F4R 172 Cup engine questions

[ex-Chinese Dave]

I had my car tuned by EFI about 18 months ago. The car runs fine but i'm sure recently I can hear a tiny bit of 'pinking' under hard acceleration recently. When it was tuned Chris found that the knock sensor was dead so we fitted his homemade one and that has stayed on since. The car made 168 bhp but it had a crap exhaust on it. Since the tune it's had an OEM spec system fitted (from the CAT back), new leads and a new coil pack. It had already had a full major service before it went in.

Should I order and fit a new knock sensor?

Since they are expensive (around £90) is this one ok to fit? https://www.autodoc.co.uk/ridex/8058948


Should I have another tune done at EFI? (probably will have to pay full price so not cheap and probably not worth it)

 

[JamesBryan]

What fuel are you on?

Shouldn't be getting any knock really on these.

 

[Brigsy]

Before you do anything you need to verify if its actually knocking or not, datalog knock sensor to see if its pulling timing and/or det cans and check the fuelling. Usually if its audiable det itll be causing damage fast.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

What fuel are you on?

Shouldn't be getting any knock really on these.

95 RON

It had the standard map.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Before you do anything you need to verify if its actually knocking or not, datalog knock sensor to see if its pulling timing and/or det cans and check the fuelling. Usually if its audiable det itll be causing damage fast.

I'll test it tomorrow on the M-way. Would anything show up on a code reader?

 

[chazza114]

95 RON

It had the standard map.

I find all 172/182's really suffer if you run them on 95, should really be on 97/99

 

[Brigsy]

I'll test it tomorrow on the M-way. Would anything show up on a code reader?

Not sure depends on what data you can get to show. If you were closer id stick rstuner on it for you to verify knock sensor is doing something or not.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Not sure depends on what data you can get to show. If you were closer id stick rstuner on it for you to verify knock sensor is doing something or not.

Thanks for the offer. Would you suggest I get a new knock sensor and try it if I hear any pinking tomorrow?

 

[Brigsy]

Thanks for the offer. Would you suggest I get a new knock sensor and try it if I hear any pinking tomorrow?

Hard to say being honest, prob wont hurt. If you do change it torque to the correct spec as knock sensors can be very fussy. Im sure its around 20nm torque spec for it but might be wrong without looking.

Are you using your regular source of 95octane or a different garage? Could stick some super unleaded in to see of the noise dissappears

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Hard to say being honest, prob wont hurt. If you do change it torque to the correct spec as knock sensors can be very fussy. Im sure its around 20nm torque spec for it but might be wrong without looking.

Are you using your regular source of 95octane or a different garage? Could stick some super unleaded in to see of the noise dissappears

I always get fuel from Asda at Pilsworth each week. I've not fueled up from anywhere else in months.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Is this the correct part ? https://www.autodoc.co.uk/ridex/8058948?tduid=ee8f24b4229ac52fc28fe7961bb1f1a3

 

[Brigsy]

Looks right from memory. Id go for a valeo one as not much more expensive.

 

[JamesBryan]

May as well run it on Tesco 99.

Way cheaper than V Power.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Looks right from memory. Id go for a valeo one as not much more expensive.

Ordered from Autodoc....and i've ordered the new radiator from there that will be fitted in the summer.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

May as well run it on Tesco 99.

Way cheaper than V Power.

£135.9 at Tesco where i'll move to as opposed to £127.6 for 95 at Asda now. If I need it it's not too much more but I know that it won't give any gains for a standard map.

 

[JamesBryan]

£135.9 at Tesco where i'll move to as opposed to £127.6 for 95 at Asda now. If I need it it's not too much more but I know that it won't give any gains for a standard map.

About £4 over a full tank then.

 

[adamlstr]

Given that the Clio (and its fuel system) is >20 years old, I wouldn't be putting regular supermarket 95 RON E10 fuel anywhere near it.

Far better off putting a Super in, with lower ethanol content, and higher RON.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Given that the Clio (and its fuel system) is >20 years old, I wouldn't be putting regular supermarket 95 RON E10 fuel anywhere near it.

Far better off putting a Super in, with lower ethanol content, and higher RON.

It's had a new fuel pump recently but i'll be giving it a try and see how it goes.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Warmed the engine and took it for a blast tonight. A few goes in second gear up to around 6k and I couldn’t hear anything strange. I just wonder if yesterday I went over some fine grit when giving it some beans

 

[mumpy]

Warmed the engine and took it for a blast tonight. A few goes in second gear up to around 6k and I couldn’t hear anything strange. I just wonder if yesterday I went over some fine grit when giving it some beans

It's all good, send it!

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Aye. New knock sensor can be fitted at next service.

 

[Doogalman]

95 RON

It had the standard map.

I only ever put 98 or 99 in my 172.

 

[-Jamie-]

May as well run it on Tesco 99.

Way cheaper than V Power.

Depends where you are I guess, V-Power is only 3p a litre more here than Momentum

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

The car only had a standard map so I was told that 98 RON won't make any difference to performance.

 

[JamesBryan]

Depends where you are I guess, V-Power is only 3p a litre more here than Momentum

I'd say it's a good 10p a litre difference here.

 

[adamlstr]

The car only had a standard map so I was told that 98 RON won't make any difference to performance.

But high octane will minimise pinking and degradation of fuel lines..

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Ran the 95 fuel down and put half a tank of Tesco Super in on Friday. Car definitely feels a little perkier, as it should. Cost is going to be £1.33 per litre as opposed to £1.23 for 95 RON. Hmmm....

 

[Mertin]

Running a 'performance' car, fuel prices are going to be the least of your worries and you can't neglect some of the costs, whether its fuel or maintenance.
With regards to fuel consumption, these can be fairly economical (for what they are) when driven sensibly / steady runs

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

Agreed. It's giving around 38mpg around town without any M-way runs at the moment. When I move house i'll have to travel further but mostly on a quiet M-way. so I should see over 40mpg.

Oh to be rich......