Suggestions
A couple of articles for the near future, Liquid
LPG injection system and the Rotary valve head for the 4 stroke engine. People
need to be informed for advances to happen. Thanks.
Mick Miljevic
Australia
Diesel LPG
After using a couple of petrol engine convertions,
I am now looking at GAS ON DIESEL, using BOTH fuels simultaneously. Most systems
on the market inject LPG as a vapour, but there are several companies injecting
LIQUID LPG which will be very beneficial to diesel engines. Most convertions use
about 25% Diesel 70% gas, obtaining diesel type power output. One Aussie company
does it the other way round 70:30 to increase both power AND torque about 30%
COULD A MODIFIED PETROL INJECTION SYSTEM BE USED TO INJECT LIQUID LPG INTO THE
INTAKE MANIFOLD?
Joe Stanyer
Thailand
We have covered vapour LPG injection on diesels
– see
Diesel LPG - an Amazing Breakthrough.
We have not covered liquid LPG injection.
‘Totally Unacceptable’
Great read and very informational. But reading the
article http://www.autospeed.com.au/cms/A_3006/article.html.
It has shown that Julian Edgar has used his power of a press car to abuse the
vehicle. This is totally unacceptable as this is a courtesy vehicle and it seems
that was not shown!.
Some people need to take there job seriously and
write constructively and maybe clean the vehicle before returning it so they can
make sure the vehicle is in the same condition as they received it. Also from
reading Julian's replies it seems that he may of lent the car to a friend to
drive that's why he never knew of the damage done, but that would be
unacceptable.
Good Luck with this issue.
Bobby Benvenuto
Australia
‘Glaring Obmission’
Re The History of Mazda's Rotary Engine
A Very good Story but Mazda's Non Recognision of
Ford First Production car with a Wankel Rotary Engine is a Glaring Obmission.
Ford P{roduced a SINGLE Rotor Wankel Rotary Powered Engine in the Mustang in the
Early 1960's and has the honor of brrn the First Production car with a Rotary
Engine
Mazda Only Claims the first Twin Rotary Engine in
a Production Car
Tony Gowshall
Australia
‘Wrong Conclusions’
Your explanation of torque and horsepower is
correct only in a frictionless environment. In the real world you must consider
sum of forces, including friction and drag. Without an analysis of sum of forces
the results and conclusions are wrong. Please take a look at these linked
documents.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dfjcvtc2_8cn85bvcn&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dfjcvtc2_9dt8w9ffw&hl=en
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pBCH2Clzmrpk4iegLhabkAA
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pBCH2ClzmrpmqhY6LFzt2DQ
Andrew Gallien
United States
‘Such a Stupid Comment’
Astra SRi Turbo review of 6 February, 2007 by
Julian Edgar,
I just can't get over this reviewer saying "For
some but not for us' I have never heard of such a stupid comment for any car
review. Car's are usually reviewed for readers to consider buying it not for
reviewers for their own personal preferences.
He said Astra engine lacks VVT which is a clue to
how old it is. The Golf GTi 2 Litre Turbo, XR5 2.5, new Audi 16V 1.8T all do not
have VVT. Big deal most VVT engines (Honda, Toyota, Yamaha)have very little
torque.
The suspension.....hmmmm....18" wheel/tyres are
too low for the setup. He reckons he knows far more than Opel and Lotus
Engineers. The Civic Type R with similar rear torsion bar (although
non-adjustable) suspension has a 18" package but with very hard supension it
handles much better. However, it rides like a go-cart. Much worse than the
Astra.
This a car you can get for $35,000 driveaway and
the more expensive XR5 gets better reviews with its heavier front end, very hard
ride, sure much better handling/steering but no foot rest or even cruise control
and you say it's brilliant. Or I guess you say brilliance is a hard riding low
torque VVT Honda Civic Type R made in UK for $40,000 or a well engineered VW GTi
Golf made in the poorest area of South Africa? No not German made. It should be
much cheaper because of this yet you will say brilliant for $40,000.
What sort of biased publication do you run there?
I say for some but not for me.
Robert
Australia
Fuel Additives
Can you also run an article about the various Fuel
additives available in the market and specially those Ferrocene + detergent
based fuel pills which claim to boost performance and Fuel efficiency.
Their Pro's and Con's on the engine etc.
Saurabh
Australia
We would suggest that if the correct fuel is
being used for the car, no additive claimed to increase fuel economy actually
works.
‘What the Hell is the Go?’
http://autospeed.com/cms/A_110214/article.html
Fairly annoyed, i'm certain i've read this very
same article a long, long time ago. Nearly put it into effect on one of my
vehicles previously.
What the hell is the go here? The writeup on
centrigual fans WAS a huge part of the old one, i remember this keenly?
Adam
Australia
As indicated in
AutoSpeed is Changing!, which was published in
November 2006, some of each week’s content comprises material that has been
previously published in AutoSpeed. There has been no change over the last 17
months in this approach.
New Electronic Modules
I'm a big fan of your electronic kits developed in
conjunction with Silicon Chip magazine and I was excited to read on your blog
late last year about the upcoming electronic modules developed with eLabtronics
and some of their features. I was hoping that you might be able to give an
update or estimate on when these will be available / articles published in
relation to the modules?
Cameron Sanderson
Australia
We’re working on prototypes of them right now.
The first module should be ready for release in the next 4-6 weeks.
Exhaust Volume
Test idea. I'm considering modifying my exhaust to
see if providing a larger volume post-turbo will allow the car's boost to spool
significantly faster. No other modifications to the exhaust, just an extra
volume attached to the intake side of the downpipe that allows extra air to be
packed in before substantial backpressure is realized. It may be as simple as an
additional exhaust pipe running parallel that then re-joins the exhaust
(probably pre-cat for emmisions reasons, though post cat would probably be more
effective). This volume would work essentially as an exhaust reservoir,
initially reducing backpressure on the turbine. This would essentially be
similar to running a larger downpipe, though it could be done very cheaply to
one's current exhaust, requiring some cutting and welding but very little cash
money.
Julian Santa-Rita
United States
Electric Bike
I am very interseted in your article building a
electric bike.I have saved parts1,2.and 3 in my favouirites.I have ridden a bike
for a lot of years, but now, after a left knee and a right hip replacement,with
right knee replacement this year its become difficut,i have been looking for a
used elecric bike,The cost is out of my price bracket, even fior a used one, me
being 81 years old pensioner.Can yo pleasse advise suppliers of the various
parts required in my area , which is Newcastle NSW,.Thank you for a most
informative article.
John Drewett
Australia
The cheapest way to assemble such a bike is to
salvage the parts from discarded goods. For example, PC back-up power supplies
contain sealed lead acid batteries, wall plugpacks can be used to charge the
batteries, aluminium to build the supporting frame can be bought very cheaply at
scrap metal dealers, the high current switches can be sourced from consumer
goods like photocopiers, and the motor can be a motorcycle or small car starter
motor. However, even once all these bits are found, lots of work will be
needed!
Happy Medium
Hi guys my idea of a article is about the New
Generation turbo setup's. In the olden days you would buy a bigger turbo,bigger
intercooler,big exhaust and get teh car tuned and make big power. But all these
New generation cars. They are slighty tweaked and then Do Software upgrade's and
get 40% power increase. The Bigger turbo setups do still make more power, but
acceleration wise the New software upgrades just domminate the old school way of
thinking there are golf 5's/focus ST's making 200kw & 450nm. Where is the
happy medium? I enjoying upgrading turbo's and making boost pipes fitting bigger
coolers but these New generation cars are TOOO strong
Shaun
South Africa
We’re not sure what the problem is...
In-Cylinder Pressure measurement
Has in cylinder pressure measurement/logging made
any progress in terms of becoming available for a tuning shop or small scale
experimenter? I heard Champion makes a spark plug that is also a pressure
transducer.... Any insight or information into this?
Johny
Canada
We don’t know of any such sensor priced at the
tuning shop level.
Water Injection
Good article on water injection, I've recently
been playing with it a lot. Check into Honda's use of water injection in the
exhaust of their two stroke GP bikes to widen the powerband by changing exhaust
gas speed. Would be interesting for your article.
Bill Cardell
United States
Cheap Data Logger
Thought you might like the look of this: http://www.shopatron.com/product/part_number=2000/135.0.25789.0.0.0.0
At around US$130 it's got to be the cheapest
yet most highly featured data logger I've come across. I'll be getting one
when they are released! I haven't been able to find details on sampling rate or
resolution but I have just sent them an email asking for more information.
I'm sure with a very small amount of ingenuity, you'd be able to get a road car
all hooked up in no time.... I keep telling you, you need to keep an eye out for
what is going on in the R/C car world.
Peter Boden
Australia
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