I know I remember reading something about the stock ECU retarding the timing if the engine gets too hot but can't find the info now. Is this true? How hot is too hot? This weekend at Daytona the car was way down on power and the only thing that changed was it was running too hot due to a fan problem. Mine is a '94 if that helps. TIA
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Running hot and lose of power
#1
Posted 08-11-2014 02:10 PM
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#2
Posted 08-11-2014 02:31 PM
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Yes its true in a 99 model I see a drop in power north of 190 and big drop at 210... Not sure on a 94 but im sure you are losing power at some temp threashold
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#3
Posted 08-11-2014 02:54 PM
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I know I remember reading something about the stock ECU retarding the timing if the engine gets too hot but can't find the info now. Is this true? How hot is too hot? This weekend at Daytona the car was way down on power and the only thing that changed was it was running too hot due to a fan problem. Mine is a '94 if that helps. TIA
The fan gives you zero benefit with the car moving unless you were running continuously on someones bumper. If it was running hotter than normal for you in clean air, you have some other issue.
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#4
Posted 08-11-2014 04:43 PM
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I know I remember reading something about the stock ECU retarding the timing if the engine gets too hot but can't find the info now. Is this true? How hot is too hot? This weekend at Daytona the car was way down on power and the only thing that changed was it was running too hot due to a fan problem. Mine is a '94 if that helps. TIA
How hot was it running? Were you in a draft for long stretches or was it hot while running alone?
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#5
Posted 08-11-2014 05:29 PM
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during the pace laps it got to 220-230, cooled down some but not as cool as when i was running a fan. car was down on power. I lost 6-8 mph between the bus stop and turn one at daytona and the only thing changed between this last race and the one before was I removed the fan.
Steve Elicati
1994 ITA miata #01
#6
Posted 08-11-2014 10:33 PM
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during the pace laps it got to 220-230, cooled down some but not as cool as when i was running a fan. car was down on power. I lost 6-8 mph between the bus stop and turn one at daytona and the only thing changed between this last race and the one before was I removed the fan.
That is too hot and if you were running those temps in clean air, you have something wrong. And its not the lack of fan function. (they are not providing any benefit above about 30 mph, hence that is why they are electric or viscous clutch driven to only rob engine power when needed at idle)
If you car was running 220 plus, I am sure it was running a non-optimum ecu map pulling timing advance and costing you power.
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#7
Posted 08-13-2014 09:02 AM
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Any one know how hot the temp has to be to pull timing on a 1.6 and what sensor sends that info to the ECU. Can that be eliminated legally or not
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#8
Posted 08-13-2014 09:13 AM
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Just get a good radia
Any one know how hot the temp has to be to pull timing on a 1.6 and what sensor sends that info to the ECU. Can that be eliminated legally or not
Don't try to out-think the ECU. Just get a better radiator. I was fighting cooling problems in my ITA miata and switched to a Springfield Dyno radiator. I'm now running at 180-190F at the back of the head (compared to 230+ before).
#9
Posted 08-13-2014 10:16 AM
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Can that be eliminated legally or not
OH, come on Pat, you know the answer to that question !!!!!!!
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#10
Posted 08-13-2014 10:46 AM
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OH, come on Pat, you know the answer to that question !!!!!!!
Dave, honestly I don't know or I wouldn't ask, I have never, ever disconnected any sensor. I might, if it is legal
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#11
Posted 08-13-2014 11:01 AM
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Any one know how hot the temp has to be to pull timing on a 1.6 and what sensor sends that info to the ECU. Can that be eliminated legally or not
Pat, it's the sensor called a thermosensor at the rear of the head. It's got the green electrical plug. Talk to your engine builder, would think that's a responsibility they take on with selling their engine.
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#12
Posted 08-13-2014 12:09 PM
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Any one know how hot the temp has to be to pull timing on a 1.6 and what sensor sends that info to the ECU. Can that be eliminated legally or not
I did some searching and someone on an old thread from the prior site tested a 1.6 on a dyno up to 235* and at least claimed to confirm that the 1.6 does not pull timing at higher temps. They said the 1.8 ECU was smarter but I never did find evidence that it in fact alters the timing at higher temps either. Lots of speculation all around the interweb though.
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Posted 08-13-2014 02:01 PM
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#14
Posted 08-13-2014 02:15 PM
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It is not legal to remove or alter the temperature sending unit or fan for that matter. 99s pull timing when they get hot and that sensor is prone to failure.
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#15
Posted 08-13-2014 02:23 PM
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So just to be clear...
Steve car is a ITA car?,
and no fan is ok or not ?
And in SM it is required.
I'll open one more can of worm, It's legal to have a switch to turn on and off your rad fan in SM ??
J~
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#16
Posted 08-13-2014 02:28 PM
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#17
Posted 08-13-2014 03:43 PM
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So just to be clear...
Steve car is a ITA car?,
and no fan is ok or not ?
And in SM it is required.
I'll open one more can of worm, It's legal to have a switch to turn on and off your rad fan in SM ??
J~
You need to label the switch "Cool Suit"
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#18
Posted 08-13-2014 06:40 PM
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I run ITA and it's legal to remove the fan in IT.
Steve Elicati
1994 ITA miata #01
#19
Posted 08-13-2014 06:49 PM
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I run ITA and it's legal to remove the fan in IT.
Oh, I missed that part. Sorry. A friend of mine got DQed earlier this year for not having a radiator fan, so just trying to help people avoid that in SM.
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#20
Posted 08-13-2014 08:13 PM
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