteck reflash from S^2, good riddance. Funny even Ed's conservative map made more power and torque than I came in with. When I left the car put down 250 whp/270 tq. That is with a much safer a/f and running LESS boost!

Now that I know my motor is living on borrowed time, I guess it will only be a matter of time before I drop in the Gruppe-s Stage I short block. Might as well get the Perrin GT30 rotated kit and FMIC while I am at it. Funny, I always thought I
would blow up my stock motor from making too much hp, not making too little!


Here are a few things I learned from this experience:
1) If you are going to modify your car get the appropriate gauges installed first, boost and EGT at a minimum. No matter what the tuner tells you can verify for yourself if there is any problems. That way you can take it back hopefully
before any long term damage can occur.
2) Ed and Paul are great guys. I personally found them very professional, knowledgeable, meticulous and willing to take the time to explain in layman terms every step of what they are doing. Much thanks to the both of you.
3) Even if you think your car is running well, as I did, it might be wise to just get it checked every once in a while to make sure everything is in working order. Sounds simple but my car was showing it was boosting fine and "felt" fine but
putting it on the dyno told the truth.
4) People always tell you "If you want to play be prepared to pay" which is true, I will add to this if you are married be prepared to pay double. Because I am sure whatever this new motor/turbo cost me I will also have to purchase a commensurate amount of living room furniture, or new bathroom tile, or hardwood flooring. Which will additionally blow as I will be spending all my weekends
installing all this crap instead of driving my newly built STI!


Thanks for listening.

-Darren.