Turbo+Tuned ECU+Methanol Injection+ 7.5 lbs of boost = 1 fun G50!

[qsiguy]

Wow, this car is getting fun! I've been tuning the ECU for a couple weeks now and with the crap 91 octane we have here along with the heat it's been difficult to get rid of some slight detonation at 7-8 psi boost. I have a decent tune now and as of last night I got my methanol injection installed and it rocks! Zero detonation now and the cooler intake really makes a difference. I tweaked another tune to use with the methanol, added a bit of timing where I previously had to pull it which caused me to loose some power. Need to try out the new tune on Saturday.

During a road test today at over 90* ambient, it had much more power than previously on a cold night with temps in the 70's. When I hit full boost the back end breaks loose about every time. Definitely time for some new tires when I get done playing! AFR's are about ~11.4 at WOT from about 4.5K rpm and up. I'm going to have the methanol kick in a bit earlier to help get the AFR down a bit more below 4k rpm. It currently comes on at about 4.5 psi but it takes a second or so to pressurize. By dropping the pressure switch to about 3-3.5 psi it should smooth out the ARF in the lower end.

Now I'm going to start giving it a little more timing in the 4-4.8K rpm range where I had to pull it before because of detonation to get a little more power back. I don't think I'll be going any higher than 8 psi unless I make some changes to the fuel system and the MAF. Injectors are reaching about 83% duty cycle at high RPM/Load @ 7.5 psi. 8 psi will probably hit about 85-87% or so duty cycle and you really aren't supposed to exceed 80% to be safe. I think I'll be ok with the methanol injection to richen up the mix a bit.

Here are a few pics of todays AFR graph and some methanol injection install photos. The spike you see in the AFR graph is from me not shifting fast enough and hitting the 7K rev limiter Too many things to try and watch during these tests! I guess thats why they say not to tune on the road. lol I use an empty back country road so don't worry.



Using the washer fluid reservoir for my tank.

I have a stainless steel bolt zip tied to the end of the tube to hold the tube on the bottom of the reservoir.

Tube goes to the pump, then to a check valve, and to the injector

Here is the injector and check valve. Without the check valve it takes 6-7 seconds to re-prime the tube/pump before the injection starts, obviously not acceptable. The tube would drain back into the reservoir between uses without it. With the check valve installed the meth comes instantly, well it takes the pump about a second to get up to speed and pressurize. This is why I will be lowering the ON pressure from 4.5 to about 3-3.5 psi.

Here is the pressure switch that activates the methanol. The methanol is armed from my dual stage boost switch in the car. When it's on the low 3.6 psi setting the methanol is not armed. Flip the switch and boost switches to 7.5 (8 shortly) and arms the methanol.

Here's a video clip of the injector in action.
Modified by qsiguy at 12:09 AM 4/20/2008

[lino]

Crazy stuff! It must be so tempting to want to just rip her all the time and thanks for sharing the squirter video.

btw is your ECU similar to this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...i%3D1

[craigztoyz]

Thats alot more spray then I thought my GN had, although I never watched it like that. Man Thanx for that Video!

So you are happy with the Meth inj right? Is the detenation gone?

[goody90q45]

Using the washer fluid reservoir for my tank.

Just curious- Are you just putting enough methanol into the windshield washer reservoir for a short run or do you fill it up and use it all the time? If you're keeping it full isn't evaporation a problem in the Arizona heat?

[sijoko]

btw is your ECU similar to this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...i%3D1

That's the one that Robert Bowen made for me. I ended up not using it so I've got it for sale.

[sijoko]

I can imagine how much fun it would be at 7.5 psi. So the injectors haven't maxed out yet. Interesting. How much will the a/f ratio change without the methanol injection?

I would play it safe until you can install a proper fitting into the side or bottom of the windshield washer reservoir. I don't like the hose from the top. Just get a plastic fitting hose barb and use plenty of glue when you install it. You shouldn't have to worry about leaks if done right.

So, now, we are waiting for some vids.

[qsiguy]

Methanol is washer fluid. Methyl alcohol/water mix. It's full and still works for washing the windows, lol. It also provides me with the low fluid warning light on the dash.

My ECU is one of the original NICO ECUs but I've tuned it myself. I have about 30 variations that I've tried last time I counted. I should have it pretty close by the time I get on the dyno. I have a copy of one of Robert's turbo tunes and it didn't work for me.

It's very tempting to rip it up every time I drive it and specifically every time I'm in the front at a stop light...all I see is the "Christmas tree" and a 1/4 mile strip in front of me!

As far as the volume of that jet it's actually on the smaller end of the options I read about in my research. It puts out approx. 5 GPH at 100 psi. My pump will do about 90 psi so that's about where I'm at.

[sijoko]

I just watched the video of the spray nozzle. Wow, that is indeed a ton of fluid coming out. How much psi can your pump put out? Also, what size is the nozzle?

The spray has to be a super fine mist in order to get pulled into all the cylinders evenly. If it is too wet, then it will collect inside the runners and then you end up with a hit or miss situation.

For my water injection system, I'm running a 150 psi pump. I forget the size of the nozzle but it is pretty small. When it sprays, it is a very fine mist that looks almost gaseous.

[qsiguy]

As I mentioned above, my pump will do about 90 psi. There was some air in the line for that video which caused the initial sputtering. With the check valve installed the fluid stays primed right at the nozzle so it sprays much more evenly now. I do have a smaller nozzle I could try but it's working really well right now. I haven't noticed any symptoms to think it's causing a miss or anything.

I just got back from a run and I retuned the timing map and added about 3* of timing at 4 and 4.4K rpm. Still no detonation. Awesome! Can't decide if I want to add any more timing or not. AFR is pretty much where I want it. I still need to get the methanol trigger pressure set where I want it. I didn't have the laptop with me on that last drive so I couldn't watch the AFR's.

I did try something that was kind of fun. I hadn't tried this before and was curious. With the boost switch on stage 1 (3.6 psi) I floored it and during WOT acceleration and full boost I flipped the stage 2 switch and it instantly shot up to 8 PSI (where it's set currently) and the methanol switched on and it really set us back in the seat. Felt like what they show in movies like Fast and the Furious when they hit the NOS button. It was cool to see how much difference there is from 3.6 psi to 8 psi...Significant.

[mcrews]

Wow.... ....no really WOW!!!

[qsiguy]

I made a short video of the AFR graph so you can see the readings across the graph. If anyones interested...



FYI, I have a couple cool videos on the way too....

[elwesso]

Very nice Shane, cant wait to see some more vids, i bet it makes a big difference...

[qsiguy]

Ok, tried something a little different. I got a suction cup cell phone holder and stuck it on the bumper and then the front fender and put my camera in it. Turned out pretty cool I think. Unfortunately, the wind noise spoils the sound quality once I'm moving pretty fast.

Three short runs total, watch the back end on the last one. Rolling start from about 20 mph, it was a fun one!

[Q45denver]

Sounds great. So when do you think you'll be able to make up a kit for the rest of us.

[ScottJackson]

How close is your tune with the meth to the stock one (as far as timing and fuel)?

[qsiguy]

Fuel is richer on the high load scale, timing is pulled from 3600-4800 currently but that was the tune before the methanol. Since meth I just advanced it a bit where I had previously pulled it but I'm thinking about putting it back to stock and trying it. I'm pretty sure the meth will allow me to run stock timing. Just keep the fuel where it is as the AFR's are just about right where I want them.

Well, here are a couple graphics to show you exactly how they vary from stock currently.

Fuel Map vs. stock

Timing Map vs. stock

[elwesso]

haha thats INTENSE how you can see the front end get higher when you hit boost and it starts screaming, i love it!!

I want to see some in-car (RPM/speedo) and compare to the stage I

[craigztoyz]

haha thats INTENSE how you can see the front end get higher when you hit boost and it starts screaming, i love it!!

I want to see some in-car (RPM/speedo) and compare to the stage I

I love it!Great vid's, i watched the stage 2 5 times, n it gets better each time. SWEET, Can't wait to add boost after I get my Z45 done. Does it really break loose that much under full load? Love the lift on front when boost starts. Can't wait for the incar 'acceleration testing' vids

[qsiguy]

LOL, ya it really does break loose almost every time I punch it up to about 20-25 mph. The catch is that my rear tires are way past their due date. I'm holding off replacing them as long as I can so I don't wear out the new ones to fast. I have another set from that Q45a I sold that I need to put on the rear at least for testing so I can get an accurate time. As it is now the back just spins too much but it is really fun.

BTW, I reset timing back to stock, still no detonation with the methanol. I'm pretty rich tho, high 10's to mid 11's. Gave it a quick romp during lunch and didn't notice any detonation with ambient temps in the low 90's. Still running 8psi. Last night I tweaked it up a bit but I think it detected some knock because it hesitated at about 6 psi and then kicked in. The log showed -3 (I think) on the timing during that "anomaly". I backed it down to 8 again. I'm just about maxed out on the MAF and injectors at 8psi so that may be it until more mods can be done.
Modified by qsiguy at 3:48 PM 4/21/2008

[Kiven422]

OMG I just realized it breaks traction when you step on it from a roll...... that is AMAZING!! makes me want to turbo mine...... with time!

[qsiguy]

If all goes well with my business trip and my flight gets back on time I'll be hitting the dyno day going on here in Mesa this saturday. I can't really use it to compare with my baseline dyno because it's a different type but I want the numbers anyway and the price is right.

Anyone want to add their guess for the final 8 psi hp number? I'll be super happy to get 400-450 to the wheels.

[gammer_ghn]

i Think you will hit 435hp ish with the methanol. Great job on the car!!! You pulled off something very nice that many people didnt really support.

[qsiguy]

Figured I add this one just for fun. First take which I call my "outtake". Camera fell off the bumper, lucky I had the bungee attached to it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Hahahaha. "Crap..."

[bullittandy]

I would expect that the turbo adds 125-175 RWHP.

Video is great, I agree Wes, the front end getting light is awesome!!!

Well done-I love this site and this country.

[qsiguy]

We all like videos so here are some in car, dash shots. I don't like night videos but these are ok because they are pretty much just for watching the speed/rpm/boost gauges. Boost is set at 8 psi. A couple are just playing with the BOV a bit. I also just swapped my rear tires with some that actually have tread. The old ones just spin upon boost so they are worthless for speed trials. How do the shifts look compared to the last in car videos? Not bad eh? I wired up a little dropping resistor mod circuit during WOT. Works pretty good I think.

Looks like Siju still has me by a bit but wait til I get my 4.08 installed, watch out! My car is a rocket from a ~20 mph rolling start but from a standing start it's not too exciting until boost comes in.

Anyway enjoy!...

0-108 mph. Looks like about 14-15 sec. to 108 mph. (This one's on YouTube because I couldn't get it to upload to Photobucket.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLBGWe_Q5eo

20-80 mph run

40-80 mph run

And a couple of videos of me playing with the bov.



Modified by qsiguy at 3:17 AM 4/23/2008
Modified by qsiguy at 3:20 AM 4/23/2008

[craigztoyz]

Thank you for the videos. Photobucket, links went straight to pb mainpage, wouldnt play vids. My luck, 4 vids to see, and i can see them, i feel like stevie wonder at the playboy mansion.

Spoke with Joe at Infinity over there yesterday, he said that your ride is very sweet. Glad the meth is helping, how much boost are you pulling when it kicks in( around 3-4K?)

[qsiguy]

That's weird, Photobucket did the same for me just now.

Here are the direct links, try these.

http://s78.photobucket.com/alb...n.flv

http://s78.photobucket.com/alb...n.flv

http://s78.photobucket.com/alb...1.flv

http://s78.photobucket.com/alb...2.flv

Did you see the first one that's on Youtube?

[craigztoyz]

Thanx, youtube worked but I think that pb is having an issue today.That is some nice torque when it kicks in, and the power band makes me grin. I love flat open roads in NM and AZ, south parts of the states, obviously.

[elwesso]

shane did you unplug your dropping resistor? Looks like the trans is shifting really nice now!!