Sho
Silver Member
Good to know. I've been on E48 for about 5k miles on Brad Penn/Penn grade oil. Might have to pull my pump and check it just to see
Post ZZB Diaries CWP Gen1
- Thread starter alexwlwsn
- Start date
- Watchers 25
alexwlwsn
BANNED
I started on a little project over here while the car doesn't have much changing...
I bought an Arduino (little simple computer) just to mess with and I'm going to try and make myself an ethanol content analyser. The actual sensor itself seems like it'll be the most expensive piece of the puzzle. Even with that though, I should be under $75 which is much less than the cost of a content gauge. It seems simple enough since the sensor just outputs a certain frequency for whatever alcohol percentage you're at. I'll likely I'll make a little box to put the gauge in and put it in that little ashtray area since you really don't need to see your ethanol content 24/7.
So far: Arduino = $10
4 digit display = $2.99
Flex fuel sensor = ~$30
Misc wires = $cheap
Fuel line quick connect fittings = $20-$30
Let me know your opinion on this and I'll make a write up on here on how to do this as I go along. Could be handy for those who like tinkering rather than just dishing out cash for a gauge that isn't overly needed.
I bought an Arduino (little simple computer) just to mess with and I'm going to try and make myself an ethanol content analyser. The actual sensor itself seems like it'll be the most expensive piece of the puzzle. Even with that though, I should be under $75 which is much less than the cost of a content gauge. It seems simple enough since the sensor just outputs a certain frequency for whatever alcohol percentage you're at. I'll likely I'll make a little box to put the gauge in and put it in that little ashtray area since you really don't need to see your ethanol content 24/7.
So far: Arduino = $10
4 digit display = $2.99
Flex fuel sensor = ~$30
Misc wires = $cheap
Fuel line quick connect fittings = $20-$30
Let me know your opinion on this and I'll make a write up on here on how to do this as I go along. Could be handy for those who like tinkering rather than just dishing out cash for a gauge that isn't overly needed.
i am interested in this idea from a tinkering standpoint
alexwlwsn
BANNED
I've found write-ups with code for input/output so I think I really just need to figure out how to convert that signal in hertz to a decimal and turn that into an output. I'll make a thread in the ethanol section on here and start collecting links/information there.
[doublepost=1501606420][/doublepost]BOOM thread made:
https://mazdaspeeds.org/index.php?threads/diy-ethanol-content-gauge.5185/
alexwlwsn
BANNED
Did an oil change at around 3300 miles last night with some more Mobil 1 15w50 and sent a sample off to Blackstone. Hopefully they say things are running well. I asked if there was any evidence I could/should run thinner oil so we'll see what they say about that. Also did plugs last night. I've been keeping a 3-4k mile interval on them and gapping to 0.024" and I've never had any spark blow-out so I guess it's working.
Also, my little Arduino project is moving along nicely:
My little screen fits in there perfectly. I have a sheet of clear plastic I'll cut and make a trim for it. I need to steal my Dremel from my parent's house and then I can get it mounted nicely. For those not following my Arduino ethanol analyzer thread, here is a sample of the screen output thus far:
This was the initial 20x4 screen I got which was too large, the one that fits is 16x2 so I have it set to read "Ethanol: xx%" on line one, and on the second like a little "status bar" of sorts showing percentage.
I have done a lot of research on connecting this Arduino into my CAN Bus, and while I am interested in that, that's a seemingly large project and will wait until I have some more free time. I would be able to access basically anything reported by the ECU though and display it either on an AUX screen, or on the screen which generally displays your radio information.
Also, my little Arduino project is moving along nicely:
My little screen fits in there perfectly. I have a sheet of clear plastic I'll cut and make a trim for it. I need to steal my Dremel from my parent's house and then I can get it mounted nicely. For those not following my Arduino ethanol analyzer thread, here is a sample of the screen output thus far:
This was the initial 20x4 screen I got which was too large, the one that fits is 16x2 so I have it set to read "Ethanol: xx%" on line one, and on the second like a little "status bar" of sorts showing percentage.
I have done a lot of research on connecting this Arduino into my CAN Bus, and while I am interested in that, that's a seemingly large project and will wait until I have some more free time. I would be able to access basically anything reported by the ECU though and display it either on an AUX screen, or on the screen which generally displays your radio information.
alexwlwsn
BANNED
I visited my buddy's house where I built my car and did a boost leak test last night just to see how everything was sealed. We only pressurized it up to 10psi and other than a little leak (which we corrected) coming from the intake, everything seemed good to go. Then, on my way home my LTFTs were hitting -20.xx, STFTs were sitting at -25 at idle, and I got hesitation coming into boost. It's odd that 10psi of pressure would've sprung me a leak large enough to cause that since I'm running 34psi normally.
I guess now I need to do a full inspection of my intercooler piping some time this weekend. Here's the time where under route piping sucks since over half the length of charge pipe is under my engine.
But at least I got to chill with @OldManSteve and get a nice photo so there's that:
With this nice weather coming I just want the car to run right!
I guess now I need to do a full inspection of my intercooler piping some time this weekend. Here's the time where under route piping sucks since over half the length of charge pipe is under my engine.
But at least I got to chill with @OldManSteve and get a nice photo so there's that:
With this nice weather coming I just want the car to run right!
alexwlwsn
BANNED
Just because your couplers are tight does not mean your pipes are right! Found a little dent hiding under a coupler which was likely leaking a decent amount.
I bought this nifty pipe expander from harbor freight and in a few minutes it was back dent free and perfectly round.
Drove for about 20 miles and it's back to normal. I feel like this leak was there for a while because I was surprised how well everything feels now
I bought this nifty pipe expander from harbor freight and in a few minutes it was back dent free and perfectly round.
Drove for about 20 miles and it's back to normal. I feel like this leak was there for a while because I was surprised how well everything feels now
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good catch! i might need to invest in one of those, as well; i have some dented pipes, too.
alexwlwsn
BANNED
Definitely! It was even ovaled out (somehow) and it took care of that.
In honestly just surprised that this little dent made such a giant issue for my car. Luckily it was a decently simple fix.
must have been dented enough that even with the clamp tightened, there was a pocket underneath giving the air a route to push through.
alexwlwsn
BANNED
Track day!!! Stripped out my seats, loaded up my tires and headed to Cecil Dragway. Apparently everyone and their mother decided to go last night as well so I literally went through tech, and sat in that same spot for the next two hours before giving up. I've always been able to get in basically as many passes as I want on a Wednesday night so last night was pretty atypical. At least I got a picture though:
And since I was salty I did all sorts of pulls on the way home because why not:
I may be signing up for a roll race event at Pocono Raceway in a few weekends too. It's pricey but you get to run all sorts of high power exotics which should prove to be very fun. I believe there's classes for how much horsepower you have so I'd be running people probably in the 500-700whp range.
And since I was salty I did all sorts of pulls on the way home because why not:
I may be signing up for a roll race event at Pocono Raceway in a few weekends too. It's pricey but you get to run all sorts of high power exotics which should prove to be very fun. I believe there's classes for how much horsepower you have so I'd be running people probably in the 500-700whp range.
Maisonvi
Grass-Roots Vendor
Tell Will you need to turn it up for the roll races. Get you to that 699 level.
SUV @ 19sec: WHAT THE FUCK, DID NASA JUST FLY BY ME
alexwlwsn
BANNED
Looks more like tumbleweed to me... since I'm in the desert of Mexico and all...
[doublepost=1504916706][/doublepost]And the old useless 1-2 pull on the street:
Basically just noise
first gear is basically useless, in general.
alexwlwsn
BANNED
Fun stuff happening this weekend! I was called out to the East Coast Call out by Nishan, so myself and @Captain KR will be meeting up with him and a bunch of other MazdaSpeed guys and running the SlipStream roll race event!
Roll racing doesn't take too much skill but Nishan told me I'd likely be hitting speeds of 150+mph which I'm pretty pumped to be able to do legally. I plan on making a video for me and Will so stay tuned! Maybe I'll even convince Will to give me a couple more PSI in my tune to really stick it to the competition. Hopefully we'll have good luck running with Porsches, GT-Rs, and the like...
I think anyone can agree that driving on a race track is like a childhood dream so to say the least I'm pretty pumped.
Roll racing doesn't take too much skill but Nishan told me I'd likely be hitting speeds of 150+mph which I'm pretty pumped to be able to do legally. I plan on making a video for me and Will so stay tuned! Maybe I'll even convince Will to give me a couple more PSI in my tune to really stick it to the competition. Hopefully we'll have good luck running with Porsches, GT-Rs, and the like...
I think anyone can agree that driving on a race track is like a childhood dream so to say the least I'm pretty pumped.
