AEM ETI Technology Enhances Cold Air Intake Performance

By Mike Kojima

If you have been in the game of modifying cars for 10 years or so and got your start modding compact cars, you probably remember the good old days when adding a cold air intake was probably the first or second engine mod you did to your car.  In those days a really well designed intake could add as much as 10 or more whp to your car's output and even the most basic poorly designed ebay intake usually added at least a few dyno verifiable horsepower.  A cold air intake was considered to be a good bang for the buck modification and thousands were sold.  Even the most mechanically inept were usually able to install an intake with a few simple hand tools.

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Engine Tech, Building the Nissan VG30DETT part 2

By Mike Kojima

In the last installment of our build, we delved into building the bottom end of our VG30DETT engine for the goal of reliably achieving 550 plus horsepower.  In this segment we will look into what was done to our top end including the cylinder heads to support this power level.

See part one about the bottom end here!

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Suck, Squish, Bang, Blow part 4- The Five Deadly Sins of the Beginner

By Mike Kojima

We all make mistakes, especially when we are starting out as beginner enthusiasts. Cars can be very unforgiving machines, especially modified cars that have been tweaked for more performance. Unfortunately many seemingly minor mistakes can have very devastating and costly consequences.

For part one of the series click here!

For part two of this series click here!

For part three of the series click here!

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Project Toyota Tundra Part 2, TRD Cold Air Intake

By Mike Kojima, photos by Jeff Naeyaert

In our last edition of Project Tundra, we discussed why we selected what is now our favorite truck of all time. We basically needed an office hauler, capable of carrying parts, carrying our staff and towing race cars all over the place under all conditions.  It had to tow like a diesel and be reliable like a daily driver.

Read More about Project Tundra here!

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Ask Sarah: Is My Lube Still Good? (Safe for Work)

By Sarah Forst

Hi Sarah,

I got 8 quarts of Royal Purple 5w-30 and it’s been sitting for at least a year and a half.  Is it still good?    

Thanks -Will C.

Got a difficult tech question? Email Sarah at asksarah@motoiq.com

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Suck, Squish, Bang, Blow part 3- Compression Ratio and Air Fuel Ratio

By Mike Kojima

In our last edition of our ongoing series on engine tuning and theory, we explained how the 4-stroke cycle works.  Now we are going to break down a couple of common and very important terms that you will hear all the time when discussing engines that you must understand if you are going to successfully tune or select parts for your motor.  This information can also help prevent you from getting ripped off by bogus speed shops.  This can also help prevent you from being steered wrong by SPE's, FFF's and other lameo guru types that inhabit various forums and online resources.

For part one of the series click here!

For part two of this series click here!

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1987 Cosworth F1 GBA 1200+bhp 1.5L V-6 Engine

by Eric Hsu

Take an in depth look at one of the most powerful engines from the 1980's Formula 1 turbo era.

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Oil Pump Blueprinting

By Martin Gonzales and Mike Kojima

What is as important to your engine's health as your heart is to your own body?  If you guessed the oil pump then you are absolutely correct!  Like your heart, your oil pump circulates the engine's life blood, oil, around to critical components like your engine's bearings and valvetrain.  These parts like parts of your own body would only last seconds without a continual supply of pressurized oil.

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AEM No Weld O2 Sensor Mount

By Mike Kojima

Being able to quickly attach a bung for a wide band 02 sensor is a big pain in the ass.  I know a lot of you have probably tried to help a friend tune their car.  No matter how many times you told them to have an O2 sensor bung welded into their exhaust before they show up at your place, then they arrive and you ask them where it is, they blankly look at you and go "what?"  I know this happens to me all the time.

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AEM Performance Electronics Water Methanol Injection System Evaluation

By Mike Kojima 

AEM gave us their latest version of a water methanol injection system and we agreed to install it on Project EVO IX.  The AEM system uses a powerful high pressure, 6amp, 72 watt 150 psi pump.  This is important because on a turbo car, the water system has to work against the boost pressure so a 20 psi windshield washer pump will actually not pump any water at all at 20 psi of boost unless the water tank is boost referenced. The pump also features chemical resistant fluroelastomer EDPM seals and a santoprene diaphragm so as not to be phased by ethanol or methanol in any concentration.

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