It appears your ATS-V is experiencing some performance issues, and we’ve pinpointed a few key areas that need immediate attention to restore your horsepower. Let’s break down the diagnostic insights and formulate a plan to get your vehicle running optimally again.
Firstly, the data indicates a high ethanol content of 60%. The factory fuel system in your ATS-V is designed for a maximum of around 10% ethanol when boost levels are increased. Upgrading the Low-Pressure Fuel Pump (LPFP) and incorporating a fuel cam typically enhances fuel system capacity by roughly 25%, allowing support for up to E47 fuel mixtures. However, at E60, your fuel system is likely struggling to meet the engine’s fuel demand. This fuel limitation is a critical factor impacting your ATS-V’s horsepower.
Secondly, the Manifold Air Temperature (MAT) consistently registering at 173 degrees Fahrenheit throughout your test run is a clear indication of an intercooler malfunction. This constant high MAT reading suggests the intercooler is not effectively cooling the intake air charge. It’s a common issue in ATS-V models for the intercooler system to require refilling and bleeding to ensure proper coolant circulation and heat exchange. An inefficient intercooler significantly reduces engine performance and can trigger the intercooler protection table, which we see is currently pegged in your data. For engine safety, it’s strongly advised to reduce the intercooler protection table settings above 154 degrees to prevent potential damage from overheating.
Thirdly, while the system is commanding maximum wastegate duty cycle, and the ECM is continuously increasing its command, the boost pressure remains stagnant between 6 to 8 psi. Given that ATS-V wastegates are vacuum-controlled, the most probable cause is a vacuum leak in the boost control circuit. A common culprit is a disconnected vacuum hose, and our experience suggests checking the passenger side, specifically the top rear of the intake manifold. Reconnecting a likely unplugged hose there should restore your boost pressure dramatically. However, due to the ethanol and intercooler issues already identified, we strongly advise against pushing the car to Wide Open Throttle (WOT) until these issues are resolved.
Here’s our recommended action plan to restore your ATS-V’s performance and horsepower:
- Reduce Ethanol Content: Drain the E60 fuel from your tank and refill with gasoline to lower the ethanol concentration.
- Intercooler Service: Fill and bleed the intercooler system to ensure proper cooling and reduce MAT.
- Boost Leak Resolution: Locate and repair the vacuum leak in the boost control system, particularly checking the passenger side intake manifold hose.
- Gasoline Tuning: Tune the car initially on gasoline to establish a baseline and ensure all systems are functioning correctly.
- Flex Fuel Enablement: Enable flex fuel capabilities in your tuning setup.
- E30 Tuning: Tune for an E30 ethanol blend to gradually introduce ethanol and optimize performance.
- E47 Fine Tuning: Fine-tune the car at E47 to maximize performance within the safe operating limits of your upgraded fuel system.
We are equipped to assist you with each of these steps. For direct support and further consultation, please contact us at [email protected]. Let’s get your ATS-V performing at its peak potential.
