Grounding Cylinder Head Test Results (2024 CX-5 Turbo)

[madar]

How do I known it is working? I have a clip on dc amp meter used alot in solar panel installs. I start the engine, turn on the HVAC fan on high and head lights. Normally the ground will show 12 to 14 amps running though it if it's in the proper location.

you mean milliamps, don't you?

 

[madar]

Until I make an install post, here is a link for a 2' long, 2 AWG ground cable.

https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

I'd go a little heavier on the AWG

https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/ground-straps

https://www.onallcylinders.com/2019/07/24/how-to-diagnose-electrical-ground-issues/

 

[AL Cx5]

you mean milliamps, don't you?

Actually amps.

Amps very with load on the system and rpm. In this video at idle with the HVAC fan on high and head lights on, 22 to 23 amps.

At the end of the video I shot my pass strut tower were a stud is attached but no ground on my 24 T. This would be a good place to land a ground cable too.

My ground has been on several months. I wasn't to interested in documenting this mod at the time. I installed the evening we brought it home from the dealer. Saw the amps above 14 and closed the hood. And forgot about it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqwk1prL8uY

 

[AL Cx5]

I'd go a little heavier on the AWG

https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/ground-straps

https://www.onallcylinders.com/2019/07/24/how-to-diagnose-electrical-ground-issues/

Sure, it can be too small but not too big. For the budget minded, a multi strand 4 awg will work just fine. I made my first cables from speaker wire to see if this thing worked.

Nice find on the tech paper. Over in the Ram Gen 3, Cummins, world folks run their trucks until they quit. One of the first things we request, clean your grounds. I added 3 big boy grounds and have large aftermarket battery cables with military style battery connectors. It starts quickly and the ECU is happy. All the grounds and battery connectors are coated with dielectric grease.

Back when I made kits for the Hemi market, I put 2 4 AWG, one on each bank and sometimes another on the throttle body. I was not able to measure any improvement. I had 3 ground cables on our 09 Honda Accord. 2 on the head and another on the TB. I was experimenting with this car and just left them on it. The TB ground "seemed" to improve throttle response but never set a test.

With that said, I have 2 4 AGW on my race V8. We are the quickest in our class but folks continue to chase us and push us to improve. It has over sized battery cables as well. At +8000 RPM we don't want to be short on juice to it's 2500 HP electric fuel pump!

 

[Nevada CX5]

I have been using ground cables for years, starting with my 2004 Toyota Matrix XRS.

Currently using 10ga Monster Cable to the engine grounding point near the throttle body and 8ga to the grounding point near the passenger fender, both originating at the battery negative terminal. Throttle response and gas mileage seem to be better.

Total investment of about $2 and falls into the category of it could not hurt. I do feel it helps a little.

 

[AL Cx5]

I guided a friend how to ground his 176,000 mile Camery. Here is what he said:

"Was able to install another ground on the Camry. Let me tell you! It idles way better, holds constant at 13.5-14 volts at idle. Increased throttle response. Ac works way better. Car seems way happier. Windows roll up easier, everything is just happier and working easier. Thank you for the recommendation! I just did the head to the body ground. I will drive it like this and probably add another ground after a few weeks to compare"

 

[AL Cx5]

@ceric thank you for a clearer explanation why additional grounds help FE and performance.

I was guessing the grounding helped the fuel injectors fire quicker and coils charge quicker and discharger higher voltage. I don't own any equipment to confirm.

When I was making and selling ground kits for G3 Hemis, folks sound systems sounded better and transmission shifted better. FE went up and power increased.

I added grounds to my diesel pickup. Two on the head and trans. With some conscious driving this truck averaged over 30 MPG over two test runs. Better grounds are one of several bolt on mods and ECU tuning. When new it got between 17 and 18 MPG. All are hand calculated vs. LOM...

 

[AL Cx5]

I have been using ground cables for years, starting with my 2004 Toyota Matrix XRS.

Currently using 10ga Monster Cable to the engine grounding point near the throttle body and 8ga to the grounding point near the passenger fender, both originating at the battery negative terminal. Throttle response and gas mileage seem to be better.

Total investment of about $2 and falls into the category of it could not hurt. I do feel it helps a little.

I use to remove one of the TB mounting bolts to ground the TB. I notice better throttle response on my G3 Hemi and 09 Honda Accord. Both were drive by wire.

Grounds changed the Honda enough my wife asked me what I had done to her car. I put them on without her knowing. I said I'll take them off. Her answer, "No I like how it drives!"

I'll install a ground cable to the CX 5 TB. It really doesn't NEED more throttle response. We just installed a DRTuned Tier 2 tune. It UNCORKED the turbo big time! I'll add the ground to the TB anyway. DRTuned is fine tuning partial throttle to make it tamer for my wife and sporty for me. We are exchanging data logs for revised tunes.

 

[N7turbo]

folks sound systems sounded better

If I were you, I would disregard this entirely.

It is well-known that sound can be described in very subjective ways and often times if tests were conducted where the participant knows that something was changed, they will "hear" a difference—even when blind testing failed to show a difference.

Moreover, sound can be measured in terms of frequency response, so sound quality is quantifiable. I am on audio forums daily and completely dismiss "it sounds better", and "trust me bro" types of comments because they really have no meaning.

Finally, modern sound reproduction is done digitally. Unless the amplifier was not getting enough power to function normally (something Mazda would have noted and addressed during production), there is no way to "improve" a digital reproduction of sound by adding a ground cable to the engine.

transmission shifted better

Can you define what "better" means? Can any of this be shown with data logs?

Thanks.

 

[AL Cx5]

If I were you, I would disregard this entirely.

It is well-known that sound can be described in very subjective ways and often times if tests were conducted where the participant knows that something was changed, they will "hear" a difference—even when blind testing failed to show a difference.

Moreover, sound can be measured in terms of frequency response, so sound quality is quantifiable. I am on audio forums daily and completely dismiss "it sounds better", and "trust me bro" types of comments because they really have no meaning.

Finally, modern sound reproduction is done digitally. Unless the amplifier was not getting enough power to function normally (something Mazda would have noted and addressed during production), there is no way to "improve" a digital reproduction of sound by adding a ground cable to the engine.


Can you define what "better" means? Can any of this be shown with data logs?

Thanks.

Well, I didn't say MY sound system sounded better. When I was selling kits, I never suggested the sounds system audio would improve but many folks reported so. My friend with the Toyota offered this observation without my prompting.

I have not logged any transmissions before or after with better grounding. Many of my G3 Hemi customers claimed a difference. You explanation of an audio system logic follows similar arguments why engine and trans grounds don't work. I suggest you try if and be the judge.

What I noticed on my 19 year old Dodge 48re, semi electronic trans, NAG1 and Mazda has quicker up and down shifts at WOT. Partial throttle "feels" smoother, quicker. With Tier2 turbo tuning shifts are darn sporty. Almost like a big old school V8 without the noise...

I'm out of the ground kits biz, more of a hobby. I have no motivation to log before and after grounding the trans on the CX 5. MAYBE if it didn't take 15 minutes and 8 bolts later to just get to the area where I landed the trans ground, I would do a before and after on the side of the road.

I might remove the trans ground on my drag car and compare shift times this spring. This will be at WOT. Aftermarket ECU and TCUs have much greater log speed and resolution over OEM equipment. I've was shocked how much critical info was missing on OEM logs vs a standalone TCU log! We should see how long it takes to fill the shift piston, pressures and shift time.

AND just one bolt needs to be removed...

Below is a NAG1 log on a 950 HP NA engine. Zero to 60 in 1.4 second car. Sample rate is 0.05 increments. There is an incredible amount of information recorded. And we add math channels as well.

 

[N7turbo]

I have no motivation to log before and after grounding the trans on the CX 5.

That is unfortunate that you didn't take any before and after measurements. I guess there is no way to prove it did or didn't have effects on the Mazda (good or bad).

I might remove the trans ground on my drag car and compare shift times this spring. This will be at WOT. Aftermarket ECU and TCUs have much greater log speed and resolution over OEM equipment. I've was shocked how much critical info was missing on OEM logs vs a standalone TCU log! We should see how long it takes to fill the shift piston, pressures and shift time.

I would look forward to that. The more data, the better. It wouldn't prove anything for the Mazda, but it would give insights into how it might work generally.

 

[AL Cx5]

That is unfortunate that you didn't take any before and after measurements. I guess there is no way to prove it did or didn't have effects on the Mazda (good or bad).


I would look forward to that. The more data, the better. It wouldn't prove anything for the Mazda, but it would give insights into how it might work generally.

I don't want to steal spotlight and hog all the fame and fortune!!

I respectfully pass the torch to do the test and logs, assemble the data, defend the data. Then enjoy the many thanks and praises from fellow members on this forum! I made many $10 of dollars making ground kits and shipping all over the US and beyond. Not in my wheelhouse.

I have grounded 4 different trans and have reliable intel on a 5th it works. Mazda, Benz/Mopar Nag1, Mopar 48re, Honda, Toyota.

Trans grounding falls in line with grounding engine cylinder heads. My list of different makes and models far exceeds the trans. There are few that grounds didn't help. But the majority responded about the same 9 to 10 HP, 1 to 2 MPG better FE. Mazda is one that responds to grounds.

2026 I have goals to reach and records to set and win races along the way. Maybe another forum member will do the tests.

Meanwhile my wifes little CX 5 goes Zoom Zoom.

 

[N7turbo]

Tell me what the outlay to get this done is and I may be willing to give it a try if it won't cost too much.

 

[AL Cx5]

Tell me what the outlay to get this done is and I may be willing to give it a try if it won't cost too much.

Amazon has an assortment of grounding cable kits.

I saw one kit, 4 cables, for $13.00. They didn't spec the wire gauge. I normally use 4 gauge cable. 8 gauge should work as well.

I've been working through left over inventory from my grounding biz/hobby. Since my name was on these, I used tinned, marine grade cables. This added expense is not required.

 

[jadmt]

Amazon has an assortment of grounding cable kits.

I saw one kit, 4 cables, for $13.00. They didn't spec the wire gauge. I normally use 4 gauge cable. 8 gauge should work as well.

I've been working through left over inventory from my grounding biz/hobby. Since my name was on these, I used tinned, marine grade cables. This added expense is not required.

can you post a photo of where you are actually running the grounds? thanks..

 

[diywannabe]

I suggest you do your own test and determine for yourself. You seem to be looking for more power from bolt on parts. Here is a cheap 10 to 15 HP.

When we use to race in a class, we were looking for every HP and stumbled on to this. It was worth a few hundredths of a second in the 1/4..

Investing in a OBD2 Bluetooth transmitter so that you can log data to your phone will be handy to check future mods and confirm or not confirm the above.

If you have to find dozens of examples, then this is not for you.

I've attached a ground to the throttle body and picked up the same amount. You might find enough folks doing it this way to venture out and try this.

A small leap of faith is required...

I've done the same thing on all our cars for a few years now. They've all been 4 cylinders until the Infiniti V6 I picked up last year. Every one has gotten better throttle response and almost instant starting and a little more power as well as better gas mileage. We just picked up the 2010 CX7 so I haven't added grounds yet but I plan to as well as cleaning the existing grounds. Today's high energy ignition systems need really good grounds.

 

[N7turbo]

If it really is that cheap to try, it will be easy to prove this doesn't do anything. But it will require someone who has the will to spend the time doing the work. I don't right now, but may in the future.

But guys, if anyone does try this, we really need data. Anecdotal and butt dyno results are completely useless here.

 

[jadmt]

If it really is that cheap to try, it will be easy to prove this doesn't do anything. But it will require someone who has the will to spend the time doing the work. I don't right now, but may in the future.

But guys, if anyone does try this, we really need data. Anecdotal and butt dyno results are completely useless here.

I just need to see where to run the grounds..I actually would be happy with a real world boost in mpg and anecdotal butt dyno improvement.....

 

[CrazyHippie]

There must be something to this, as Mazda has equipped the CX-5 with a dedicated engine grounding wire from the factory for many years. Pics are posted previously in this thread. Mazda wouldn't waste money if it didn't do anything, and before you spend $ check your car to see if it's already there. It's on the passenger side bolted to the strut tower. Can't miss it!

 

[N7turbo]

There must be something to this, as Mazda has equipped the CX-5 with a dedicated engine grounding wire from the factory for many years. Pics are posted previously in this thread. Mazda wouldn't waste money if it didn't do anything, and before you spend $ check your car to see if it's already there. It's on the passenger side bolted to the strut tower. Can't miss it!

Of course—which is why the skepticism. We aren't talking about an old car, here.