Quote:
Originally Posted by mike the snake
So when tuning, do tuners tune for power by adding timing and simply listening for knock?
|
Adding timing, or adding boost in the case of forced induction. You can listen for it but most of the time with a stock ECU it's just a matter at looking at what the knock control system is doing
Quote:
|
I'm wondering if or how they know to tune for the best, safest power.
|
So there are two things we're talking about here. One is knock, which will cause pressure spikes, increased temperatures, etc. That is definitely going to cause problems for core engine components like pistons and maybe bearings in this case.
The other thing is essentially pushing the engine too hard without knock. At the risk of oversimplifying things, you can make more output by throwing more air at it and by adding spark if you aren't knock limited. Both have advantages and disadvantages but they interact.
Judging whether the tune is safe even in the case of no knock is not easy. No matter what there is trial and error involved. It's easier to understand if you have some specification for the parts. We can certainly guess that the engine can handle a max speed higher than the factory rev limiter, and there haven't been widespread concerns about tunes that have revved higher.
Load on other core components from pressure and temperature are difficult to judge though. You need some specification on what they can handle, which you'll never get for the OEM parts but you could get for the aftermarket maybe. You also need very expensive instrumentation (parts and labor involved) to read temperatures and pressures in the combustion chamber, or in the oil galleries.
So really all you can do is trial and error for this stuff. All the older platforms have gone through it already. Look at some forum posts for DSM's or EG/EK Civics from 10 years ago. People were working through the same type of issues.