Those with electronic boost controllers: warning!

nikp · December 21, 2007, 09:21:45 AM

This is a warning to all those with electronic boost controllers. Some may know this, some may not. In this weather you will probably find that you are hitting higher peak boost in this cold weather. This could be problematic, and potentially fatal for your engine.

I went out yesterday and hit 1.1 bar boost when it\'s only mapped to 1 bar. That\'s 10% extra boost!! I\'m told it hit fuel cut as I heard a big \'pop\' simialr to that of a hose popping off, but very loud! So, this is a warning to those people that may find themselves in a similar position! Turn your boost down, or run on the lower setting.

Apologies if everyone already knew this!!

iaint · December 21, 2007, 09:24:59 AM

This cold weather is certainly an eye-opener - on-boost intake temps of < 10C will see our cars performing well but your word of warning is timely!

leon · December 21, 2007, 09:47:49 AM

This goes to anybody with the car in general, :wiggle

nikp · December 21, 2007, 10:11:06 AM

Well, not really: most cars can retard ignition to stop knock. The FD\'s (and probably other rotaries too) can\'t.

leon · December 21, 2007, 10:22:21 AM

jah thats why i said the car as in rx7\'s

should have made it clearer but ive been up since 5am today :driving

nikp · December 21, 2007, 10:24:15 AM

ah, yeah, just re-read your post! Sorry, my bad just as much! You deserve some sleep!

leon · December 21, 2007, 10:30:57 AM

Im at work now :mad: Droped parents off at airport so im home alone for 2 weeks woe is me.... :guinness

Ed_RX7 · December 21, 2007, 11:04:08 AM

Quote from: nikpWell, not really: most cars can retard ignition to stop knock. The FD\'s (and probably other rotaries too) can\'t.

It does if you have a Apexi power FC pro....i\'ll let you know how mine performs once installed.:guinness

leon · December 21, 2007, 11:23:04 AM

PFC Pro? Oh do tell!

BlitzBoy · December 21, 2007, 11:58:57 AM

you need to tweek the gain on the controller, plus most decent controllers will self learn and stop the boost spikes

RemarkLima · December 21, 2007, 12:09:27 PM

Quote from: nikpWell, not really: most cars can retard ignition to stop knock. The FD\'s (and probably other rotaries too) can\'t.

I thought the stock ECU could do this? Just the power FC doesn\'t...

nikp · December 21, 2007, 12:16:10 PM

Wouldn\'t have thought so, but maybe. I thought most ECU advance ignition to the point of starting to get a bit of knock, then retard it again. The FD surely can\'t do that becuase even a teeny bit of knock is dangerous. Answers on a postcard please?

RemarkLima · December 21, 2007, 12:28:37 PM

I always thought that you\'d have the base map which would be retarded in the event of knock on most cars, with knock sensors that is!

I\'d have thought the stock ECU could otherwise why have a knock sensor at all?

Pretty much all NA engines (that I know) never have a knock sensor and so run on a fixed map with adjustments for coolant temp and intake temp (and alt if not like a Lotus and mapped in a cabbage field) and that\'s ya lot!

But I stand to be corrected

shaunwil · December 21, 2007, 12:56:38 PM

Plus the thing to remember if the car is tuned on a dyno the temps will be higher than when its on the road. There are corrections built into the software for temps of air and stuff. As long as these figures are good then you should be ok. Although if the air temp is low then you will need more fuel and if your on the limit of the fuel system it could damage stuff.

Shaun

lockwood77 · December 21, 2007, 12:58:46 PM

Could this explain why I got the warning light flickering (very briefly) when on track a couple of weeks ago? It was damn cold and wet!

If the PFC doesn\'t retard and I was getting super-cool air temps, maybe it was causing knock (although it was on part throttle at medium revs, not WOT). Surely we don\'t have to alter PFC settings every time it gets cold though!? :confused: