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choosing pistons

HKusp

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Stock gen3 block & crank. Mahle 11:1 pistons (1cc domed), Mahle H-tuff rods, ARP hardware.
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illtal

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Stock gen3 block & crank. Mahle 11:1 pistons (1cc domed), Mahle H-tuff rods, ARP hardware.
So it's speced to be 11 CR with the gasket then.

I have stock predator HG and was told not to use them because of potential interference with the valvetrain. I'm running cometic MLX .044 (expensive as fuck). -.004 deck. Probably in the high 11s still as far as CR.
 

HKusp

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So it's speced to be 11 CR with the gasket then.

I have stock predator HG and was told not to use them because of potential interference with the valvetrain. I'm running cometic MLX .044 (expensive as fuck). -.004 deck. Probably in the high 11s still as far as CR.
I had the builder spec everything off of the reported CR based off of the stock head gaskets compressed height of .039/.040.
 

engineermike

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Would it suffice to say something in the 10.5 range would be allow significantly better detonation resistance?
Yes, for sure. Another rule of thumb is each compression number changes borderline by 4 deg, so dropping from 12 to 10.5 would allow approximately 6 deg more timing at the threshold of knock.

I think so as well, but the argument that it's better to run a lower boost number with a higher CR to keep more TQ is troubling to be
Lower CR can reduce low-end torque with a centrif setup and off-boost torque with a turbo, but with a PD blower it's a myth. However, you need to offset the loss in torque with an increase in boost, but the end result is safer and more powerful.

most of us are dependent on 93 octane, which could be very hit or miss. I do not trust it so I use water/meth.
I thought this as well but later learned that all of the knock variation I was seeing was actually due to changes in ambient humidity. Humidity can change knock-limited spark advance by 2-3 deg. GM and Mercury Marine actually measure and account for it. I've done similar on my own setup and almost never see knock on true 93, while running up to 19 deg timing on the 3.25" whipple pulley.

A lower CR In some configurations lead to a higher EGT which could aid in turbo boost response. .
Lower CR does increase EGT, but also consider the EGT effects of overly retarded spark timing. A 12/1 engine running 14 deg timing vs a 9.5/1 engine running 24 deg timing might break even or worse.

I tuned a 9.5/1 aluminator setup on an Odin and later twin turbos. What we found was that the SC setup fell about 10% short vs the VMP shop car when they were both max'd out on airflow. This makes sense because at the same airflow, the 12/1 engine was about 10% more efficient. This was E85 so knock wasn't a factor. Things got interesting when he switched to turbos. Even at low compression it matched shop-car numbers lb for lb of boost, so the compression was a wash but had the added benefit of safety. We also found that MBT was below 20 deg on that one. The theory was that the lower compression and even timing resulted in higher EGT, which could drive the turbo with less pressure. This resulted in lower pumping losses that offset the 10% loss of efficiency. Note that the ecoboost engine MBT is low as well, usually like 10-15 deg.

I take it your Predator block is a 9.5 CR? I thought you had it stripped down, should have upgraded them man.
Upgraded from the stock Predator pistons? I really like OEM-quality forged pistons and those have proven to be insanely tough. I do think the CR was a bit low, but I don't see any good options for raising it a tad. I used to have a stock Gen3 short block that I would have kept and upgraded to 10.4/1 and just never built the Predator if I could do-over.
 

illtal

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@engineermike

Are u using gen3 heads?

~10.5:1 is what I originally wanted for my build. I might have done the same and skipped the predator block and go for a sleeved 5.0 block instead of I could have gotten that back then.

As far as the humidity goes, I'm aware that several manufacturers have these tables in their calibration.

Does the OEM coyote calibration account for charge density due to (hot) humidity?

I still don't trust 93 octane lol.

Now that I'm back stateside I can get a tune device and tinker around when I get my car back.
 

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engineermike

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Are u using gen3 heads?
Yes, basically 100% stock gen3 heads and valvetrain on a stock Predator short block with slightly opened up ring gaps, Predator oil pan and pump ass'y.

Does the OEM coyote calibration account for charge density due to (hot) humidity?
The MAF only has the capability to measure mass flow but not humidity. Ford tinkered with measuring ambient humidity using the UEGO during DFCO, but I don't think they ever implemented it. I am told that there is code there to account for humidity but it's turned off. I did find a university research project that appeared to be sponsored by Ford where they ultimately concluded that the octane-adaptive strategy can also account for humidity. But there's a lot more to that story once you start adding boost to a stock 12/1 engine.

I still don't trust 93 octane lol.
I hear ya' and I'm not going to argue. But I have over 800 logs, the vast majority of which are on 93. The only time I had knock that I couldn't otherwise account for wound up being caused by low humidity.
 

illtal

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Yes, basically 100% stock gen3 heads and valvetrain on a stock Predator short block with slightly opened up ring gaps, Predator oil pan and pump ass'y.
Manual car? I didn't know if it (pred oil panf) would interfere with any manual or the 10R80 we left it out of the parts bin and just did gears for the pump and a normal gen 3 pan
 

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@illtal its a 10r80. I don’t know if it will fit either; just ASSumed since FP doesn’t have any warnings about it.
 

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Here is a reply from Mahle. I asked I’d like to know the limits of the 3 alloys and when would you recommend 2618 over 4032 or M142p.

IMG_6282.webp
 

illtal

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Lower CR does increase EGT, but also consider the EGT effects of overly retarded spark timing. A 12/1 engine running 14 deg timing vs a 9.5/1 engine running 24 deg timing might break even or worse.
@engineermike
doesn't the more that an engine runs a spark retard the more the EGT rises as well?
Here is a reply from Mahle. I asked I’d like to know the limits of the 3 alloys and when would you recommend 2618 over 4032 or M142p.

IMG_6282.jpeg
Probably get that 10.4:1 CR piston in M142P
 

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Loving my high compression aluminator with a good tune on e50 so far. Literally 0 oil burned in 2k miles, and the oil is still clean.. With exclusively hard driving at 800 rwhp. My Stock gen 3 shortblock would have burned over a quart and the oil would be black by now. Also no tapping on this motor like my stock gen 3 shortblock.
 
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engineermike

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@engineermike
doesn't the more that an engine runs a spark retard the more the EGT rises as well?
Yes for sure. Pcmtec actually has the table defined that relates egt to timing and lambda.

That’s why your car is so loud on cold start. It retards the timing to get more heat into the exhaust to light off the cats.
 

engineermike

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Funny story…15+ years ago I had a turbo LT1 z28. It had je srp pistons and broke many of them on several occasions. Now, I wasn’t easy on them. I was running over 20 psi boost on 93 plus meth and had some methanol system failures. I eventually went .060 over and was forced to switch due to availability so I went with Ross. Ross had better geometry with more thickness between the dish and the top ring groove. I never broke a Ross piston.

I didn’t look at the materials until just now as a result of this thread. SRP is 4032 and Ross is 2618. I honestly didn’t notice a difference in noise though.
 

illtal

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Funny story…15+ years ago I had a turbo LT1 z28. It had je srp pistons and broke many of them on several occasions. Now, I wasn’t easy on them. I was running over 20 psi boost on 93 plus meth and had some methanol system failures. I eventually went .060 over and was forced to switch due to availability so I went with Ross. Ross had better geometry with more thickness between the dish and the top ring groove. I never broke a Ross piston.

I didn’t look at the materials until just now as a result of this thread. SRP is 4032 and Ross is 2618. I honestly didn’t notice a difference in noise though.
Most people don't, it is on the start up that you will hear it the most. The DI on the Gen 3 is extremely loud especially when those little foam isolators are removed.
 

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