Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Anything Engine/Performance/Tuning related => Topic started by: davefrith on April 20, 2004, 02:37:58 PM

Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: davefrith on April 20, 2004, 02:37:58 PM
I\'ve been running a Power FC for quite a while now and have recently bought a Commander

Now although I have no interest (or knowledge to even start) in playing with the "Settings" section, I do intend to keep an eye on the "Monitor" section to make sure all is well etc

So I have a couple of questions I hope someone will know the answers to

What is the maximum safe air intake temp ? or is this in terms of safe engine operation irrelevent? What should I hope for ?

What is the max safe water temp ? what temp should the water generally be hovering at? and when should I be pouring cold water all over the engine to stop it boiling (joke) :)

I\'m assuming that max safe Injector duty should be around 80% at high revs at full boost, someone please correct me if I am wrong

If anyone can safely answer these points I am sure it will prove useful to the new people who have got these cars with the Apexi already installed

Cheers :)

Dave
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: 20B_boy on April 20, 2004, 03:01:23 PM
Roughly:

Air temp - cool as poss :) 20-25 degrees with good cooling, 45+ with bad. 60+ heat soaking at pod.

Water - 75-80 degrees for cruising, 85-95 thrashing it, 95 sat heat soaking in traffic for hours - depending on cooling system i.e. after market rads, front mounts in the way, EWP installed etc

Inj duty - 80-85 to be safe

The PFC has correction maps for air and water temps so in theory you should just lose power when things get hot...
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: davefrith on April 20, 2004, 03:06:23 PM
Right, so can the car comfortably survive being stuck in traffic with intake temps high and water sitting at 96 degrees ?

Or should things be done to ensure it never reachs this level

Stupid question Number One : Is the intake temp sesor at the intercooler or in the air intake (filters) ?

My filters seems to get very hot which makes me think something should be done
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: kevint on April 20, 2004, 03:12:35 PM
My water temp sits at 85-86 under normal driving. I believe that is normal for a stock car.

Kevin
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: Archbish on April 20, 2004, 03:14:01 PM
QuoteMy filters seems to get very hot which makes me think something should be done
have you tried having a firm word with them??  Maybe even the threat of a written warning...

QuoteIs the intake temp sesor at the intercooler or in the air intake (filters) ?
so by moving the intake sensors to somewhere else (say the boot), you should end up with lovely cold intake temps...
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: davefrith on April 20, 2004, 03:16:33 PM
Oh how we\'ve missed you

Is that what you did with yours ?? :)
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: maximtaylor on April 20, 2004, 03:19:41 PM
The air temperature sensor is on the underside of the intake plenum.

It is possible to adjust the temperatures at which the fans come on via datalogit (don\'t think you can do it on the commander), but perhaps a better method may be to have an override switch to put the fans on manually.

Regards

Max
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: Archbish on April 20, 2004, 03:23:56 PM
Ahhhh, bless.  I know, my technical knowledge has no parallel...

Mine is in one of the air con ducts.  I usually have intake temps of about 1 or 2 degrees...

I am thinking of putting it in the freezer at home.  That should really get them temps down...

Much less hassle than the stoopid "manual override switch" idea...  Honestly, some people make life so hard for themselves...!!:rolleyes:
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: maximtaylor on April 20, 2004, 03:37:31 PM
I have not yet found the \'switch off OJ\' function via commander either ;)

Luv

Max
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: maximtaylor on April 20, 2004, 03:44:55 PM
Although I have found the function \'display brightness\', which OJ has turned on to an admirably high level.

Took me ages that one....

no?

ok :(
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: Archbish on April 20, 2004, 03:52:16 PM
No, I got it, s\'ok... *grin*

Actually, my new apexi is acting really weirdly...  The hold button which isn\'t supposed to work in a "Luxury box" (as opposed to the "Manual labour box") is working quite happily.  It\'s ceased working twice since fitting...

Any comments...??
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: davefrith on April 20, 2004, 03:56:14 PM
My only comment is that I am glad I got the information I needed from this thead before you got hold of it :)
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: maximtaylor on April 20, 2004, 03:58:21 PM
I was hoping you could tell me!

Sicknote is going to have a similar problem, I told him to talk to you :rolleyes:

Does the function work again if you key off / key on after it goes wrong?

Ok, i\'ve looked on rx7club and it looks like the best solution is to piggyback the original ecu into the car with all inputs, no outputs, except to the gearbox controller.


Max
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: Archbish on April 20, 2004, 04:15:19 PM
Sorry - I don\'t think I was clear (shut it!!!)

I didn\'t expect it to work, but it works most of the time.  The two times it has done it, I keyed off/on, and it worked again.  Should I expect it to stop working over time or that it will continue in the same vein.

I\'ve been on rx7forum.com, and they all say "Nope, can\'t work, shouldn\'t have an auto anyway, you reprobate", and helpful poopants like that.

I don\'t know why, but mine works quite happily!!
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: 20B_boy on April 20, 2004, 04:25:17 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Kevint
My water temp sits at 85-86 under normal driving. I believe that is normal for a stock car.

Kevin
I\'d say thats about right kev, mine was usually 80-83 with front mount and big ally rad. Max has silly low water temps now with the EWP installed.
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: antnicuk on April 20, 2004, 07:47:16 PM
I have an ewp with controller, but i let the water temps sit at about 80 -83 cos if its too cold the choke doesnt go off fully (although mine is now disonnected).  I can adjust it down for the POD etc.
Title: Power FC Commander "Monitor" Q\'s
Post by: Iwan on April 23, 2004, 06:48:30 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by maximtaylor
The air temperature sensor is on the underside of the intake plenum.

It is possible to adjust the temperatures at which the fans come on via datalogit (don\'t think you can do it on the commander), but perhaps a better method may be to have an override switch to put the fans on manually.

Regards

Max

g\'day,

just turn the A/C switch on, this should bring up the blower. Your temp will sink. I highly recommend to turn on your A/C while sitting in traffic.
Just tested it yesterday, while going home after party.
Mods:
Koyo ALU rad, 2 Layer 53mm core,
lowered A/C cooler in front
PFC
going about 200km/h for about 10km will bring the temp to 90-93°C, by turning the A/C on, the temp will drop to about 80°C.
Same due to city traffic. Without A/C temp= 90-93°C, with A/C on: temp=79-81°C

REgards
Iwan