Fine knock learning and timing being pulled

Hi all,

2005 wrx fitted with 3 inch catted turbo back exhaust.

Whilst tuning I have,

Increased the boost pressure to 16psi from the factory 13.7-14.

Scaled the maf sensor for closed loop with the factory airbox and k&n panel filter.

Modified the fuel map to target 11.6-11.4 afr

Removed about 3-4 degrees of timing from the peak torque/boost/load parts of the map.

While performing a WOT run to log some data to scale the maf sensor for those higher voltages the car experienced some fine knock learning and pulled some timing 4250-4800 before continuing on to add knock correction advance. No feedback knock correction occured.

I have removed another 2 degrees and now the car is feeling a little gutless.

I'm looking for some advice on what I can do to make adjustments to fine tune and improve on what I have done.

Have you removed the factory 2 port solenoid and installed a 3 port boost solenoid? Also scale the maf sensor or buy your self a iat sensor and think about going speed density. Start with one change at a time when changing maps in the pcm.

First of all, what fuel do You use?

Higher boosts mostly demand higher octane rating BUT it depends on how good spark You have.

I had 5-6 degrees pull on 1,5bar boost, what was the reason? Old coils....

It's a little unclear - do you mean you had an initial timing curve that the ECU pulled a little out of when detonation was detected? Then you altered the timing a little, so the ECU stopped pulling the timing, but now it seems gutless?

@Gord

Yes that is correct