Stillen supercharger long term reports

theDreamer

1) That is Cali so either stay under the radar or avoid boost

2) Higher cost can even come with the SC & 7AT depending on how much power you push through the system, really it comes down to TQ and the higher gears that fail.

3) Things can go wrong, but a quality install and checking the kit during routine maintenance will keep it up & running well. Say during an oil change you need to poke around and check clamps, bolts, etc. Also, having a daily driver is a huge plus because if the car needs to go in for a few days you have a back up ready to go.

__________________
theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN
theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY
Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

brucelidat

1) I know, but it only takes being unlucky once, and I'm afraid boost will be addicting and hard to stay off of

2) I believe the 7at should hold up fine with the Stillen kit since it's only going to make around 300 trq, even not counting the tranny upgrade, there's substantially higher costs

3) My concern is that not being mechanically knowledgeable car-wise, I'm not going to know what and how to check. Also, can someone tell me the maintenance differences between the 2? From what I understand, for the SC, it's just replacing the fluid once in a while.

__________________
Works Emotion CR Ultimate - FI CBE w/ 18" resonators - Ecutek - eibach sways - Quaife - FI LTH w/race cats - kw v3 - spl - Topgunz SC - 488whp 398trq

theDreamer

The SC you have fluid, belt, intake filters, and with Stillen I am not sure but possibly a SC fluid filter. Also with Stillen they have the water box which will need to be maintained probably a bit for the water/air setup.

__________________
theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN
theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY
Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

jwick

I'm not trying to offend you but if you are not very mechanically knowledgeable then boosting a factory NA car probably isn't the best idea. Once you boost a factory NA car you need to constantly monitor things to make sure nothing is off. I check oil, hose clamps, vacuum lines, etc every time prior to pulling the car out of the garage.

There is no 'other' turbo maintenance than what I mentioned above. You need to check for leaks (fluid/vacuum) and check all hoses/etc to make sure nothing is damaged (cut/dry rotted/heat damaged/etc.). The turbo gets it's oil/water cooling feed from the same places the engine does so when you change oil you are 'servicing' the turbo.

Edit - If you want a low maintenance boosted car get one that is done that way from the factory

__________________
'10 G37T 6MT Graphite/Graphite - BP - G37T Build

theDreamer

Even then factory turbo cars still can have all those issues or even more if the OEM did not get the properly level quality of parts.

__________________
theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN
theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY
Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

jwick

True but they also have safety built in because the car was designed for all the extra heat. Take the GT-R for example. It has factory heat shielding around the turbos since they knew that extra heat would be there. That or they relocate items to an area without the heat. When you stick a turbo in that location on a Z there is no factory shielding protecting the things that can melt.

I completely agree that the manufacturer has to do their job in the original design. I was just pointing out that 'less' **** goes can go wrong on a factory boosted car.

__________________
'10 G37T 6MT Graphite/Graphite - BP - G37T Build

theDreamer

Very true and with a factory car (depending on when you buy it) there is a warranty to help cover some oh sh!t things that can occur.

__________________
theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN
theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY
Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

brucelidat

I am open to learning. It would seem, though, that the SC kit would be easier to inspect since it has less parts and is less complicated. I should try to find someone local with each to see if I can get a ride in.

__________________
Works Emotion CR Ultimate - FI CBE w/ 18" resonators - Ecutek - eibach sways - Quaife - FI LTH w/race cats - kw v3 - spl - Topgunz SC - 488whp 398trq

jwick

By all means ask questions. We all did the same thing when we got prepared to go FI. It's better to be educated then make an uneducated decision. That can get pricey and frustrating.

Plus we're all gear heads and love to help out.

__________________
'10 G37T 6MT Graphite/Graphite - BP - G37T Build

VSS370z

I didn't know much about turbos and **** but once i decided to go force induction with the Z i pretty much had most if not all the knowledge from all the guys here. All you need to do is ask away people will help you here!

EVOHUNTER

If your planning on running the stillen kit with there tune, To keep it CARB legal.

its going to be a huge waste of money. You'll put down like 330WHP (I put down 291 before the kit, 329 with stillen kit and there tune hahahah). itll run like **** too.

If your going with a custom tune, then ok. but it wont be CARB after that lol.

__________________

theDreamer

Not living in Cali, but can they check that (the tune)?
Say you get flagged and you show them your CARB cert can they say you are running a modified tune which is not CARB legal?

__________________
theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN
theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY
Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

brucelidat

I would get a custom tune. I figure I could get a map for smog testing or find someone to pass me if I have to. The CARB sticker, though, would keep me from having issued with cops if I were to get pulled over. Besides, I heard they changed smog testing in California to be just checking for codes and maybe the sniffer test.

__________________
Works Emotion CR Ultimate - FI CBE w/ 18" resonators - Ecutek - eibach sways - Quaife - FI LTH w/race cats - kw v3 - spl - Topgunz SC - 488whp 398trq

Team_STILLEN

While I understand your need to bash the kit, making a generic statement like that is a bit facetious. I don't recall when you installed your kit, but we have done a lot of tune refining over the past year and a half. We consistently see in the 390-430 whp range. When the power levels are lower than that we examine the tune with out customer and make adjustment (both in California and outside). We have even developed regional tunes to account for climate, altitude, and fuel quality differences.

At the time your Kit was purchased we may not have provided that same tuning support we do now. Our head tuner spends a lot of time updating the tunes and making it the best it can be. Yes, a 100% custom tune is usually ideal as every car and place is different. A lot of our customers who get the turn key kit are getting tailored tunes for their car upon install because we are still developing our regional tune profile and improving this constantly.

I apologize you had a bad experience, but things do change and we are working to make the kit as good as it can be out of the box without too much tuning required.

__________________
Financing with Affirm now available!!!

STILLEN | Robin | Performance Specialist | rmoses@stillen.com| 800.576.2131 x133 |

EVOHUNTER

After 16 tunes from your "tuning department" and the car wouldn't idle and run properly.

This going on for a 4 month period.

After your tuning department said its an install error, I gave up on you guys.

After a local tune, the car drove prefect and idled perfect,

I think I have the right to be a bit facetious, don't you?

Maybe things have change since then, if so, great!

__________________