Preventing a Bottom End Explosion!
 

I keep reading about people's ECUtek'd cars going bang in various ways, bottom ends, big ends etc. Having just had mine done i would like any good advice on how to prevent mine form going the same way. I know that the STi engines are generally stronger but how should i protect my UK engine better?

Thanks in advance

Mark

a forged bottom end will reduce the risk but not eliminate. there are no gauruntees here. asking an engine to run 25 - 50% out of spec is asking for disaster unless strengthened parts are in place. the problem is a forged build (or bottom end) will cost you money.

As above. Mine went bang last summer, running 300 bhp on a UK car, but was being run at daft speeds on a French autoroute in 40 degree daytime temperatures with a TMIC:(

It now has a forged 2.5 conversion and an FMIC, all courtesy of Harvey Smith.

unreliability on standard scoobs is extreamly low. being jap they will easily do 150-200k

however, they have a bad rep cos people throw a bigger turbo at it or manualy try to up the boost and they go bang alot, they arn't cars to bodge tune.

also as said, not that hard to get very big power increases on them, im running 340 on my classic, which should be 215, so engines running at 158% of what it was designed for (unless my maths is whack, which isn't unheard of lol).

Mine is running 320 on a Bob Rawle remap with 3 port boost solenoid which gives me some faith that it will last well, especially as it is a low mileage 40k example, time will tell.....

Mines had an Ecutek map on it for 4 or 5 years plus a few other stage 1 mods and has been trouble free,although it is low miles (53k / Classic) and has been serviced religiously from new and treated with respect.

Change the oil reguarly.

Its not Ecutek'd car going bang, its re-mapped cars being asked to do more than they were designed to do.

I took a 10 year old WRX with 60,000 miles on the clock, took it up to 303bhp and 6 years and 70,000 extra miles later it was still going strong (until I sold it). Regular oil changes (2 a year) with quality oil and warming up properly kept it going. Don't know if I just had a good one but I've seen a few that have topped the 200,000 mark.

Its not even that half the time, its the old oil pumps seizing, your best upgrading the likes of that first with a new (uprated) one from somewhere like RCM, then the issue of "fuel surge", that can be sorted out fairly cheaply, fmic v tmic, if your in a classic then an fmic over 300bhp would be advisable, all these would reduce the chances of failures occurring.

Tony:)

I've had an EcuTeK map on my car for the last 8 years.......done by Bob Rawle and is sympathetic to the internals of the car and the boost comes on smooth :)

Having said that I've just got an uprated oil pump from AS Performance to fit when I have the engine rebuilt LOL

Shaun

And don't drive it at 140+ for any length of time...........................................

70 mph maximum for me keep it standard and look after it i sound like psl now :lol::D

I too vowed never to exceed 70 mph but it seemed a shame not to use 3rd, 4th and 5th gear as well.............................................. .................................................. ...................

Why can't you thrash s modified car? My bikes have always delivered consistently, despite my heavy throttle hand. Surely the carshould be able to take a vmax run?

:lol: :thumb: PMSL

with the right bits yes. unfortunately its the right bits that cost money. if your on a budget my advice is keep the car standard and enjoy it or else it will only end in tears and you will be scundered.