RaceChip Review #4

[Kazz]

Tightening the gap does not lead to unburnt fuel. It at most has a minimal effect on delayed flame kernel propagation. In effect a slight reduction of timing akin to reduced dwell times. DI motors have been designed with extremely efficient swirl for the charge mixture leading to complete very complete combustion. I will say this till I am blue in the face. Factory gap as found by members in the +.035 range is incompatible with tuning. You will 100% experience spark blowout sooner than later depending on how efficient your coils are, and how much gap has eroded. If you want to increase boost, you need to gap down plugs. Its not a case of if, but when.

I've seen your feedback on this before and tend to agree. I was wondering what gap you feel might be adequate to avoid blowout. Thanks.

 

[KLR STINGER]

No. It might do the trick for a bit, but the gap erodes with milage. You'll be back at it again sooner than needed. It's a pain in the ass to change these plugs, so I'd error on the side of caution and do it once. Running them at .024 has literally no down side in a heat range 7 plug.

 

[KLR STINGER]

For reference I've run .022 NGK heat range 8 plugs in my 710whp biturbo AMG for over 10k with neary a hiccup

 

[Kazz]

For reference I've run .022 NGK heat range 8 plugs in my 710whp biturbo AMG for over 10k with neary a hiccup

Thanks. I run .024 on my 4G63 2.0L putting 400 to all four wheels for many thousands of miles now.

 

[Got_Stinger]

I'm running .22 in my 380whp 2.0 mazdaspeed 3. No issues

 

[Rango]

Bought the Racechip tune and have a few questions to clarify before I install. I am running 93 octane all the time and my car is totally stock.

1. So a .024 gap would be reccomended for the Stinger on the stock plugs? Or should I install the upgraded plugs at the same gap.

2. What exactly is the best plug if an upgrade is needed and would upgrading the plug void my warranty?

 

[iclicku]

1. There isn't a consensus of the exact amount of gap but from what I read, I would gap stock OR upgraded plugs to .26-.28 before installing RC tune (or any piggyback). However, RC has said their tune was developed for a stock car without having to regap plugs.

2. HKS has been to go to so far. As for any warranty concerns, the burden of proof is on the dealer if they decide they don't want to honor your warranty.

 

[ihatecats78]

Alright.. I think you all have me sold on the re-gapping thing. Anybody know of a good shop in the North Austin/Killeen, TX area? I was good with installing the chip, but that video was intimidating - and they were just installing aftermarket plugs.

 

[Marc Collins]

With a new generation car there are lots of reasons for this. Engineering team could have run them closer while production line didn't get the memo. Production line might be using out of box, instead of setting to spec. There is no way the engineering and test team was beating on these things with oob plugs at .036 gap without running into misfire.

I am not an automotive engineer, either, but given that there are problems appearing with the plugs on non-tuned cars, too, what @KLR STINGER says here and above and in other threads makes the most sense to me.