The Search For Increased Longevity And Durability In Diesels Continues
Modern diesel engine platforms offer a great source of power potential regardless of the manufacturer. I suppose that is why the mid-size diesel truck has become so popular among the younger generation. Take an engine that already makes power and find ways to make more. Turbocharged diesel engines have a huge amount of power gains when “tweaked” in the right direction. The same can be said for pulling trucks and drag racers with diesel engines. In theory, the diesel engine comes to “life” when combustion temperatures reach 2,500 degrees F.
BMW Tech Tip: Poor Performance, Noise From Turbocharger
The customer complains of loss of performance and turbocharger noise. The turbocharger oil supply may be restricted, causing oil starvation and resulting in the seizing of the turbocharger assembly.
Automotive Fuel Pumps Continue To Evolve
On most applications, the pump runs at a constant speed (typically 3,000 to 7,000 RPM depending on the design). However, on many newer vehicles, pump speed is controlled by the PCM and will vary depending on engine load and speed. The most common type of electric fuel pump today is the turbine style pump. An impeller ring with many small blades is attached to the electric motor inside the pump.
Servicing Saddle-Style Fuel Tanks
Automakers have installed saddle-style tanks on several car models for more than a decade. This style of tank uses two wells, one on either side of a driveshaft or exhaust system. This position optimizes luggage compartment capacity, fuel volume and crash safety. The behavior of the fuel wells, pumps and sending units are often misdiagnosed, leading to fuel pumps being replaced unnecessarily.
Going Faster In 1954
According to most hot rod historians, nitro’s first competition use in America was by Vic Edelbrock Sr. and his associates. In the late 1940s, Midget racer Ed Haddad came into Vic’s shop with a gallon can of nitromethane he’d been given by one of the Dooling brothers, who manufactured slot cars (the tethered miniature cars that ran on a circle track popular in the 1940s and 1950s). Ed didn’t want any part of the new fuel because he had heard “it will blow up in your face.”
Diesel Oil PC-11 Will Soon Be Changing
PC-11 will now define two separate heavy-duty diesel lube oils. PC-11A is scheduled to be commercialized in March 2017. This oil performance category will address pre-2017 engine designs and all the various XW-40 and XW-30 grade oils on the market since much is known about their actual field performance.
Diagnostic Solutions: Fuel System Pressure & Volume Checks
For maximum efficiency, modern import fuel injection systems require that fuel be delivered at a specified volume and pressure. Because the fuel injector’s job is to mix fuel with the intake air charge, it must produce a finely misted, conical spray pattern through the fuel injector nozzle. Lower-than-specified fuel pressures not only fail to provide enough fuel for combustion at larger throttle openings, but may also introduce an uneven air/fuel charge distribution into the combustion chamber itself, which usually results in hard starting, hesitation and reduced power output.
Returnless EFI Systems
If you’ve tried to find the fuel pressure regulator on many late-model engines by looking in the engine compartment, you won’t find it there because the regulator has been relocated to the fuel tank. Engines with “returnless” electronic fuel injection (EFI) systems have the regulator inside the fuel tank.
Turbo Trouble: How Turbochargers Work
Turbochargers are great for adding power to any gas or diesel-powered engine, but are especially useful in small displacement engines. The boost to airflow that a turbocharger provides increases the breathing efficiency of the engine for more horsepower and torque.
Diagnosing An Intermittent, Poor-Run, Hard-Start Complaint That Stumped The Local Body Shop
This month we’re going to be looking at an intermittent poor-run, hard-start complaint on a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. This car came to us by way of a body shop with which we work closely. Like most good working relationships, we are always willing to help these guys with our expertise, and they are wonderful about
Tech Tips: Fuel Pump Float Arm Assembly
In some cases, float arm assemblies have been damaged after the fuel pump has been tested. Shipping, mishandling and pump insertion/removal from packaging are causes for potential damage.
Weber Carburetors: Nomanclature
From 1950 until the late 1970s, Weber carburetors were the sign of a performance engine. They could make an engine breathe, or, in the wrong hands, make an engine choke on it’s own fuel. A Weber carburetor is a simple device with fewer moving parts than an American-style four-barrel carburetor, but it is a lot
