From what I understand, an ideal internal combustion happens with a 1:12.5 gas:air molecular ratio. And these days in modern cars, there are already sensors to adjust the amount of fuel injected to ensure this. So when people tune their engine, what are they changing? Are you going to get any better performance than a 1:12.5 fuel ratio?
In: Engineering
Usually you’re changing the fuel/air mix and the ignition timing. These are specific to your exact setup based on a lot of factors from your intake to spark plugs to altitude.
If your goal is performance, the question is *when* do you want that performance. Do you want it when the engine is idling, when it’s at mid throttle, or when its going as fast as it can? And what do you call “performance?” Do you mean max power or max efficiency?
Are you planning to use lower octane gas (cheaper, more forgiving in terms of pre-detonation) or higher octane (more power).
Timing is weird because you want the bang at exactly the right time. Imagine two kids on a trampoline, one double bouncing the other. The bounce has to be at exactly the right moment, right? Same with the bang in each of your pistons. It needs to be at exactly the right moment but the right moment can change at different speeds of the engine.
If you get that bang wrong enough it can mean that you get to see some of the inner workings of your engine… if you can find them wherever they land.
Thanks to electronic ignition, electronic fueling, and better computer technology, you can now tell your engine how to change the way it uses fuel, air, and spark at different times so that you get the most performance (whatever that means to you) when you want it based on your application AND change those parameters when it needs to.
Latest Answers