I raced my 08 A6 last night at the track for the first time. Best I could do was 13.1 @ 112mph. I ran four times and tried it with TC on/ TC off/staged up 2k/ just flat stomped it. No matter how I attempted to launch, I could not get below 2.24 on my 60'. What am I doing wrong?

 

What tires are you running?

 

what was your 1/8 mile time and mph ? and how hot was it? altitude? i ran my stock 08 a6 on a 85 degree day 1.90 60 ft no tire spin 8.06 at almost 92 mph almost at sea level

 

I don't believe it was a matter of what you were doing wrong, but, a compilation of things working against you; track conditions, weather, air density just to name a few. However, the PCM is going to pull your timing almost negative when you go to WOT from a complete stop, and, if the intake air temp is above 90 degrees, it will continuously keep the timing low to compensate for the thinner air. All of this is done instantly and will last beyond 60’, or at least 2 seconds until the computer starts to readjust. This can all be tuned out.

 

please post your da and your complete slip info. That mph seems off alot. mods?

 

There was a guy with an auto running 12.5 and he said he just floored it. My car is manual. Getting good times at the dragstrip is not easy. Takes practice. Did you go thru the water? What kind of tires do you have?

You want TC off and AH on.

 

Assuming the Gateway track at 405' elev. on 8/27 about 8PM, the DA was around 1287' which corrects your 13.1 @ 112 to 12.92 @ 113.55

Also assuming you weren't spinning, or very slightly at the most.

You are correct that the 60' is the biggest problem. If you were heating up while waiting in the staging lanes, the underhood temps will get so high that timing will be pulled until you use up the hot air and the computer adjusts for the lower IAT.

Some cures while remaining bone stock, is to keep the hood open until the last opportunity and to run the heater at maximum until on the ready line.

A significant difference would be propping the shroud open.

A Vararam or other true CAI will make even a bigger difference.

High IATs are your enemy.

Even a Vararam can't keep the IAT to ambiant until about half track, but then again it does a far better job than stock on the starting line.

 

The biggest culprit is the stock tune which is designed to pull a ton of timing when you first try launching the car. When you're staging you'll usually see around 30 degrees of timing but as soon as you stomp on the gas it can actually go negative in some cases.

Fortunately it can be tuned out however and I just finished doing this to a buddy's 2009 a few weeks back. Although he was running drag radials, the changes I made instantly shaved a full tenth off his 60ft.

 

where the heck is the OP?

 

Chris
When can you help me with mine?

 

Hit me up when you're back from Edmonton and I'll help you out with it.

 

Thanks for everyones help. Its sounds like a tune and getting rid of the run flats should help.

This was the best run:
R/T: .571
60': 2.222
330: 5.862
1/8: 8.695
MPH: 87.84
1000: 11.130
1/4: 13.156
MPH: 111.86

This was about 10p and it was about 80F minimal wind if any.

 

Brad, Before you spend any money on a tune or tires I think you need to spend more time learning to drive your car and how to set it up for the strip...

Below are some things I do with my bone stock 08 A6 2.56 gear car when at the strip...BTW I have never ran slower than the 12.50's at 114 in the heat on a slippery track...

For Starters get to the track with a 1/4 tank of gas or less...

If you can get it, use 93 non-ethanol gas..

Remove any excess weight out of the car like floor mats, cargo mats, tools and stuff in the cubbies..

I lower the rear tires to 28 lbs hot and put 33 lbs cold in the fronts...

At the track try to keep the engine as cool as possibe, leaving the hood open until your ready to run. Only start the car when necessary..Push the car in the staging lanes if you can. Make sure the AC is turned off...

With the trans., I use the Sport mode and never use the paddles.

Burn Out... If you can drive around the water box and then back into the front edge of the water. (some track dont allow backing up) While in the front edge of the water box I do a small burnout until a slight wisp of smoke comes fron the tires...

I always turn off the Traction Control before the burn out. Most of the time I turn off the Active Handling.

I usually do a pratice launch behind the line... Then move slowly up to the line turning on the top light.... Then inch forward to just barely turning on the staged light, you want to stage as shallow as possible...

If traction was OK on my pratice launch I will leave the car at idle and then do a dead mash to the floor to launch the car...

If my traction on the pratice launch was real good I will bring the rpm up to 1,000-1,200 rpm, then do the mash to the floor for the launch...

If traction is poor, there is nothing wrong with leaving the Traction Controll on...

In hot weather I run 12.5's

In fair weather, 12.3 12.4

In good weather 12.2's

In really good weather 12.1's

In great weather, well I'm still waiting for some of that.

I've made all of my runs at Beech Bend in Bowling Green KY...


I hope this helps...Good Luck

 

ok, all these guys have good ideas, but let me give you some advice from someone who runs at the same track as you.

If everything I read proir to this is correct, you ran at Gateway? I am taking it you have done it recently, thus the question just now pooping up? Now that we have gotten captain obviouse's questions out of the way, here is some info.

Gateway, being so close to the river, for some reason, has very strange DA changes FAST, i dont have the scientific explanation, maybe the humidity, I just know that if you ran a normal tuesday night, the da can change a ton in 3 hours.

the tire thing, NO, I have went 11.30's, on STOCK RUNFLATS. guys out there that automatically blame the tires, just like to have a excuse for there poor driving. yes, 11.30s, on stock wheels, tires..with a a6, stock gears.

Gateway has a very bad habit of poor track prep on tuesday nights, not so much because of neglect, but they let the street tire cars run, and they do 2 things, rip up the glue, and drag water. When I go on tuesday nights, I make sure I get in line very early, so the track is fresh, just prepped, and not ruined. they usually do not go over the pad unless someone breaks, or until SCCCCEA thingy (street tire shootout) starts later in the evening.

My car ran 12.9 at 110 when it was stock there, pass after pass.

now some of the things mentioned earlier, make sense, the car being hot, being left on under the tower, or through the lanes will KILL E.T. as you can easily wait 40 minutes on a tuesday night to get under he tower.

I guess what i am trying to say, dont blame the tires, they are not the issue, the tune will help, but that is a conversation for another thread, as everyone thinks they know better than the other guy. I can only go by experiance. I know my car has went 6.30 in the 1/8th, which, If I am correct, is WAY faster than any other A6 on this forum, and have been 9.80s on a reg basis. The 60 foot is never going to get better than a mid 1.8 in a completly stock car, so, try a few of the things mentioned, and if you need some local help, give shoot me a PM.

 

Sorry I missed this in your 1st post.... Bringing the rpm up to 2k is either gonna blow the tires off the car or invoke the Torq Mananagement, That might have been the biggest thing keeping you out of the mid 12's....

 

LOL, i mised that to.. yes, you need to stop doing that. the car will get a much BETTER 60 JUST FLASHING HE CONVERTER FROM IDLE. dont stall it up at all. That alone will bring you back to where you need to be.