BLOG CATEGORIES

Monthly Archives: April 2020

  1. Float Like a Butterfly, Sting like a, Kia? - Performance Intercooler Kit R&D, Part 7 - Dyno Results

    Float Like a Butterfly, Sting like a, Kia? - Performance Intercooler Kit R&D, Part 7 - Dyno Results

    Kia has made their big splash in the automotive industry with the Stinger's launch, and we wanted to make sure that we made ours right along with them. We've been looking for the perfect stone to chuck into this transcendental pond and we've finally found it, coincidentally in the shape of a massive intercooler. Since we've already reviewed the physical details of our new design in the last post, let's dive right into the testing.

    Dyno-mite

    Cooling power is key for the intercooling system, especially once the boost gets turned up. I can only assume you're here to see how this kit performs under pressure, so we strapped our Stinger up to our Dynapack system for a torture test in the name of science. Our testing consisted of two stages in order to get a good look at just how well our intercooler kit performs against the stock unit.

    Continue Reading »
  2. It Started out with a PSSHT - Blow-Off Valve Technical Article

    It Started out with a PSSHT - Blow-Off Valve Technical Article

    The turbocharger system is one of the most beautiful soundscapes in the automotive world. This overgrown mechanical snail not only gives smaller, more efficient engines the extra pep in their step, but it also fills our ears with a symphony of whirrs, flutters, and hisses, all complemented by the bassy undertone of the exhaust. Each section of the turbocharged orchestra plays its part, but today we're going to look at the 'Hiss' section, with the blow-off valve sitting in first chair.

    What is a Blow-Off Valve?

    When it comes to your vehicle's turbo system, there's more to your blow-off valve than meets the ear. A blow-off valve (BOV), or recirculation valve that many OEM systems come equipped with, is in essence, a pressure relief valve specifically for excess boost in the system. Why does this extra boost pressure need to be released? I'm glad you asked! The purpose of this valve is primarily to protect against what's known as closed-throttle

    Continue Reading »
  3. Float like a Butterfly, Sting like a Kia? - Performance Intercooler R&D, Part 6 - Blow-Off Valve Adapter

    Float like a Butterfly, Sting like a Kia? - Performance Intercooler R&D, Part 6 - Blow-Off Valve Adapter

    Kia is just the latest manufacturer to add the symphony turbocharging to their line of vehicles with the whirring and hissing duo attached to the Lambda II GDI engine powering the 2018+ Stinger GT. With the addition of these mechanical snails to Kia's repertoire, it's not much of a surprise that enthusiasts want to crank up the boost. And while it's imperative to improve the capacity of the intercooling system when tuning the Stinger, it's just as important to ensure it can handle the extra PSI. Specifically, the recirculation valve system needs to be up to snuff.

    Luckily, the engineers here at Mishimoto have already been cooking up the means to adapt a more robust blow-off or recirculation valve of your choosing, but before we dive into that, let's take a quick look at why bypass valves are so important. For a more in-depth look, make sure you head to our technical post on blow-off valves.

    Reduce, ReUse, Re-PSSSHT

    Continue Reading »
  4. Go Your Own Way - Performance Intercooler, Part 1: Stock Review

    Go Your Own Way - Performance Intercooler, Part 1: Stock Review

    Lately, it seems commercials for trucks, SUVs, CUVs, and every other acronym on four wheels have the same narrative. A traffic jam ahead and a forlorn look on our business-casual hero's face. Suddenly, as if it hadn't quite sunk in yet, our hero remembers they bought a vehicle capable of driving on that conveniently placed side road; the one that's just dusty enough to add some drama to the shot, but not treacherous enough to require much driving skill. A couple presses of the nav screen and the hero is home before the dust settles.

    While many vehicles seek to make you feel like you could go your own way whenever the mood strikes, few pull it off quite as well as the 2019+ Ford Ranger. The Ranger's compact size and efficient engine make it at home in the city, while its cleverly design chassis and plethora of available off-road tech mean it's capable of tackling even the most technical trails. But, despite the Ranger's adaptability off the dealer's lot, there are some aspects that

    Continue Reading »