Stage 1
#52
Wreakloose, you need to get your STFT to within 3%, the AEM MAF is the same as stock IIRC, are you sure you have no vacuum leaks?
no-coast, great posts.
I have been messing with this for a while now and the differences in understanding an tuning philosophies has always threw me off in terms of my tuning and understanding things on my turbocharged RX-8. Your comments on a blow thru setup make sense, I just think it is something that is tough for most to tune as it is a pretty difficult thing to do.
I was having many tuning issues (bogging rich mainly and causing spark blow out) that were difficult to get sorted and had me looking at mechanical problems outside of the tune. Until I visited Steve Kan and then he confused me even more with his philosophy but then was able to get it tuned really well(despite not being able to hit decent boost due to a shitty MBC).
I plan on replacing my wastegate actuator here soon (its very old and boost is not holding at high RPM) and retuning again soon.
no-coast, great posts.
I have been messing with this for a while now and the differences in understanding an tuning philosophies has always threw me off in terms of my tuning and understanding things on my turbocharged RX-8. Your comments on a blow thru setup make sense, I just think it is something that is tough for most to tune as it is a pretty difficult thing to do.
I was having many tuning issues (bogging rich mainly and causing spark blow out) that were difficult to get sorted and had me looking at mechanical problems outside of the tune. Until I visited Steve Kan and then he confused me even more with his philosophy but then was able to get it tuned really well(despite not being able to hit decent boost due to a shitty MBC).
I plan on replacing my wastegate actuator here soon (its very old and boost is not holding at high RPM) and retuning again soon.
OR each line from the data log on my STFT need to be within 3%??
Thanks.. just trying to make sure im chewing on this right.
#54
haha.. I am.. but im just starting so I havent started cracking the whip on myself yet.. haha.. but it will come.. when i get a better understanding of all of this..haha..
#56
Ok guys... This is what I got.. Im currently in the process of giving this a try..
So I did some Data Logging. And I took to it like this..
I took the average of my logs at an average of 4000 rpm. (4246 RPM) and 4500 rpm. (4491 RPM)
My Calculated Load at the 4k average came to 40.05
My STFT's at that average came to 5.275625%
And my average 45k RPM came out as 42.45 Calculated load with my STFT's at 11.90563%
I took a screen shot of the excel file i made that shows the Fuel VF table and what I did
![Name: FuelVFsample_zps70f3ac87.png
Views: 79
Size: 245.1 KB](https://www.rx8club.com/attachments/series-i-engine-tuning-forum-63/225088d1501216852-stage-1-fuelvfsample_zps70f3ac87.png)
I went to the average RPM range of 4000 and the average Load rage of 40~.38 and changed the Cell from 0.99 and added the average percent from the STFT of 5.275625% Then I took Half of that percent (2.637813%) and added that to the surrounding cells.
I then went to the next range of 45k rpm average and Calc. Load of 42 ~ .44 range and took my average STFT for that of 11.90% and added that to the cell changing 1.03 to 1.152628 and then took half of that percent 5.952815 and added that to the surrounding sells.
OVERLAPED CELLS.. so the surrounding sells that overlapped each other. I just took the average of the two 2.637813 and 5.952815 and averaged them together and came up with 4.295314 for the ones that overlapped and added that percent to those sells..
Does it sound like Im doing this right... I plan on doing more data logs for other load and rpm ranges and maybe look for some type of trend then I can interpolate more of the sells and get a lager pattern of what may be going on..
So I did some Data Logging. And I took to it like this..
I took the average of my logs at an average of 4000 rpm. (4246 RPM) and 4500 rpm. (4491 RPM)
My Calculated Load at the 4k average came to 40.05
My STFT's at that average came to 5.275625%
And my average 45k RPM came out as 42.45 Calculated load with my STFT's at 11.90563%
I took a screen shot of the excel file i made that shows the Fuel VF table and what I did
![Name: FuelVFsample_zps70f3ac87.png
Views: 79
Size: 245.1 KB](https://www.rx8club.com/attachments/series-i-engine-tuning-forum-63/225088d1501216852-stage-1-fuelvfsample_zps70f3ac87.png)
I went to the average RPM range of 4000 and the average Load rage of 40~.38 and changed the Cell from 0.99 and added the average percent from the STFT of 5.275625% Then I took Half of that percent (2.637813%) and added that to the surrounding cells.
I then went to the next range of 45k rpm average and Calc. Load of 42 ~ .44 range and took my average STFT for that of 11.90% and added that to the cell changing 1.03 to 1.152628 and then took half of that percent 5.952815 and added that to the surrounding sells.
OVERLAPED CELLS.. so the surrounding sells that overlapped each other. I just took the average of the two 2.637813 and 5.952815 and averaged them together and came up with 4.295314 for the ones that overlapped and added that percent to those sells..
Does it sound like Im doing this right... I plan on doing more data logs for other load and rpm ranges and maybe look for some type of trend then I can interpolate more of the sells and get a lager pattern of what may be going on..
#59
Eventually you will get the VE map whittled down to the point that you are only making very small changes to single cells.
There really isn't great resolution in that map, and eventually you get to the point where individual cells may actually need to be fairly far off one another and blending them begins to be counterproductive.
There really isn't great resolution in that map, and eventually you get to the point where individual cells may actually need to be fairly far off one another and blending them begins to be counterproductive.
#60
I am already seeing things like that.... From one rpm range to another and depending on the load range I see some big jumps at this point.. I don't think blending is going to work it out in the cases ive seen when the cells are right next to each other with big changes between the two.. I haven't changed them yet but I can already see what you may be saying about that.
#61
Yeah, knowing where to blend is part of what makes this all more art than science at the end of the day.
The big peaks/valleys on the RPM scale are where the different ports open up. Obviously there will be some huge airflow changes there.
The big peaks/valleys on the RPM scale are where the different ports open up. Obviously there will be some huge airflow changes there.
#62
so on a boosted car if I wanted to change the VE would 1.2 ve be out of question?
what would be the best way to compensate the injector scaling for intake track pressure?
as boost goes up the injector will inject less fuel then what the calculation thinks.
what would be the best way to compensate the injector scaling for intake track pressure?
as boost goes up the injector will inject less fuel then what the calculation thinks.
#63
VE will be entirely dependent on your setup. Numbers are completely arbitrary and made up until they are logged and compared with reality on your specific setup.
I merely know how to look at the hard data in front of me and tell what adjustments need to be made. There are engines where I can pull a number out of my head and it will be close. This is only because I've tuned hundreds of them. I haven't done enough rotaries to be able to know what numbers look good and what don't.
I know the COBB software very well. I know Otto cycle internal combustion very well (rotaries are still an Otto cycle engine). I bought my RX-8 because I knew absolutely nothing about rotaries up until early May when I decided to impulse buy one so I could learn new things.
The VE table can kind of fudge things on a boosted car.
Boost is basically your calc load. As boost increases, calc load increases. In those higher calc. load tables, you will end up having higher VE values (forcing the ECU to run a higher IDC to compensate for the relative drop in fuel pressure). It's a bit of a hack, but it works OK.
Honestly, for boosted cars the best option is to switch to a rising rate fuel pressure regulator that increases fuel pressure by 1psi for each 1 psi of boost (as this keeps the relative head pressure in the injector the same at all times). This isn't a small undertaking, as you basically have to switch over to a return style fuel system. This is a purely mechanical and elegant solution. It eliminates a whole bunch of variables that are otherwise impossible to pin down. Bonus points for the fuel pressure changes being instant.
It's a mod that will give you absolutely zero extra power. For reliability purposes it's huge. There are situations at part throttle where you can still have very high manifold pressure, but very low airflow rates. This will bring your calc. load way down, as it's strictly monitoring airflow. This will result in less than ideal IDC and force the engine lean. If you have a built in mechanical method to tie fuel pressure to boost pressure, it eliminates those situations.
My personal theory thus far, is that a lot of these boosted RX-8s that are popping motors despite a solid dyno tune, are due to part throttle lean conditions that were never seen on a dyno.
Difficulty depends on where you place your regulator/return.
If you totally ditch your OEM fuel rails it becomes a huge project. If you do return at some point in the engine bay before the OEM rail, it's not too bad.
I've never done this on a Mazda. I don't know the exact specifics of what's involved. I've done it on a ton of other cars though.
I merely know how to look at the hard data in front of me and tell what adjustments need to be made. There are engines where I can pull a number out of my head and it will be close. This is only because I've tuned hundreds of them. I haven't done enough rotaries to be able to know what numbers look good and what don't.
I know the COBB software very well. I know Otto cycle internal combustion very well (rotaries are still an Otto cycle engine). I bought my RX-8 because I knew absolutely nothing about rotaries up until early May when I decided to impulse buy one so I could learn new things.
The VE table can kind of fudge things on a boosted car.
Boost is basically your calc load. As boost increases, calc load increases. In those higher calc. load tables, you will end up having higher VE values (forcing the ECU to run a higher IDC to compensate for the relative drop in fuel pressure). It's a bit of a hack, but it works OK.
Honestly, for boosted cars the best option is to switch to a rising rate fuel pressure regulator that increases fuel pressure by 1psi for each 1 psi of boost (as this keeps the relative head pressure in the injector the same at all times). This isn't a small undertaking, as you basically have to switch over to a return style fuel system. This is a purely mechanical and elegant solution. It eliminates a whole bunch of variables that are otherwise impossible to pin down. Bonus points for the fuel pressure changes being instant.
It's a mod that will give you absolutely zero extra power. For reliability purposes it's huge. There are situations at part throttle where you can still have very high manifold pressure, but very low airflow rates. This will bring your calc. load way down, as it's strictly monitoring airflow. This will result in less than ideal IDC and force the engine lean. If you have a built in mechanical method to tie fuel pressure to boost pressure, it eliminates those situations.
My personal theory thus far, is that a lot of these boosted RX-8s that are popping motors despite a solid dyno tune, are due to part throttle lean conditions that were never seen on a dyno.
Difficulty depends on where you place your regulator/return.
If you totally ditch your OEM fuel rails it becomes a huge project. If you do return at some point in the engine bay before the OEM rail, it's not too bad.
I've never done this on a Mazda. I don't know the exact specifics of what's involved. I've done it on a ton of other cars though.
Last edited by no-coast-punk; 07-23-2013 at 08:30 PM.
#65
Boosted Kiwi
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There are situations at part throttle where you can still have very high manifold pressure, but very low airflow rates. This will bring your calc. load way down, as it's strictly monitoring airflow. This will result in less than ideal IDC and force the engine lean.
.
The fact that our stock apex seals are very brittle combined with some dubious tuning software and some really dodgy installs caused the demise of many of our earlier turboed engines. These days it's rare to blow a well tuned FI engine unless you up the boost.
Last edited by Brettus; 07-24-2013 at 12:02 AM.
#66
Yellow looks faster.
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Ok guys, Flashed to the Cobb Stock Map. Here be the logs.
Stock Idle
LTFT is less than half of what it was, but the STFT is up.
![](https://sphotos-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/999405_10200675168264872_2072551219_n.jpg)
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/148547_10200675168224871_1314992104_n.jpg)
Here is the 4th Gear Cruise
LTFT is way down, but STFT is through the roof. Have basically Flip Flopped the LT&ST
![](https://sphotos-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1003499_10200675174385025_1935428538_n.jpg)
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/995949_10200675174345024_459497680_n.jpg)
Stock 2nd Gear Pull
Same trend, less LTFT more STFT
![](https://sphotos-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1016811_10200675180985190_1942249205_n.jpg)
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/602672_10200675181025191_67080668_n.jpg)
What do you think?
I want to go do the Mazda injector service and get to cleaning it up.
New plugs/coils/wires are due as soon as I can afford them.
Don't know if this will help at all, But It needs to be done anyhow.
Stock Idle
LTFT is less than half of what it was, but the STFT is up.
![](https://sphotos-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/999405_10200675168264872_2072551219_n.jpg)
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/148547_10200675168224871_1314992104_n.jpg)
Here is the 4th Gear Cruise
LTFT is way down, but STFT is through the roof. Have basically Flip Flopped the LT&ST
![](https://sphotos-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1003499_10200675174385025_1935428538_n.jpg)
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/995949_10200675174345024_459497680_n.jpg)
Stock 2nd Gear Pull
Same trend, less LTFT more STFT
![](https://sphotos-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1016811_10200675180985190_1942249205_n.jpg)
![](https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/602672_10200675181025191_67080668_n.jpg)
What do you think?
I want to go do the Mazda injector service and get to cleaning it up.
New plugs/coils/wires are due as soon as I can afford them.
Don't know if this will help at all, But It needs to be done anyhow.
Last edited by Wolfe; 07-23-2013 at 11:15 PM.
#70
Yellow looks faster.
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I almost wish I didn't have an accessport. ignorance is bliss.
#74
Yellow looks faster.
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Not that I can remember. My engine just has normal whirring noise. I will listen closely tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure it does not make any ticking noises. whats the ticking mean?