Track/Course Stinger - A Track Day Review

[KingLamoni]

Post some photos of the install, would like to see how it all goes together.

So would I! I asked about installation instructions but the only piece of paper that came in the box is printed in korean. Anyone here from Korea that can translate?

 

[Callum]

So would I! I asked about installation instructions but the only piece of paper that came in the box is printed in korean. Anyone here from Korea that can translate?

Download the google translate app. Hugely helpful.

 

[KingLamoni]

This part circled is the piece that comes off and gets replaced the the manifold with all the blue fittings attached. There is a gasket underneath it according to the parts diagram for the oil cooler. Amazing what I've learned in the last couple of days. Didn't know that the Stinger already has an oil cooler and a transmission cooler.
The two fittings on the top are for the oil to circulate from the engine and pump oil to the turbos. The 4 fittings on the front go to the 2 new coolers (if you get the secondary cooler).

 

[robz32]

Great info. Keep it coming.
You should make your own thread with all the info collected and photos as it will certainly help those that want to improve the cooling system on our cars.

 

[turboAWD]

View attachment 32823
This part circled is the piece that comes off and gets replaced the the manifold with all the blue fittings attached. There is a gasket underneath it according to the parts diagram for the oil cooler. Amazing what I've learned in the last couple of days. Didn't know that the Stinger already has an oil cooler and a transmission cooler.
The two fittings on the top are for the oil to circulate from the engine and pump oil to the turbos. The 4 fittings on the front go to the 2 new coolers (if you get the secondary cooler).

That's the Shark cooler upgrade?

 

[KingLamoni]

That's the Shark cooler upgrade?

Shark, and K8Stinger store both sell it.

 

[KingLamoni]

Great info. Keep it coming.
You should make your own thread with all the info collected and photos as it will certainly help those that want to improve the cooling system on our cars.

I will do a DIY photo explanation and if I can get someone to video it, I'll post it on YouTube.

 

[M Compact]

Thanks for the write up! I instruct at HPDEs and I'm considering picking up a GTS. I'd hope it would handle 30 minute sessions without additional cooling or brake upgrades.

 

[turboAWD]

I'll know a bit more - going to my first ever HPDE in 2 weeks. Got some R12 pads from G-Loc.. Don't want to run out of pad after 2-3 laps..

 

[Callum]

Thanks for the write up! I instruct at HPDEs and I'm considering picking up a GTS. I'd hope it would handle 30 minute sessions without additional cooling or brake upgrades.

I think the Stinger will handle the track day temps fine, engine wise.
It’s the braking system, specifically the brake fads (US Spec) that will ruin the experience.
Swap the pads and I genuinely think you’ll be fine.
GTS will suffer from the same pad compound issues as every other trim will.

 

[M Compact]

Thanks! Changing pads isn't a major issue for me; I was more concerned about the motor or transmission/TC going into limp mode.

 

[Callum]

Thanks! Changing pads isn't a major issue for me; I was more concerned about the motor or transmission/TC going into limp mode.

I’d imagine the Stinger would go into reduced power mode. I can’t say for sure. My temps are high, but honestly I’m not sure how close I was to “limp” mode or if the temps were normal for track work.
I wish I had better info, maybe in the spring/summer I can get back to the track!

 

[ATL_Nick]

Another solution to overheating can be functional hood ventilation. Lots of modern high power cars come with functional hood vents (corvette, shelby mustang, camaro, etc.) Rather than install larger coolers, a good vent will help pull more air through the existing radiator, heat exchanger, etc.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Another solution to overheating can be functional hood ventilation. Lots of modern high power cars come with functional hood vents (corvette, shelby mustang, camaro, etc.) Rather than install larger coolers, a good vent will help pull more air through the existing radiator, heat exchanger, etc.

Ah, you've hit on a favorite "hate" detail (few though they are with the Stinger): Fake hood vents. Some owners in Korea have mods that allow the hood vents to exchange air. And they have magnetized water collector boxes that fit under the vent holes when going through a car wash or the rain. All other times, the boxes sit in the hatch or the garage. There are threads about this, quite extensive ones too. But it's been a while and I don't feel the gumption to search for them again myself just now.

 

[KingLamoni]

@Callum here you go. This will definitely help when you go back in the summer.

2018+ Stinger 3.3 Engine Oil Cooler Kit with optional Secondary Radiator

I just got my oil cooler installed.
The photo with horizontal circles shows attachment of original hoses, R1 (extra coolant radiator hoses) and R2 (AN fittings are for the oil radiator)
The photo with the vertical circles shows the flow through the coolant section of the "oil cooler".

 

[turboAWD]

How much work was the installation? Was it plug-and-play?

 

[robz32]

I just got my oil cooler installed.
The photo with horizontal circles shows attachment of original hoses, R1 (extra coolant radiator hoses) and R2 (AN fittings are for the oil radiator)
The photo with the vertical circles shows the flow through the coolant section of the "oil cooler".

Looking good. Any pointers or sugestions for the install?
Also did you installed the secondary radiator?

 

[KingLamoni]

Looking good. Any pointers or sugestions for the install?
Also did you installed the secondary radiator?

Yes installed the second radiator. The second radiator is behind the transmission radiator. I'll try and get a photo of the mounting.
Getting to the screws on the oil cooler to remove it required removing the block it's attached to from the engine block. A couple of bolts hold it in place on the engine block. (The other side from the cooler is the plastic oil filter holder)
Once it was removed getting to the bolts for the oil cooler was easy.
Lost coolant and oil when removing it. Had to add about a quart and a half of oil to the system afterwards which was mostly from adding the radiator and hoses.
Cooland system will get air in it and there is a specific way to bleed out the air that if not followed will require redoing it or getting a KIA scan tool that has the "coolant purge" option that opens up the thermostat.
The procedure used, hooks up a funnel where the radiator cap goes AND you disconnect a small hose from the main hose on the drivers side that goes towards the intake. See attached photo.
When filling fluid into the funnel watch for fluid to come out of both the metal pipe and the small hose, then reconnect the small hose. That should get all the air out then you start the engine with the heater on and you might have to add a little more fluid.
I let a mechanic do the work with some input from me.

 

[KingLamoni]

I circled it incase its not clear about the small hose.

 

[Flaniganskywalker]

I pay for my Stinger, I'm not paid to drive it. So take this little review as a un-paid review that doesn't come from a guy driving the car and making money off the review.

I ran my 2018 GT2 AWD at the track yesterday for an entire day. I really learned a lot about the vehicle, AWD system, and brakes.

• Skid Pad- 2+ Tons on a skid pad? lol, see below
  • AWD - It's a bit all over the place. Sport mode is way to twitchy, and the throttle is useless unless you drive with your pinky toe. The Stinger was shifting power from 100% RWD to 100% FWD according to spectators. It never stuck in 80/20 like advertised. Comfort mode was much more manageable and more predictable
    
    
  • Tires - Pilot Sport P4S did a fantastic job with communication. Predictable break away and allowed for quick recovery (within reason).
    
    
  • Brakes - It's hard to really describe, but on the skid pad the Stinger did not engage ABS at steep angles (45*+) which I loved. Brake pedal did not kick back as much as I'd like, it felt more like a small kick every few seconds. So brake modulation was difficult to find the threshold (see more in "tracK"
    • Thoughts? Well, it's 2+tons on a skid pad. I wasn't really expecting much, it delivered what I expected but did it with pride and the fact that I was in a KIA and everybody else a Ferrari or Porsche.
• Track Work -What you see, is what you get.
  • Engine - It's a 3.3TT, 365HP KIA that has a lot of mass. Despite being 100% stock other than the K&N Intake I did not encounter heat soak (50-55*F outside) and was very impressed. The low end grund got you out of the corners, and kept you going. I don't have a single thing bad to say about the engine. It's truly a gem, I can't imagine needing more power. The only complaint, is this engine needs more coolant capacity. I was having to manage engine temps for a good bit of the day. The gauge was 3/4 up and at the base of the red portion. I could manage 4 hot laps and 1 cool down.
    
    
  • Transmission - No, it's not "ZF" fast, but it can move through the gears quickly, smoothly and with no delay. I beat the thing up, most transmissions slow down when they get hot. This thing speeds up. It was banging into 2nd and 3rd after a few sessions and just felt brilliant. Downshifts as well, quick and accurate rev-matching. First gear could be a little easier to get into, the rev limiter isn't aggressive enough for me but it's there for a reason...I can work around that for longevity.
    
    
  • AWD - I genuinely thought the AWD was going to take a lot of the fun out. Let me tell you, the AWD is ridiculous. It will find grip anywhere when you ask it to, and when you ask it to go sideways and kick the rear end out it will. It takes a good "flick" to scoot the rear out but it stays there until you straighten the wheel. Several occasions where I was sideways and straightened the wheel, it seemed to throw a load of torque to the front and pull the Stinger out of the corner. It desperately needs an LSD (Limited Slip Differential) to really take advantage of the AWD system, it wanted to burn the inside tires more than drift, but if you flick the car and stand on it she will drift with no problem. I loved it.
    
    
  • Braking - They are great, fantastic initial bite but they fade. The OE Pads are not up to the task of track work. Mountain roads, sure, drag strips, go for it. Hard braking and reports that the front rotors are glowing no. I was shocked to hear on the radio that the rotors were glowing. The OE US Spec compound is too soft and outgasses to quickly. I ran through about 60% of my pad life in one day. ABS doesn't have much feedback, I wish it did. I found myself only noticing I'm into ABS by the car's rear end rotating and feeling the entire vehicle "chirping". I went in with spotless wheels, came out with black wheels. This needs two piece rotors with proper pads to do track work. It's too heavy for how it is equipped.
    
    
  • Handling - It's got shoes, PS 4S have some serious pedigree. The suspension is soft, but really, and I mean seriously has excellent grip. I went into turned at 60MPH thinking "I'm going to have to explain this one to her" and towards the end of the day was hitting the same corners at 80-85MPH. The body roll is there, but the car just sticks to the ground. It communicates, and I know this probably won't make sense as your reading it, but this thing just figures the shit out.

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Thoughts? Well, I was the underdog. A KIA at the track amongst F12's, 911's, and many other track oriented cars. Mine was out of place. It was the heaviest, tallest, narrowest tires, smallest HP. Everything was against the Stinger. It rocked out hard. It's not a track day car, no way Jose. It doesn't wear the shoes with grace, but it will seriously kick some ass. I felt like I was eating a Sloppy Joe in a all white suite out there. It was a blast. Turn off the ESC and Stability and you have yourself a wonderful vehicle that you can drive to the track, beat the bajesus out of it, and cruise home all in superior comfort.​

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**This is one of the heaviest, trickiest, and most cumbersome vehicle I've tracked. Please stay within your comfort zone, and within reason. My driver skill level should not be used as a baseline for yours, nor my vehicle's performance. Each car is different. I have yet to drive a vehicle that likes to slide and act up like this one. It's very lively, and you need to be aware of that. It can, and will hurt you if you do not learn it at your pace**​

I live in GA and have done track time at road atlanta years ago.BTW I was told by Brembo--and by a service tech at KIA that the rotors are not performance rotors--just bigger versions of normal ones--and that they--in their current state are not meant for track use like you did.I am curious to any follow up--did the rotors warp or have any problems afterwords.I plan on getting performance rotors--I beat the crus out of R1 rotors about a decade ago at road ATL and had no problems--no warp--and waiting for them to make em for the stinger.KIA should have never put brembos on there without high end rotors to match--it is misleading and there are reports of warp issues without folks tracking.AAlso--any turbo car is going to heat up on a track--just the nature--I would only goto the track--if ever in my stinger--in the winter.