Head to Head with WRX

[JohnM]

Well, I had one of those rare opportunities the come up to the stopsign next to a WRX near my office this morning. He had obviously seen my stage 1 badge because he gunned it up next to me to let me know he was there before the stopsign. It was a big road but it was obviously going to be a short and low key run because of discretion near what is undoubted both of our work location. I felt very confident I was going to be able to show him my stage 1 badge again. I feathered into the throttle, rather than hammer it down, so as not to encounter wheel spin. I got out a little ahead and then experienced what I can only describe as short bog similar to a carberated car. At that point he jumped ahead of me. Then my boost came back on and I was up next to him. By then we'd probably hit only 40 or 45 and both backed off. We smiled and nodded at each other for the unexpected bit of fun.

So what the h*ll was that bog? It wasn't like the traction control intervention - I don't think - because it was more pronounced than that. It felt more like the drop in boost that happens when the autosticks shift from 1st to 2nd with stage 0, only more. I've never experienced it before, it usually feels like I could spin the tires at will through 1st gear if i wanted to (w/o track) because of so much seamless power. I've got Mopar plug wires and new plugs gapped at .045.

Any thoughts on what marred my otherwise unexected bit of fun?

[crazie.eddie]

What mods, if any, did you have?

[PTGT Redman]

I get that a little coming in 2nd and 3rd gear when I mash the pedal. Prolly some turbo lag, cause it spools right up just after that.
You won't feel the lag at partial throttle, but when you really let on it, you'll feel it. I hjave S1 as well, and notice the same thing you do.
Rob

[JohnM]

Crazyeddie -

Stage 1, Mopar: plug wires, drop in filter & exhaust. Maxxfab downpipe. Of these, only the computer could have caused what I experienced - I think.

Redman -

It wasn't turbo lag. The boost was on but then was obviously dropped temporarily for some reason. I don't think it was trac control, but maybe.

[Dragula]

This is just a guess: It's possible that the knock sensor picked something up and pulled timing and boost momentarily. That doen't necessarily mean anything's wrong. If it's a consistently repeatable thing that's different.

[JohnM]

Dragula - That sounds about right.

I wondered about my gas - it's a new tank of 93 octane Exxon, but one never knows. I don't drive my car hard and rarely even go to WOT, but I've never had this effect before. I was just at the office, so I haven't had a chance to test it to see if it repeats. Side note: my parking lot neighbor thought I was waiting for her to get out of my way before I turned my engine off and got out of my car....the masses just don't know about turbo cool down. She just couldn't rest until I got out of my car. [:0]

I've read about spark blowout - is that something that would feel like what I described?

[PTGT Redman]

Hey John,
Didn't mean to detract...
in retrospect, I have a similar problem. When I am in second and hit the gas, I feel a pause and feels like the car is doing nothing for a second before it kicks. I know it's not lag, cause I can hear the turbo spooling. I was concerned about spark issues. I have put nothing but premium in the tank from the get go.

[JohnM]

Redman - all input is appreciated. I consider our cars to have so little turbo lag in general as to be negligible. The only other turbo car I've owned was the definition of turbo lag - a '79 Mustang pace car turbo. That thing made 5 hp until 5,800 rpm, when it went to about 150. Redline was 6,000. What a piece!!!! I have no idea what I was thinking when I bought that. Well ... I guess it was sexy for my age bracket back then.

[PTGT_Boy]

For the 5-Speed, I don't get have too much turbo lag starting from 2nd gear. However, when going 2nd to 3rd I get a brief second of hestiation quick shifting into 3rd (I can hear the turbo spooling back up again, and feel the shock of the transition from 2nd to 3rd).

Stage 1 and Stage 0 felt the same going from 2nd to 3rd (same jolt and pause).

[retroman715]

Guys,

I smoked a non-stock WRX a few days ago. I heard his blow-off valve as he did a ricer fly-by after I spanked him. We had a good run. I got a good jump on him in 1st and then just held it all the way into 3rd. Wasn't even close. I have Stage 1,BTG intake, guage pod and a hallman pro RX manual boost controller thats turned up the fun factor to 15 PSI.

retroman [8)]

keep on cruizin and Bruzin