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Does this look like spark blowout?

Old Jun 10, 2017 | 12:45 PM
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Default Does this look like spark blowout?

LS3
16psi
15 degrees timing
11.0A/F based on my wideband on the DP
BRE7F @ 0.028"
93 + meth #10 and #5 nozzles.

Clucth was slipping some on the dyno (thats why torque was low), but boost was very lazy and it was breaking up near peak power (up top).

The smooth curves were 16psi @ .032 with less airflow (more restriction). I havev added about 20% more airflow with some tweaks to the turbo setup.

*****EDIT: I had some screen shots of the log of run #68 on the dyno.*********
Attached Thumbnails Does this look like spark blowout?-img_6287.jpg   Does this look like spark blowout?-img_6288.jpg   Does this look like spark blowout?-img_6282.jpg   Does this look like spark blowout?-img_6285.jpg   Does this look like spark blowout?-dyno060217.jpg  

Does this look like spark blowout?-1.jpg   Does this look like spark blowout?-2.jpg   Does this look like spark blowout?-3.jpg   Does this look like spark blowout?-4.jpg  
Attached Files
File Type: csv
run68.csv (722.2 KB, 73 views)
File Type: hpl
run68.hpl (160.4 KB, 60 views)

Last edited by RealQuick; Jun 15, 2017 at 08:09 AM.
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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 10:15 AM
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Over 200 views and no opinions
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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 11:38 AM
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Def something going on. What cam/springs? What ecm? May have to tighten the gaps up.
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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by RealQuick
LS3
16psi
15 degrees timing
11.0A/F based on my wideband on the DP
BRE7F @ 0.028"
93 + meth #10 and #5 nozzles.

Clucth was slipping some on the dyno (thats why torque was low), but boost was very lazy and it was breaking up near peak power (up top).

The smooth curves were 16psi @ .032 with less airflow (more restriction). I havev added about 20% more airflow with some tweaks to the turbo setup.
May well be some blowout. But that afr looks like it's a bit lean up top.
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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by 69-chvl
Def something going on. What cam/springs? What ecm? May have to tighten the gaps up.
BTR .660 spring package, Vengeance Stage 2 turbo cam (235/231 .621/.617 115+3).

ECM is stock e38 (2010 Camaro SS).
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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Game ova
May well be some blowout. But that afr looks like it's a bit lean up top.
i am wondering if it's a false lean due to blowout?
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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 12:53 PM
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it makes sense from 4900 to 5000 torque drops and you get a lean spike. Look at a log of the exact dyno pass from 4900 to 5000 and verify the injector DC is still increasing. If you can also verify fuel pressure at that exact moment it would give you the most confidence of losing spark. It is worth noting that if the a/f increased first and then the torque drops due to it, we will not able to tell due to the transient delay of the exhaust driven O2 sensor. It may also be worth noting that in the past when I have dealt with spark blowout it felt more like hitting a rev-limiter, The stop was sudden and obvious.

The gap is already very tight, it would be an enormous hassle to lower it even more just to re-dyno the car to find out that the spark really is blowing out. That is because you wouldn't want to leave the gap that small in my opinion. Prefer gaps around 0.032"+ in most applications. This leaves you adjusting dwell or improving ignition character somehow. In other words, the larger the gap, the better the performance and economy of the engine, any engine, as long as the spark actually makes it. So instead of reducing gap to 'band-aid' the issue, I would rather improve my ignition output somehow and increase the gap.

Last edited by kingtal0n; Jun 11, 2017 at 12:59 PM.
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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 02:07 PM
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Originally Posted by kingtal0n
it makes sense from 4900 to 5000 torque drops and you get a lean spike. Look at a log of the exact dyno pass from 4900 to 5000 and verify the injector DC is still increasing. If you can also verify fuel pressure at that exact moment it would give you the most confidence of losing spark. It is worth noting that if the a/f increased first and then the torque drops due to it, we will not able to tell due to the transient delay of the exhaust driven O2 sensor. It may also be worth noting that in the past when I have dealt with spark blowout it felt more like hitting a rev-limiter, The stop was sudden and obvious.

The gap is already very tight, it would be an enormous hassle to lower it even more just to re-dyno the car to find out that the spark really is blowing out. That is because you wouldn't want to leave the gap that small in my opinion. Prefer gaps around 0.032"+ in most applications. This leaves you adjusting dwell or improving ignition character somehow. In other words, the larger the gap, the better the performance and economy of the engine, any engine, as long as the spark actually makes it. So instead of reducing gap to 'band-aid' the issue, I would rather improve my ignition output somehow and increase the gap.
Thanks for the reply. Nothing looked odd from a fueling perspective (my WB and fuel pressure/inj DC perspective). I'll take a screen shot and post it. My cutouts were open (downstream from my WB, but up stream from the dyno WB.

After the changes this winter (plugs gapped down to 0.028 from 0.032, turbo screen, cutoutS, wastegate dumped to atmosphere, and clutch/driveshaft) I did start getting a p0300 random misfire. When I logged this misfires they would be random jumping around from cylinder to cylinder. I had done some research and apparently a lighter clutch/flywheel assay could trigger this. Maybe it was the plugs gapped down too tight. Some guys have recommended gapping 0.018-0.022 with #8's.

As far as ignition goes, I have the granatelli coils that put out some serious spark... so maybe my car was fine at a bigger gap? Seems like I could go up or down on the gap, but it isn't easy getting to the plugs on the drivers side. I need to drop the DP and remove the exhaust manifold. I'd prefer to do it once. Maybe I should open the gap on the 4 pass side plugs, and log misfires to see they remain on the drivers side?
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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 03:36 PM
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Would need a log to really see whats going on, but .28 shouldn't be a problem on that setup.
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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 06:26 PM
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What dwell are you running the coils at ?

And can you try a set of OEM coils ? Just how well proven are those Granatelli's ?

You're at fairly low boost, spark should not be a problem with any OEM coils.
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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by stevieturbo
What dwell are you running the coils at ?

And can you try a set of OEM coils ? Just how well proven are those Granatelli's ?

You're at fairly low boost, spark should not be a problem with any OEM coils.
thanks for chiming in guys.

Steve - dwell is same as stock. I should email them about the dwell, didn't think of it until you mentioned it.

Not sure how proven the Granatelli's are, but they were used on the other 16# run (the smooth curves on the sheet).

i could try the stock coils again, but the granatelli's were unchanged from previous sessions.
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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 07:42 PM
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lots of guys have made well over 1k whp with stock ignition and lot of guys have had issues with aftermarket stuff so I'd probably swap on some new msd wires and the stock coils and see how it looks. doesn't hurt to check the grounds also?

with good amount of methanol (hard to ignite) and stock 2005 igntion stuff I'm making 900whp easily using same gap and plugs as you
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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 08:00 PM
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yea I run the same gap as well without issues. What fuel pump setup are u running? injectors? I bet its going lean up top. Are u spraying meth? maybe meth kit is acting up?
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 09:55 AM
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can you clarify, I just realized, your smooth curve was a previous dyno session when the car ran "fine"?

Look at the smooth curve at 4900-5000. Notice torque drops significantly. a/f gradually follows but does not precede by much. I think there is something in that particular region causing the drop in torque, perhaps a timing reduction is taking place.

the second curve with all the loopy lines is not very useful for diagnostics. the SOLID line that runs to the end is very heavy with important clues that something is/was causing a drop in torque.
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 12:26 PM
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Default Ignition Coils = 10 AMP

Hi, OK first I have found "mixed" reports with your fitted coils.

The coil you have AND the LS coils are 10 amp coils at best.
I agree they should work fine at your 1 Bar Boost, not sure with Meth Injection.

I would do a "run" with Race Fuel.
I would ALSO like the dwell report ?
I would do a "run" with OEM coils and Race Fuel
I would like to know the SPW brand ?
I would like to know if you used Silicon Grease ?

I "read" you Spark Plugs as good.

Lance
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 01:36 PM
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How does one see spark blow-out looking at a plug? Those plugs look like they have too much run time on them to see anything to me? Is that a new plug with one pull on it and immediate shut down?

Do you run any water in your "meth"? If so, how much? What kind of pressure is the "meth" kit running? I found running much water in the mix can cause spark issues.

Most of the issues people have with OEM coils seem to be linked to the Holley ECU. Either way as suggested gap them down and see if the issue goes away. .015 is what I'd suggest to see if it clears up. Then bump them up slowly form there.
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 02:46 PM
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.28? I had horrendous blow out at .026 dropped it down to .18/.19 and the problem went away.
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 02:50 PM
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That plug gap seems huge to me.
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by oscs
.28? I had horrendous blow out at .026 dropped it down to .18/.19 and the problem went away.
This x2. I threw in a new set of BR7 over winter and never bothered checking the gap, high revs and could feel it blowing out similar to how it had on the dyno when I first experienced it. I think out of the box they were all 028, closed them up to around 020 and no issues at all.
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Old Jun 13, 2017 | 11:28 AM
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Originally Posted by kingtal0n
can you clarify, I just realized, your smooth curve was a previous dyno session when the car ran "fine"?

Look at the smooth curve at 4900-5000. Notice torque drops significantly. a/f gradually follows but does not precede by much. I think there is something in that particular region causing the drop in torque, perhaps a timing reduction is taking place.

the second curve with all the loopy lines is not very useful for diagnostics. the SOLID line that runs to the end is very heavy with important clues that something is/was causing a drop in torque.
To clarify, the smooth lines were the hp/tq @ 16psi at the end of the season last year. Torque fell off dramatically because my boost fell of dramatically. It went from 16psi @ 4500 to 11psi @6k. Because of this I made changes to the car over the winter (specifically ways to unchoke the turbo setup - turbo screen, cutouts, and wg dump to atmosphere).

The wired lines are the hp/tq after the changes (coils have not changed, just plag gap went down from 0.032 to 0.028).

Now, boost does not fall off anymore, but I got something funky happening in the upper rpms.
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