K04-015, with otherwise stock engine.

[Aragorn]

Trying to find the viability of running a K04 on an otherwise standard engine, wether anyones done it and what sort of power it made?

I have two A4's, one the wife drives and i'd like to keep fairly stock in the engine department, and my own car that i like to fiddle with.

The turbo on the wifes has had it, so i've picked up a K04 to go on in its place. Now i realise i could just bolt it on and run stock tune and stay on stock power, but now that extra headroom is there, i'm wondering how far we can take it, without getting into the world of starting to upgrade the exhaust/intercooler/etc etc etc.

Furthermore, if you were to make one single modification to get more out of it, what would it be?

I'm thinking it would be between an intercooler upgrade, and a bigger downpipe with sports cat.

[Seerlah]

I would personally do the setup proper with supporting mods.

[redline380]

You can run a k04 with all sorts of upgrades no problem but you won't see much in the way of extra power until you get a tune

[Aragorn]

Seerlah: If it were my own car then sure, but this is a car that rarely gets driven hard, and i'd find it hard to justify going all out and installing a big intercooler, test pipe, big MAF, big injectors etc etc etc.

The car will be custom mapped anyway, i dont do off the shelf tunes.

If it were a case of "you'll make 190hp unless you upgrade the intercooler, at which point you'll be good for 220" then i could justify an intercooler upgrade. At the end of the day though, the stock maf and injectors are flat out around 235hp, and i really dont want to get into replacing those, so that sets my upper bound. I suspect i'll be nearing the flow limits of the turbo at that point anyway.

[DeathKing]

Seerlah: If it were my own car then sure, but this is a car that rarely gets driven hard, and i'd find it hard to justify going all out and installing a big intercooler, test pipe, big MAF, big injectors etc etc etc.

The car will be custom mapped anyway, i dont do off the shelf tunes.

If it were a case of "you'll make 190hp unless you upgrade the intercooler, at which point you'll be good for 220" then i could justify an intercooler upgrade. At the end of the day though, the stock maf and injectors are flat out around 235hp, and i really dont want to get into replacing those, so that sets my upper bound. I suspect i'll be nearing the flow limits of the turbo at that point anyway.

Single best would be a tune which you already doing and I'd say second would be a test-pipe to bigger downpipe or in your case a HFC.

[morzechowski]

You can get the injectors, MAF, and tune then call it a day.


Required Hardware:

380 cc injectors (real S3/225TT 380 or Deka 1 Siemens 380)
225 TT 3inch OD MAF with real TT sensor not golf jetta (Part number: 06A906461EX)
k04 turbo

Recommended:
2.5-3.0 inch. turbo back exhaust with a quality CAT.
104 octane for best performance in Race mode. 100 Octane performs well if not blended with pump fuel.
Turbo inlet hose to prevent collapse if a lot of power is attained.
F - N75 valve works best
Intake: long tube CAIs or stock air boxes, or short if velocity stacked properly.
Green Coolant temp sensor.
Upgraded intercooler with less than 2 psi boost drop and IATs less than 50 deg. C. sustained.

Taken from GIACusa.com then edited a bit. Also, this is info for a 2001 awm. not sure what you have.

[Seerlah]

If you are going custom tune, max out that MAF, stock injectors, place in 5 bar fpr, etc just like the j-31 file. You won't be replacing much stuff. And the stock exhaust is just silly at less than 2" with a retarded call count cat converter (can't recall number, but it was up there). That is the first thing I ever upgraded, engine wise, on my vehicle. Basically, you can do all that stuff without making the vehicle like a "tuner" vehicle. Just choose your parts accordingly. And it can really be done with not much expense. For example, a cheap ebay intercooler will be just fine for the k04. Along with that, cheap ebay silicone turbo inlet pipe.

[Aragorn]

I have an AJL, which is more or less an AEB engine but came factory tuned to 180hp

No off the shelf tune exists for this ECU, hence it will be a custom job.
I'll leave it up to the tuner to decide on MAF and injector choices as appropriate.

Interesting that GIAC say that both the exhaust and intercooler is recommended but not required.

So has anyone ever run something like that GIAC tune, with an otherwise standard engine ie exhaust/intercooler etc.

[morzechowski]

I have an AJL, which is more or less an AEB engine but came factory tuned to 180hp

No off the shelf tune exists for this ECU, hence it will be a custom job.
I'll leave it up to the tuner to decide on MAF and injector choices as appropriate.

Interesting that GIAC say that both the exhaust and intercooler is recommended but not required.

So has anyone ever run something like that GIAC tune, with an otherwise standard engine ie exhaust/intercooler etc.

I edited that list for you. I think GIAC did have the IC listed as required, but really its not so i moved it. A local buddy of mine has been running his APR stage 3 kit on his stock side mount for almost 5 years now with no problems.

[blackwat5r]

I have an AJL, which is more or less an AEB engine but came factory tuned to 180hp

No off the shelf tune exists for this ECU, hence it will be a custom job.
I'll leave it up to the tuner to decide on MAF and injector choices as appropriate.

Interesting that GIAC say that both the exhaust and intercooler is recommended but not required.

So has anyone ever run something like that GIAC tune, with an otherwise standard engine ie exhaust/intercooler etc.

Of course you could run the k04 without an upgraded exhaust and intercooler, but there would be a noticeable difference in performance.

A less restrictive exhaust (with high flow cat or catless) will give you a few hundred rpm quicker spool up time as well as added hp/tq.

An upgraded intercooler will ensure you're not losing the power that you're already making by decreasing the chance of heatsoak (which would cause a lot of timing to be pulled)

If you're still on the fence, you could always add an exhaust/intercooler later, but if you're going with a custom tune- it'd be beneficial to have those in place while being tuned.

[EErie B6]

If you are going to bother at all modding at all, even if you don't do the K04, I would still recommend an intercooler upgrade. You will still see decent gains even on a mild K03 tune.

...with a K04 I would upgrade it for sure. Just a simple Apikol SMIC would be fine.

[B5 Quattro]

Any Links to the stuff you guys are talking about ??
(Pics)

[offroader1006]

I have an AJL, which is more or less an AEB engine but came factory tuned to 180hp

No off the shelf tune exists for this ECU, hence it will be a custom job.
I'll leave it up to the tuner to decide on MAF and injector choices as appropriate.

Interesting that GIAC say that both the exhaust and intercooler is recommended but not required.

So has anyone ever run something like that GIAC tune, with an otherwise standard engine ie exhaust/intercooler etc.

I ran my k04-015 for a long time with just a sport cat and the GIAC standard tune. They recommend the exhaust and intercooler because of the higher pressure, which creates more heat.

It isnt required because your ECU can retard your timing to avoid detonation. The K04 with test pipe and tune will be a huge improvement over a stock motor.

[rockersteady]

Trying to find the viability of running a K04 on an otherwise standard engine, wether anyones done it and what sort of power it made?

I have two A4's, one the wife drives and i'd like to keep fairly stock in the engine department, and my own car that i like to fiddle with.

The turbo on the wifes has had it, so i've picked up a K04 to go on in its place. Now i realise i could just bolt it on and run stock tune and stay on stock power, but now that extra headroom is there, i'm wondering how far we can take it, without getting into the world of starting to upgrade the exhaust/intercooler/etc etc etc.

Furthermore, if you were to make one single modification to get more out of it, what would it be?

I'm thinking it would be between an intercooler upgrade, and a bigger downpipe with sports cat.

yes absolutely, but not entirely nessecary , there will be a slight bottle neck at upper rev WOT but how long are you at upper ev WOT? Egts will rise (momentarilly- shes not tracking it or street racing?)
same goes with intercooler- not necessary for her car.

Ive run k04, and FTurbo type hybrid on stock car (upgraded clutch) with k04 tunes no dramas for short bursts.

wack a hybrid on, run a k04 file and youll be maxing out your maf (Thats how much power) in no time (short burst= no dramas) all on stock AJL.
In summer, in Australia. youre in Scotland you dont need an intercooler.

my stock play arounds getting a dose of maestro 7 (starting from stock stage 1 base file) in next few days, then im adding meth and will be dynoing both my AJL sig car and the stock AJL, both on Maestro 7 in the annual Sydney VAG dyno day, end of April.

[pichno]

If you are going custom tune, max out that MAF, stock injectors, place in 5 bar fpr, etc just like the j-31 file. You won't be replacing much stuff. And the stock exhaust is just silly at less than 2" with a retarded call count cat converter (can't recall number, but it was up there). That is the first thing I ever upgraded, engine wise, on my vehicle. Basically, you can do all that stuff without making the vehicle like a "tuner" vehicle. Just choose your parts accordingly. And it can really be done with not much expense. For example, a cheap ebay intercooler will be just fine for the k04. Along with that, cheap ebay silicone turbo inlet pipe.

Is GIAC the only company to make the K04/5BAR tune on stock injectors? I've been reading so threads from 2005 mentioning that the older software versions had throttle cut issues. My software came from Speedtuning, however Oliver refuses to tell me who wrote the damn thing. He just said he gets his software from different places depending on what it is and for which type of vehicle. I'd like to know about the version I have an all of that in order to troubleshoot all the issues I'm having. Maybe I can just bring it to a local GIAC dealer and see if he can hook the ECU up and tell me more?

[B5A4coastie]

I would give the wife your k03 and slap the k04 on your A4 and let the modding begin!

[Avant Nate]

Is GIAC the only company to make the K04/5BAR tune on stock injectors? I've been reading so threads from 2005 mentioning that the older software versions had throttle cut issues. My software came from Speedtuning, however Oliver refuses to tell me who wrote the damn thing. He just said he gets his software from different places depending on what it is and for which type of vehicle. I'd like to know about the version I have an all of that in order to troubleshoot all the issues I'm having. Maybe I can just bring it to a local GIAC dealer and see if he can hook the ECU up and tell me more?

You two love necrobumping. Since you are AWM, your tuner probably gets the file s from nefarious. Check it out.
http://www.nefariousmotorsports.com/forum/

[pichno]

You two love necrobumping. Since you are AWM, your tuner probably gets the file s from nefarious. Check it out.
http://www.nefariousmotorsports.com/forum/

Whoa! Never heard of it, and it's confusing as heck to me when I browse.....

[Avant Nate]

Whoa! Never heard of it, and it's confusing as heck to me when I browse.....

It's a community sourced tuning, where they share tunes. Much more popular with the S4 and B6 community, wHo share the same engine as you. It's a lot more complicated, but near free if you understand it, of which I do not.

[pichno]

It's a community sourced tuning, where they share tunes. Much more popular with the S4 and B6 community, wHo share the same engine as you. It's a lot more complicated, but near free if you understand it, of which I do not.

lol that makes two of us bud.....