DO I NEED DIFFERENT SPARK PLUGS FOR HIGHER BOOST ON MY CAR?
A: Yes. We generally recommend using colder plugs when increasing the horsepower output of an engine. Please contact our sales office for more information.

CAN YOUR 16G-KILLER GET MY ECLIPSE INTO THE LOW 12’S OR HIGH 11’S?
A:Yes. This kit can deliver the performance that you need to get 12 and 11-second time-slips. However, this depends on how your particular car is set up and on your driving ability. Horsepower is not the only issue here. You must factor in the weight of the vehicle as well as your ability to leave the line.

WHICH ARE BETTER, EXTERNAL OR INTERNAL WASTEGATES?
A: In general, external wastegates will outperform internal units. They are both larger and more reliable. However, having a properly sized internal wastegate for your specific application eliminates the need and the added cost for an external unit.

IS THE POWER FC UNIVERSAL?
A: No. The Power FC is application specific.

IS THE 16G KILLER LIKE A 18G OR 20G?
A: Actually, the XS Engineering 16G-Killer is not at all similar to the Mitsubishi 18G or 20G compressor sections. Although it is physically smaller, the 16G-Killer is optimized for performance in real-world driving conditions. We have specifically designed it as a high-end alternative for the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries TD05-16G turbocharger. Not only is it a higher quality turbocharger with superior aerodynamics, it is also a true stainless-steel ball bearing turbocharger. With both superior flow and response characteristics, the 16G-Killer has become the logical choice for Eclipse owners who are seeking an upgrade that “one-ups” the status quo.

DO YOUR TURBOCHARGERS COME WITH A WARRANTY?
A: Yes. We will warrant our turbochargers against manufacturer defects for 30 days. If you feel your turbocharger suffers from such defects, please contact our office for instructions on sending in your turbo for inspection by our Turbocharger Department. A copy of your invoice will be required at the time of inspection.

WILL YOU MAKE CUSTOM INTERCOOLER AND/OR TURBOCHARGER SYSTEMS?
A: Yes. XS Engineering has finally reopened our fabrication facilities to the public. We can custom fabricate both intercooler and turbocharger systems. Simply call our office to schedule a time for us to inspect your vehicle and to discuss your needs.

CAN YOU DYNO-TUNE MY CAR?
A: Yes. Our 1200 horsepower Dynojet 248e 2-Wheel drive and 1500 horsepower DTS 4-wheel drive dynamometers are available to the public for dyno-tuning and power-checks. Please call our office to schedule an appointment.

HOW MUCH BOOST CAN I SAFELY RUN IN MY CAR?
A: This is a question that cannot be easily answered simply because there are too many variables to be accounted for. We feel that this question would be best answered by your tuner or, in the event that you do not have one, a professional engine tuner that has experience working with your particular type of engine.

WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF BOOST THAT THE 16G-KILLER CAN PRODUCE?
A: This is actually determined by the specific engine that the 16G-Killer is being used on. If we were to generalize, however, we would have to suggest <25psi on most modified 4G63 engines.

WILL MY STOCK ECU ON MY MAZDA RX-7 WORK WITH THE XS SINGLE TURBO KIT?
A: No. To handle the enormous amounts of additional airflow, ideally you would want to use a stand-alone fuel injection system like the A’PEXi PowerFC.

IS THE A’PEXi POWER FC COMPARABLE TO OTHER “STAND-ALONE” FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS?
A: The PowerFC is actually a very powerful stand-alone fuel injection system. The major advantage of the PowerFC is that it makes use of the factory wiring harness and sensors so that installation is a simple plug-in affair. Some of the PowerFC’s tuning parameters include: ignition timing map, air flow meter signal adjustment, injector pulse timing adjustment, boost control, acceleration enrichment compensation, ignition cranking fuel adjustment, water temperature correction, and rev-limiter control. In addition, when using the optional FD commander, all parameters including water temperature, oil temperature, and oil pressure can be monitored from the display.

WHY DO YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT MY CAMSHAFT SPECS ARE WHEN YOU ARE SIZING MY TURBOCHARGER?
A: To properly size a turbocharger for any application, we would need to know a great deal about the environment in which this turbocharger will be operating. A turbocharger is gas-driven turbine and its performance is ultimately linked to the engine and its characteristics. The engine’s camshafts are only one of the many variables that are of importance to turbocharger sizing.

WHY DO SOME SHOPS PORT AND CLIP THEIR TURBOCHARGERS WHEN YOU DO NOT?
A: Porting and clipping are band-aids for incorrect turbo sizing. The turbine housing needs to be ported only if it is too small to begin with while the turbine wheel needs to be clipped if it is too small to begin with. By selecting the proper size turbine housing and turbine wheel, no porting or clipping is needed.

WHAT SHOULD MY FUEL PRESSURE BE SET AT?
A: Fuel pressure should not be altered from factory unless your modifications require it.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY ENGINE IS DETONATING?
A: Pre-ignition, knocking, or detonation usually sounds like an erratic, high-pitched noise emitting from the engine. Another telltale sign of detonation are white specks on the spark plug electrode. Because the average person is unfamiliar with the sound of detonation, engine tuning should be left to a professional. Detonation can cause serious damage to pistons and combustion chambers.

WHICH TYPE OF BOOST CONTROLLER IS BETTER, SOLENOID OR STEPPER MOTOR?
A: While stepper motors are quieter, they are also slower to respond. Solenoid boost controllers are much faster responding but are louder. While solenoids can be mounted in a way so that they are virtually silent, you cannot get a stepper motor to respond faster than a solenoid type. We recommend solenoid type boost controllers like the Apex AVC-R.

WHY SHOULD I BUY AN XS ENGINEERING TURBOCHARGER; WHAT MAKES IT BETTER?
A: If most of your engine’s horsepower is coming from turbocharging, then the turbocharger is just as important as selecting engine parts like camshafts and pistons. Proper sizing of a turbocharger will either make or break your car. With the large amount of different wheel and housing combinations that are available, it is easy for a “turbo shop” without enough practical experience to give you a turbo that simply will not work properly for your application. XS Engineering has an extensive in house R&D program where we work extensively on different engine and turbocharger combinations. Most other turbo houses DO NOT have any hands on experience. Our R&D program allows us to have the knowledge of what turbocharger configurations will work best for your specific application.

CAN YOU MAKE A TURBO KIT FOR MY CAR?
A: Although we can build custom turbocharger systems for just about any car, we currently offer complete bolt-on turbo systems for the 2nd generation Mitsubishi Eclipse (D32, D33), 3rd generation RX-7 (FD3S), and the 95+ Nissan 240SX (S14). Very shortly, turbocharger kits will be released for the 94+ Acura Integra. These units are in their final production stages. Our bolt-on systems will perform like custom kits without the added expense and downtime of a one-off system.

CAN YOU MAKE A CUSTOM PROGRAM FOR MY PowerFC?
A: Real time tuning on your vehicle is possible for all 2WD and 4wd vehicles on our dynamometer.

WHICH XS ENGINEERING POWER I/C IS THE RIGHT SIZE FOR ME?
A: There is no such thing as too much intercooler. The bigger the intercooler, the better. However, due to the space constraints found on most import cars, intercooler sizing is often dictated by the physical amount of space available and/or the amount of fabrication a customer is willing to pay for. As a general rule, we would suggest using the 20" x 11" PowerI/C for applications up to 550hp, and the 24" x 11" PowerI/C for applications up to 700hp.

IS A TUBE AND FIN I/C BETTER THAN A STACKED PLATE I/C?
A: Tube and fin coolers are better for several reasons. They are less expensive to produce, they are FAR lighter in weight, and they have less pressure drop across the core. Stacked plate coolers are effective for cooling, but they are expensive and heavy.

CAN I USE AN EGT METER TO DETERMINE IF I’M RUNNING RICH OR LEAN?
A: Although an EGT’s reading may give you an indication of richness or leanness, it is, by nature, a slow-responding device and should not be used as the main air/fuel ratio-metering device. Accurate air/fuel ratio monitoring devices that are reliable start from $1200.00 on up. Any other air/fuel ratio meter should NOT be relied upon.