ETS Fuel Archives - Promotive Engineering

Dyno upgrades

July 2, 2015 by Promotive

I have been busy lately on a few big builds and have managed to find some time to do some upgrades to the engine dyno that I have been wanting to do for too long. While some of the upgrades are purely practical and allow engine changes to be quicker, I have also added significant over capacity to the cooling system to engine temperatures can be optimised.

I have become really interested in the fuel testing lately and comparing different race fuels. I have added a flex fuel sensor to the dyno now which show how the ethanol content some of the cheaper competitors race fuels have and the consistency (or lack thereof!) ! It is a cheap way for them to increase knock resistance but it isn’t the best way of producing power…

I have upgraded the knock sensing in the cell as well. In addition to the two channel Vipec knock amplifier and headset, I have added a dedicated vibration sensing module. It is now easier to fine tune the knock sensors on a setup so there is less false readings and make it easier and faster to setup individual cylinder tuning. The new system will also analyse the vibration signature of an engine over time (FFT) and will show well balanced the engine is and the point of the imbalance. By looking at the spectral analysis you can distinguish the imbalance from a weak cylinder, a clutch or the cooling fan etc. Cool stuff!

Just need a more room on the console for all the readouts and instrumentation now! Maybe a lounge chair as well.

The Rally Golf…

June 30, 2015 by Promotive

Normally only 911s are allowed into the workshop. I have made a couple of exceptions lately, one being the short wheelbase Group B Audi replica and the other is the classic rally Golf Mk1 that is destined to run in the Australian Classic Rally Championship. This has been a massive ground up build which I will elaborate on in a later post and actually take some decent photos…

The exciting news is that the Golf is finally alive! I am yet to tune the massive 50mm carbies (- yes old fashioned carburettors!) but the induction noise of this engine is amazing. It should be too considering how ridiculously high compression is, and of course it is designed to run on the ETS Extra Max race fuel.

I am sure the sound of this car will be confused for a big bore sports bike in the distance because the ratios in the dog box are so close…

With just a few final touches to be made, the test day is not too far away!

KnockLink

April 7, 2015 by Promotive

Every now and then I come across a cool little tuning tool that actually works.

I have been using a Vipec knock ear on the dyno for a few years now. They have an algorithm that filters out background noise quite accurately. When used with a matching Vipec ECU, they have a similar system to Motec in that they listen to a tuned frequency within a specified window. It takes a fair bit of time to set either system up but it is the only way to set up accurate individual cylinder knock control.

The new little KnockLink is made by Link who also manufacture the Vipec ECUs. This great little light is really simple. You just need to mount a suitable knock sensor (or use the existing ones on 993 or later engines) and fasten the light with the supplied mount. The wiring is simple too. Two wires go to the sensor plus 12V power and earth. It self calibrates on engine start up and will flash to warn if knock is present. It won’t adjust the timing but at least you will see that you have a problem!

Very handy for early model 911s that aren’t running fuel injection or good quality fuel!

I have a few of these in stock now. The RRP is $275. I can also supply a suitable knock sensor.

Liquid Power!

March 4, 2015 by Promotive

I have to say that I am pretty chuffed with the ol’ twin turbo Canyonerro. It isn’t a bad workshop hack. It could be improved with a set of DS3000 brake pads so it stops from speed more than twice, and the 22inch wheels make what is normally a really capable 4wd, utterly useless and barely able to traverse an average sized pothole without total destruction to the rim and tyre.

I want more power but every time I start plan on giving it a bit more boost and a tune, I can’t help thinking that getting more than 350kms to a tank of fuel would also be nice. It is actually becoming a bit embarrassing – the girl at the petrol station down the road thinks I am a bit keen on her because I am visiting so often! To avoid my second visit in a week, I decided I would see what happens if I filled up with some ETS ExtraMax race fuel…

Well, I did actually know what would happen. The Bosch Me7 engine management in these beasts might be getting a bit antiquated compared to the latest tech, but it was happy to keep winding in the spark and fuel until the dyno showed about a 30hp gain at the wheels! To be fair, the actual horsepower number falsely showed a bit more than 42hp but there was a spike at the end of the run each time as the traction control woke up and tried to outsmart the dyno. The airbag suspension also decided it need to take action too. Watching the electronics try and fight the dyno was like watching 50 Shades of Grey with your mum. Not good. Porsches just don’t like to be tied down and abused… I will upload the graphs soon.

One thing that is actually amazing is how much better the throttle response was on the way home. The exit from corners was addictive!

Unfortunately it wasn’t all good news. After driving it home from the dyno I realised that I am like a fat boy with cake. I need more. More power in this case, but more cake in my life would be good too.