hobby-man
Senior Member
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- Mike
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- Jun 20, 2018
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- 2021 WRX STi, 2018 Sport Touring Hatchback (sold)
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So for those regulars around here who don't know yet, I lost my engine (L15BA) on Tuesday during some street datalogging for an e-tune with Derek Robinson. Here is a link to my most recent update post in @gtman's tuning survey.
In brief, I had been running for most of my tuned miles (nearly 20k km) on KTuner 21 PSI basemap and then TSP Stage 1 with a 27WON catted downpipe and Mishimoto intake. Around spring time last year (June) I decided to start working toward FBO and added on 27WON's intake with race MAF / turbo inlet pipe / FMIC. At that time I also had my TSP1 file re-scaled to use the Race MAF by Derek and we did some trouble-free datalogging. Since then due to work from home I have probably put 3k km or less on my engine with the full (- turbo) bolt ons. I probably hadn't even gone WOT since the required datalogs at that time.
Fast forward to last week, I pulled the trigger on a W1 turbo and got that installed. Other than two very quick test drives around the block, I did not drive the car with the turbo installed and obviously not hard at all. Derek and I then got the first revision of the custom tune flashed on the car and started to do datalogs. During the final datalog (WOT) is when I believe I lost my motor. Knock control started at 0.60 and rapidly hit 1.30 (the max I believe) over a single pull, and a rattle/tick noise developed from the engine. After inspection with a boroscope camera it appears cylinder #1 bent a rod and scored the cylinder wall.
To be extremely clear, nothing was wrong with the tune and nothing Derek did caused it. Revision 1 is always ultra-conservative and I believe the damage was already done before the W1 went on. Probably brewing for a while.
As things stand right now, I am looking at getting a 2020 Si (L15B7) motor from a recycler here. The plan is to do rods and pistons before putting it back in my car as I do NOT want to go through this again. I'll be using this thread to post pics/insights on the process as we go and try my best to answer any questions!
Datalogs attached via Google Drive for people who want to examine them
------------------------------------------------------------------
Ongoing list of non OEM parts:
Saenz Performance Series Connecting Rods: PS-HL15-A00-T
JE Pistons (standard bore/compression, 73mm/10.3:1, with wrist pin upgrade): 357429
Brian Crower valve springs/keepers/titanium retainers: BC0088
Boundary oil pump gears: L15-OPG
Wavetrac LSD: 60-309-195WK
MAPerformance ARP headstud kit: MAP HDAX-HSK
Also got a couple photos from when the motor was collected at the recyclers. 2019 with 18,000 km!! Check out that VIN - genuine FC1. $1792.30 CAD taxes in for the long block.
In brief, I had been running for most of my tuned miles (nearly 20k km) on KTuner 21 PSI basemap and then TSP Stage 1 with a 27WON catted downpipe and Mishimoto intake. Around spring time last year (June) I decided to start working toward FBO and added on 27WON's intake with race MAF / turbo inlet pipe / FMIC. At that time I also had my TSP1 file re-scaled to use the Race MAF by Derek and we did some trouble-free datalogging. Since then due to work from home I have probably put 3k km or less on my engine with the full (- turbo) bolt ons. I probably hadn't even gone WOT since the required datalogs at that time.
Fast forward to last week, I pulled the trigger on a W1 turbo and got that installed. Other than two very quick test drives around the block, I did not drive the car with the turbo installed and obviously not hard at all. Derek and I then got the first revision of the custom tune flashed on the car and started to do datalogs. During the final datalog (WOT) is when I believe I lost my motor. Knock control started at 0.60 and rapidly hit 1.30 (the max I believe) over a single pull, and a rattle/tick noise developed from the engine. After inspection with a boroscope camera it appears cylinder #1 bent a rod and scored the cylinder wall.
To be extremely clear, nothing was wrong with the tune and nothing Derek did caused it. Revision 1 is always ultra-conservative and I believe the damage was already done before the W1 went on. Probably brewing for a while.
As things stand right now, I am looking at getting a 2020 Si (L15B7) motor from a recycler here. The plan is to do rods and pistons before putting it back in my car as I do NOT want to go through this again. I'll be using this thread to post pics/insights on the process as we go and try my best to answer any questions!
Datalogs attached via Google Drive for people who want to examine them
------------------------------------------------------------------
Ongoing list of non OEM parts:
Saenz Performance Series Connecting Rods: PS-HL15-A00-T
JE Pistons (standard bore/compression, 73mm/10.3:1, with wrist pin upgrade): 357429
Brian Crower valve springs/keepers/titanium retainers: BC0088
Boundary oil pump gears: L15-OPG
Wavetrac LSD: 60-309-195WK
MAPerformance ARP headstud kit: MAP HDAX-HSK
Also got a couple photos from when the motor was collected at the recyclers. 2019 with 18,000 km!! Check out that VIN - genuine FC1. $1792.30 CAD taxes in for the long block.
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