New to Stage 3!!

[Grinster24]

Well, sort of.

I just finished putting in my GIAC Stage 3- software, 5 bar fpr, and Hitachi MAF. The car is faster than I expected and throttle response is great. I love the feeling of 17psi! Now I can't wait till I can finally go full stage 3 and be up around 400whp.

Only problem is a little sputering or hesitation around 3300 rpm. I think I need to change the plugs and put a smaller gap on them. Does anyone know what the correct plug gap should be?

[Quattrocket]

I believe most people are running at .028.

[RogueStatus]

I believe most people are running at .028.

thats what i hear...stock is .032 i think

[Don Supreme]

What turbo?

[Allaidback]

what plugs are you going with and are you going to change out the coil packs too?

[Dimcorner]

is 17psi the normal Stg 3 boost?
What if I wanted a boost setting at 15psi or so (maybe better longevity on the turbos).

I'm contemplating going that route (got the turbos, thinking on what to do next) but with slightly lower boost.

[AudiSportB5S4]

is 17psi the normal Stg 3 boost?
What if I wanted a boost setting at 15psi or so (maybe better longevity on the turbos).

I'm contemplating going that route (got the turbos, thinking on what to do next) but with slightly lower boost.

no, however 17PSI on Stage 3- (K04 turbo upgrade on stock fueling) with upgraded FPR is normal...If you go too much higher you will lean out the motor because your injectors on 3- are being maxed out....

I was stage 3- for 5 months with VAST... only downside to 3- is the 5 bar FPR can stress your stock fuel pump to its limits and sometimes cause them to die early. Some threads on AW show that....

Typically a stage 3 file will hit 22-24/25 PSI and taper to 20-22 depending on file and location... Someone with pump 93 can hit 24 psi with K04s, which is right around the top of their effienciency range. Running lower boost *wont nessasarily* help the longevity, what will is proper care, which is NOT hitting any boost until oil temps are up around 175-200 minimum and obviously the water temps as well. At the time your oil is up there your coolant is too. And then after a few pulls or whatever you do, staying out of boost the last mile or so from shutdown and then a 30second idle will help not create gunky oil buildup @ the turbo

[Grinster24]

Well I was told I can just change the plugs to see if that is the problem with the sputering. As far as I know the coils are good and do not need to be changed. I'm new to working on my S4...are spark plugs a difficult task to handle?

[Calif_Kid]

Changing the spark plugs is pretty easy - just takes a little time and patience. There is a good write up at http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng.html with the article around 3/4 the way down the page in the A6,allroad section labeled 'Spark Plug Swap (C5, 2.7t)'. I usually just take the whole airbox out instead of just the top half. You will just need to figure out what plugs to use - SFTA as there are different opinions on what plugs are best for the various stages. - Jim (Calif_Kid)

[SpoolPastYou]

it sounds like a gapping issue, change the plugs, my guess is run the coldest plugs you can get...like audisport said, never hit boost, if you have a gauge this is actually very easy to do...these cars have ALOT of torque, so getting through revs without going into boost is real easy..sometimes ill drive the car for a few days without ever bringing it into boost...or anything past a feathered 5lbs (on accident) i ran a 00 turbo si on a stock block for over a year...stock bottom ends on a honda with good tunes shouldnt see anything over 12psi..my tune was awesome but the WG spring i had in it would spike to 16lbs...16lbs on a stock honda block 10.1:1 compression! but the tune was awesome and i warmed it up and cooled it down 5min for both no matter what and i never hit boost unless i was racing..as a matter of fact the car never even over heated and it was on a stock radiator and it made 317 whp to the crank...loved that car

[updaboost]

no, however 17PSI on Stage 3- (K04 turbo upgrade on stock fueling) with upgraded FPR is normal...If you go too much higher you will lean out the motor because your injectors on 3- are being maxed out....

I was stage 3- for 5 months with VAST... only downside to 3- is the 5 bar FPR can stress your stock fuel pump to its limits and sometimes cause them to die early. Some threads on AW show that....

Typically a stage 3 file will hit 22-24/25 PSI and taper to 20-22 depending on file and location... Someone with pump 93 can hit 24 psi with K04s, which is right around the top of their effienciency range. Running lower boost *wont nessasarily* help the longevity, what will is proper care, which is NOT hitting any boost until oil temps are up around 175-200 minimum and obviously the water temps as well. At the time your oil is up there your coolant is too. And then after a few pulls or whatever you do, staying out of boost the last mile or so from shutdown and then a 30second idle will help not create gunky oil buildup @ the turbo

Are you at 400whp yet??

[Grinster24]

I heard that the stock plugs are best. Someone said that platinum plugs don't seem to respond well to boost? So the plugs should be gaped @ .28?

[SLC_S4]

I heard that the stock plugs are best. Someone said that platinum plugs don't seem to respond well to boost? So the plugs should be gaped @ .28?

Try out some bosch F5DPOR side fire plugs. They're pre-gapped. I put them in a little over a week ago and love them. I'm APR stage 3

[Rajan147]

what kind of longevity out of the FireSides? Copper need to be changed about every oil change but they are cheap compared to the firesides.

although i probably could have searched for this data.

[SLC_S4]

They're a platin plug.....I'd say longevity should be about 50k miles. Someone correct me if I'm wrong

[Grinster24]

Well I was thinking of going with NGK BKR7E's but no one has them in stock. There is only one place local that carries the Bosch F5DPOR's and they are $12 a plug!?

However I was told I need the plugs gapped @ .28 yet the pregapped ones everyone is saying to get are gapped stock @ .32? Any help. Thanks