Had a good run today

[david85]

OK, I admit it, I am an idiot with how I timed my engine. Since I have no timing meter, I can only do it by ear and I ended up having it too far retarded.

I advanced it twice on 2 separate occasions and took it on a long run after each adjustment. Today was the separate run

Average speed was 75 MPH and I went past 80. I was passing and even floored it a few times to take advantage of traffic openings. Wind was blowing today too.

Power is noticeably better when bombing around town, but the economy is also decent despite my high cruise speed and aggressive right foot. Exhaust smoke seems to be pretty low too. I am now up to 7 PSI smoke free, where before it was 5 psi.

Today's average was 17.1 MPG and that included some ~30km of driving around town before completing the rest of the 370km on this fill up.

I was also able to verify that my odometer is bang on going by highway road markers. After 10 kilometers I still wasn't able to see any discrepancy between my odometer and the road. Then the markers stopped

I'll be making another run sometime next week and if I'm not in a hurry, I'll try to keep the speed between 65-70 MPH to see what sort of MPGs I can manage.

 

[Agnem]

Dave, with the 3:08's and overdrive, you must be turning some really low cruise RPM's. Can you give us an idea of what your turning at 55mph? (not sure what that is in KM Per hour).

 

[david85]

100km=61.1miles, so 55MPH/0.611=90 kph

@ 55 the RPM would be close to 1200 RPM with my transmission and gearing but I never tried cruising with RPMs that low. Locked in 3rd is about 1700 RPM. Usually keep it at 1500 minimum. Here is a driving video I made a little while ago that demonstrates how it works with the current programs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGEUJ28ra1Y

 

[typ4]

You really need one of these torque cams for that low of cruising speed. I took Punk for a ride and now he is really pissed at his truck.

 

[david85]

I might just like to take you up on that Russ, but between all my projects and work, and an up comming trip this winter, I don't think I would have the time for another project.

Any word on when we can see some dyno numbers on your truck?

I wonder how hard it would be to swap a cam with the engine still in the truck....

Truth be told, the truck will pull a 6% grade empty in overdrive. Anything over 60 MPH us fair game, but after 80 is when the turbo finally starts to spool, but I shouldn't say much more

 

[david85]

okaaaaaay..................... another little update on this.

I know I said power was better and the butt dyno confirmed this (above 2000 RPM really woke up), but today I did a slightly more scientific test.

We have a hill close by that starts out at 5% and ends at 10% at the top. Total length is slightly less than one kilometer. Normally, I'm lucky to keep it at 65-67 MPH at the top where it maxes out at 10%. Thats Pedal to the metal, foot to the floor, there ain't no more.

This time I had to back off because of a turn half way up and speed was still climbing past 75 MPH. The last steep portion where the grade hits 10% is strait, and thats where I still had to back off a little to avoid completely blowing the doors off an old golf that was limping along like all old VWs do(two lanes going up the hill, one going down).

Final speed was 75.1 MPH at the top compared to 65 last time I performed this test. I was not expecting this kind of improvement, but I won't complain

Oh, and in case you are wondering, I DID perform this test before turbocharging the truck. Usually did a mere 43 MPH, almost point for point the same as my F150.

Smoke was fairly clean and that also surprised me. However, there were intermittent puffs of black once I was on the final stretch. I don't know if these were air bubbles, or some instability in the timing map. I remember reading that these pumps can develop erratic dynamic timing as they age. Whatever it was, I didn't feel anything in the truck and it pulled smooth, hard and obedient all the way.

Any ideas on black puffs I saw? Its done this under load before ever since I can remember, not often, but still a little annoying.