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-   -   frankmehta tinkers ® with his Ford Fiesta S: Stage 0.5 (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifications-accessories/93213-frankmehta-tinkers-his-ford-fiesta-s-stage-0-5-a.html)

A huge hello to everyone who follows the modifications section.
The help provided by people here is at par with international standards, and sometimes even better as there are people who have experienced the conditions in India and eventually know what is going to work here, and what is not.

As for me, it's only recently that I decided to become the 'enjin venjin' type (as @Navin rightly puts it)
I have never been the kind to race my car against the clock and gloat at 0-100 times. I still don't. I won't.
What I want, is something that is fun to drive and sounds that way too. Oh wait, I drive a Fiesta S.
Doesn't she do all this, already?
Yes, most definitely a resounding YES.

The car is a super dream to own and drive.
Revving her nuts off(don't mind the pun here :eek:) is very very easy
She takes bends more gracefully than most of the participants at 'Dance India Dance.'
She does a far better job at adhering to the road than the Bombay Municipal Corporation does in adhering the sand gravel, asphalt, pavement and concrete components of the road itself (a look at the condition of today's roads in Mumbai should clear all doubts)
On song, her throaty rasp sounds like Poetry.

Then why this thread???
Because I am human. And humans are never satisfied.

I have decided to take it to the 'next level' with her (2nd base in teenagers' lingo)
And why not?? She's a shade over a year old and has done only 10000 kilometers. She is now decently run in (not entirely, though) and deserves a good bonus for the year of screaming orgasms she's given me.

Let's cut to the crap.

I have a very measly budget (well, if they can call a small piggy bank stashed away in a room that) and I have the following aspirations for my Fiesta S.

1. Fully Synthetic Oil with performance (?) oil filter: I don;t know what difference a performance oil filter makes. Can someone tell me if it's a good buy? It doesn't cost much.
2. K & N 57i Air Intake System (filtercharger) : This, I already have bought.
3. Low restriction catback (?) exhaust (only perhaps) with performance headers and endcan.

1. About the oil: I am sick of reading about which oil to get. Just tell me the brand and the grade already. I will just go out and buy it.

2. About the K&N: I know there's a lot of people who say this kind of intake system hardly matters.
But that is where I pause and ask. Matters in what way to ME?? I don't want a boost in my BHP (really, I kid not!) nor do I need to shave a few milliseconds from my 0-100 time. All I want is unparalleled drive-ability which translates to good low end response in the first and second gears (where the S can do with some help) and that rasp from the engine should sound like a growl. All that CAN be managed by the 57i, since it's quite a large conical filter and has been built specifically for the Fiesta. Which means K&N and me, both know that it's going to make a difference when installed correctly according to their instruction manual. I know there's talk about cold air intakes and SARs and WAI and what not. But this very thing from K&N is what we need in India, as this is not placed near the front bumper/spoiler, making it less susceptible to any form of water entering the engine by any means.

3. Free Flow: NOW, this is where I am going to put my foot down (literally, :uncontrol)
This time I DON'T want a free flow exhaust for the music (noise is a term used by people who hate their car)
Well, actually by that I mean I don't want people around to hear the music this time around. I want something that sounds muted. VERY muted.
I need something that makes the right sounds when asked for them. Maybe after 3k. And I don't want F1 engine shrillness. I want a very deep note. Nothing from what I have heard in the last few years of my awareness of the few hundred exhausts I have experienced around me)
Something like waking up a monster from his sleep, but only difference is that this monster has been to finishing school.
The sole purpose of this exhaust should be to improve air flow. Period. In the bargain, if she provides me with bass (as if I didn't have enough of that already: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/sound-...-progress.html) I will be a happy one.


That brings me to the end of this post.
I am very excited to see what replies I have in store from me.
These are not very difficult queries in general, but this thread is more like a boy's room where we shall discuss these 'upgrades' in detail. And I can gloat over my car in the bargain.
Again.

Frank, here's my inputs after trying out all the mods mentioned in your post.

1. Engine oil. Frankly speaking for a stock engine it doesn't engine matter which oil you use. The difference is felt when changing from mineral to synthetic oil but from one brand synthetic to the other there is no way you will know the or feel the difference. Just get Mobil1 which is available easily in Mumbai.

2. The CAI is good but if the plumbing/routing is not done correctly you will only go backwards if the filter starts taking in hot air. That needs to be taken care of.

3. I wouldn't bother with a full free flow exhaust. I've found that messing around with the headers changes the characteristics of the car adversely. If you have a header design for low rev range you loose the high rpm performance and if you go for high/mid range tuned you loose the low rpm grunt and you can forget about your clutch. Headers are not easy to design unless done very very professionally in a facility like Red Rooster in Bangalore. If your looking for sound then just get a nice muffler from automech.

My advice is not to mess with the headers just remove the cat-con and get a nice exhaust.

1. Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 (1.6S owners Sathee46 and Anachronix use it)
2. For your needs, whatever.
3. Loosen those purse strings here and go for this:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...m-muffler.html
Don't forget to ask for a Team-BHP discount.

I am going to get Shell Helix Ultra. 5W40.

Mine is actually an airbox replacement filter, with a flexible hose that brings cool air to it. Which means I can experiment freely.
No plumbing required, as such.

Unfortunately, it's not sound that I am looking for this time. I shall not do this free flow business for quite some time, as I agree with you about the change in characteristics of the car. Muffler alone is something I don't really care much about at this point of time.

Won't that mess with the o2 sensor??? CEL will come on right?

Perfect.


As of now, no. But I can still think of it as an option when bored of the exhaust note. For a muffler only, it's expensive!

Shell is also good.

Well once you remove the cat con you need to replace that with another down tube. That tube should have the cut out for the O2 sensor. If your O2 sensor is already on the exhaust manifold then you wont even need to change the O2 sensor location.

HI everyone. The goodies are here. Mostly being installed today.

Hi Frank,

What made you change your mind on the choice of Engine oil?

I ask because I had narrowed down on these 2 for my 5000km old Honda City.

cheers..

Stage 0.5! lol :D

The upgrade to fully synthetic oil can be felt right away. The car would rev more nicely... expect more cargasms :p

I am not sure how much difference the K&N would make though!

All the best with your upgrade mate!

Hi GTR, I changed my decision owing to the fact that Ford is more loyal to Mobil 1 in India.
IF, I did have any issues with the engine then I might have a better chance of not losing warranty if there is Mobil 1 in the car.
@ana: The filter has transformed the car to a MAD loud machine. the intake growl is to be heard! It's fabulous!! Besides, I feel the car is more rev happy and the 2nd and 3rd gears are great and the way the torque comes in above 3000 rpm is very locomotive like.
Good stuff.
The oil has also been put in , and the engine is very smooth and it's very tractable and rev happy.
One difficulty I am facing is that the car has become a little sluggish in first gear. But when the revs build up, she is a different machine altogether.

Ok, cutting to the crap. A Photo and a Video
A WORD OF CAUTION. KINDLY REDUCE THE YOUTUBE VOLUME TO MINIMUM BEFORE PLAYING THE VIDEO. OTHERWISE THE SOUND MAY BE DISTORTED BEYOND RECOGNITION
YouTube - Ford Fiesta S 1.6 with K&N 57i Intake: Intake Growl

Frank, this has to do with your new air filter setup. The loss of low end torque is due to the removal of the stock airbox and because you're using the end of factory airbox connection pipe to mount the filter. If you had selected a complete aftermarket air intake kit with tuned plumbing you would've gained better result overall. But anyway your top end performance would be slightly better if not worse, provided the engine heat doesn't get sucked in. TBH, this aftermarket made for Fiesta K&N kit looks and works just like any other universal conical filter setup. I thought there would be atleast a heat shield with this kit. The aluminium duct will not do anything in city speeds, if it can do something it will be only during highway speeds when the ductong can direct some fresh air from the front of the car to the filter. Ducting would have worked better if there was a heat shield.

Congrats Frank :)

The loss in low-end is attributed to the shortening of the intake length and/or bigger diameter pipe, so unless the plumbing is changed, you'll have to get used to it.

I intend to fabricate a hear shield sometime soon.
This driving impression was without the rubber hose from the front grille. I attached the rubber hose after driving, for a photo op. LOL. And now I intend to keep it on and drive and see how she goes with it.

thanks bro. I quite enjoy the way she drives right now, and knowing me, it's not the end. I intend to drive for a few months and then some plumbing shumbing soon ;-)

Ok. I am on the lookout for someone who can fabricate a long pipe for this filter to use it as a cold air intake. the present location is losing power for the engine as the engine compartment heats up.
there's some knocking and loss of power in all gears as well. Who's a plumbing specialist in Mumbai?

This is way too much of a coincidence. I had order for the same air filter a month ago which my friend from the UK will be bringing along with him in another week. It was same with my Sub. I ordered it only to see you had already installed it. Same car, same birth date. Nice.
And thank you so much for sorting out all the issues for me btw :D
Happy revving!

Hey Frank!
How are the mods going?
No updates!