5PTOHH

So I just moved to Denver and picked up my car. I have never driven it at sea level but I can def tell that it is robbed of a lot of power. My question is, would it be worth it to buy the CAI & Tune combo to try to make up some of that lost power? Or is it pretty much pointless to go that route due to the altitude?

evil5oh

Just remember... every car suffers the same altitude sickness as your Stang so its not just your car. Bolt-ons will definitely help, it just takes a little more to make it equal to times you would run at sea level.

5PTOHH

Yea it is just weird, I am not experiencing any of the put you back in your seat power. I mean **** a 300c was keeping up with me. And 6th gear? Dont even get me started on that, absolutely no pull at all.

desertMustang

What RPM's are you shifting? My first test drive I was shifting at 4k and not getting the response I was looking for. Once I started shifting near redline, the car really came alive.

5PTOHH

Not trying to go close to redline, I usually shift at about 3-5k. I only have 280 miles on the car.

Ltngdrvr

I think you should just give up on it and ship it down here to me, I'll figure out something to do with it.

5PTOHH

Sure you would have more fun with it in Texas than I would here lol

houtex

Perhaps it's time to retrain it. It's still got lots of miles thinking about sea level. While true, there's less oxygen in the air, it could be overcompensating due to it's previous life.

Just throwin' that out there. Or get the CAI. Or, screw it, go for it and get that supercharger.

5PTOHH

naw all 280 miles have been in Denver. I picked the car up here.

harristotle

I'm in the C-Springs area, and the power loss associated with altitude drives me nuts.

5PTOHH

Yea it is **** near 50hp right out the window.

Kaiserserser

Just wait until you drive into the mountains and hit a steep hill at elevations of around 10,000 feet. It will feel like you aren't going to make it up the hill.

cdynaco

I'm at 4200 and mine's a monster. I sure as heck didn't lose 50hp.
But I'm not afraid to rev mine either. The power band is just coming alive at 4k.
My fun roads range from here, an awesome two laner down to sea level at the Coast, back to 7k at Crater Lake NP. I don't notice any loss (although I did have 91 oct at CLNP where I had the Rim Drive all to myself ).

desertMustang

You're shifting before the motor makes its peak power. Look at the dyno curves. You're leaving a lot on the table.

CO_VaporGT_09

It's even worse when you're comparing to a turbo car that has a blow-off as its limiter for peak boost -- if the blow off is used at sea level, it has a fair amount of reserve at altitude, and can more easily compensate. The turbodiesels up in the mountains are nuts -- they just keep on pulling.

You WILL notice a difference from making the engine breathe easier, though, no matter what altitude. But forced induction is the way to go above 5280 (maybe next summer for me).

laserred38

This has nothing to do with this thread...but I want Josh's car. That is all.

CO_VaporGT_09

Join the club

But, if it goes missing any time soon, I'll know where to look

I do wonder, though, if I get a blower soon, should I be able to blow off all the stock 2011 GTs out there, at least at this altitude?

Bert

don't be afraid to run it up closer to redline for short bursts during break-in -- if anything, a harder break in is better than a too-easy break in

stangfoeva

You need to shift later if you want it to push you back. Bottom line. Go up to redline on some freeway on-ramps, you'll see the difference.

5PTOHH

yea until those 2011's get tired of power loss and decide to get blown :P