Just pulled my spark plus (*post-NOS-install* info)

[Seedster]

Hey guys,
Just an update on my NOS install. I'm running a 50 shot NOS dry system on my 96 328i w/100K on the odo. I'm running NGK-BKR7E's (one step colder) plugs gapped at .035". I've probably ran about 1/3-1/2 of the 10lb bottle testing it out and making sure everything is ok. My A/F meter goes a TAD bit richer than normal while at WOT which is a good thing. Basically it shows that the extra fuel is being dumped in.

Anyyyyyways, I ended up pulling the plugs tonight and everything was PERFECT. All 6 plugs looked the EXACT same. It basically means distribution to all 6 cylinders was nearly identical. So basically I'm not having any flow problems, yet. I'm gonna be putting on the 70 shot tomorrow and will finish off the bottle with that. Hopefully it'll help solidify my theory that everything is running like it should....perfectly (*knock on wood*).

A question I have though. The last 3-4 threads on the end of the plugs were a little black. Is this normal? Like the tips, electrode, and ground strap were all perfectly clean...just the last few threads had some carbon build up. Does this mean I'm running rich or is that normal (I've only had the plugs in for about 3 weeks...with only 3 days of nitrous use). I kind of want it to be rich so when I slap the extra 20 shot of nitrous in....I wont be leaning out. If you can help me out...cool....if not....that's ok too...im gonna be pulling the plugs anyways after this bottle is done.

I'm picking up a bottle warmer and a blanket in the next week or so. The bottle is supposed to be at around 70-80F or so....with this weather....its probably at around 50ish..VERY cold to the touch.....hopefully it'll help the nitrous hit harder.....we'll see. Take it easy guys and sorry for the rambling....just wanted to fill you guys in on my NOS progress. Laters!

[Khoalty]

Did you put anti-seeze on there? It also could be that it just picked it up from your last spark plugs, if I am correct you change them hella late like I did.

Khoa

[SpeedDae///Mon]

Seedster... did you install the kit yourself or did you have a shop do it? If you had a shop do it which one? I am in LA and have a kit but have not installed it yet. Also did you do a compression test before the install?

[Khoalty]

Seed installed it himself and I can say, it looks really stealth and very clean. When he popped his hood, I couldn't tell where he put everything. Most stuff in his hood looked OEM.

khoa

[SpeedDae///Mon]

sorry refreshed the page and it reposted... so was the install hard? did he have to get a fuel pressure regulator?

[Khoalty]

When I talked to him, he said the install was medium, but then again Seed rips his car apart and puts it back together. Its not no one day job where you can put an intake in. Don't take this the wrong way, he just took about two days or so to do the whole install. How do I know all this info, that foo is in my class.

Khoa

[e39dinan]

Is that car gonna be on campus tomorrow???

-DanB

[Khoalty]

None of our cars are, you might see a white truck in service yard but that's it.

Khoa

[luckybmw]

where'd you get the plugs at saeed?

[JayT]

oh damn...i didn't kno Seedster goes to UCSD also....Seedster do you usually drive to school?

[Bodhi]

Originally posted by Seedster
A question I have though. The last 3-4 threads on the end of the plugs were a little black. Is this normal?

Seedster,

How long after the last nitrous pass did you wait till you checked the plugs. Your car could be running rich while on a nitrous pass, but if you drive around then the normal driving could clean the plug off. That would explain why the the plugs are black around the threads. In our mustang, we make a nitrous pass, and once I cross the finish line, I shut the car off, and coast around on the return road to a safe place to stop, then I get out and pull plugs to check them. That way there on contamination from driving around the pits. If you could find a place where you can make a pass, then shut the car off, and then pull over and check the plugs, that would be the best way to tell what the car is doing under a nitrous load.

I'm picking up a bottle warmer and a blanket in the next week or so. The bottle is supposed to be at around 70-80F or so....with this weather....its probably at around 50ish..VERY cold to the touch.....hopefully it'll help the nitrous hit harder

You may also want to pick up a nitrous pressure gauge. If you bottle is only 50F, then your pressure is probably around 800-900psi. Your bottle pressure should be around 1000-1050psi. When I put the NOS kit on my 95 325, the bottle was cold, and I could barley feel, if I could feel it at all. I came back and heated the bottle and it was a world of difference. BTW, you would be surprised just how much dropping 50 psi of bottle pressure will affect how hard the nitrous hits. We were having problems with the mustang wanting to wheel stand one night at the track, so I came around and dropped the bottle pressure from 1050psi to 1000psi, the car left softer, but run the same time. Be careful to not over heat the bottle, because if you get it to hot, it will raise the pressure to much, and the small NOS solenoids will not open under the extreme pressure. I had this problem with the purge solenoids on the mustang, I would heat the bottle up in the pits, and when I got to the starting line the small solenoids on the purge wouldn't open. I ended up putting a big (pro shot) solenoids on it.

I've been running nitrous on different cars for years, so if you have any questions, just ask.

Scott

[JohnSergio]

of course it will look stealth
only things to hide pretty much are the solenoids and where it feeds into the intake...its not a hard isntall to do yourself, and if i had over 80k miles, i would have gotten a compression check to be safe

[Bodhi]

Originally posted by DoMiNiK232is
of course it will look stealth
only things to hide pretty much are the solenoids and where it feeds into the intake...its not a hard isntall to do yourself

It's a little more difficult to install than you think. The fuel pressure regulator is at the back of the intake, and it is a real b*tch to get to. And you have to T off of the existing feed fuel line. I wouldn't say it was hard, it just took longer that I expected because I completely hid the kit. I've got some pics at home of my install, I'll try to post them later. I could take some pics with it on the car, but you wouldn't be able to see it.

[Seedster]

Originally posted by luckybmw
where'd you get the plugs at saeed?

got them at www.summitracing.com They were only $1.99/ea

Originally posted by JayT
oh damn...i didn't kno Seedster goes to UCSD also....Seedster do you usually drive to school?

Never drive to school since I live literally right across the street from campus although you MAY see my car around every once in a while.

Originally posted by Bodhi
Be careful to not over heat the bottle, because if you get it to hot, it will raise the pressure to much, and the small NOS solenoids will not open under the extreme pressure. I had this problem with the purge solenoids on the mustang, I would heat the bottle up in the pits, and when I got to the starting line the small solenoids on the purge wouldn't open. I ended up putting a big (pro shot) solenoids on it.

How do you change how much you want to heat the bottle up? Does the warmer have an adjustment on it? I thought it just heats it up to 75F degrees-ish anyways....does it not? Will I have a problem with the solenoids sticking if im only running a 75 shot? Or does the shot not matter but instead the pressure coming from the bottle?

Originally posted by Bodhi

It's a little more difficult to install than you think. The fuel pressure regulator is at the back of the intake, and it is a real b*tch to get to. And you have to T off of the existing feed fuel line. I wouldn't say it was hard, it just took longer that I expected because I completely hid the kit.

What's worse is that on a 328.....the FPR is underneath the car beneath the driver's seat under a shield. Meaning you have to run vacuum lines basically to and from it (sorta). It was DEFINITLY a bitch and nothing close to an "easy to hide" install. I hid all the solenoids/wiring inside my ECIS heat shield beneath the cone filter. I'll have pics up by the end of this weekend....it looks awesome

[e39dinan]

Hey, seedseter, I'm pretty close to campus too. It's about a 10 minute walk down Regents Rd to get to the regent lot bus stop, then 10 more min to the price center!!!

-DanB