Whether you are a motorsport enthusiast or someone who simply wants to get the most out of their vehicle for commercial purposes, you will be interested in optimum engine performance. You may think that your motor has been built very carefully and configured accurately, but it may still not be living up to its maximum potential. Furthermore, an engine that has been in service for some time may have lost a lot of its initial power, and you may want to recover this, so why should you consider dyno testing to help you get to the bottom of it?
Critical Performance Testing
Whether you have a diesel or petrol-engined vehicle, chassis dynamometers are designed to evaluate your engine's performance in a very controlled environment. You'll be able to measure output and compare against standard benchmarks to see what type of work may need to be performed on the engine to bring it back up to speed.
Types of Machine
If you do a little research, you will see that there are several different types of dynos on the market, and these are hydraulic, inertia and electric. Each one has the same broad objective but is very different in its process and application, and as a consequence, each one can only handle specific types of tests.
For example, an inertia dyno is able to do conventional, full-throttle acceleration tests, but electric or hydraulic versions can test your engine under different loads, under part throttle or at constant speed. Several different test scenarios can be established to gather additional points of data.
How the Dyno Works
The inertia dyno has been around for some time and is the base upon which other methods have developed. To begin a test, the vehicle is placed so that its rear wheels sit within two heavy roller drums in a workshop. These drums are mounted on sophisticated bearings that allow them to rotate freely, and they will start to turn when the vehicle is put in gear with the throttle open.
How Data Is Used
Broadly speaking, the laws of physics will determine how much power is placed through the tyres onto the rollers, in proportion to the acceleration rate. The software will monitor the speed and how long it takes to arrive at a certain rate of acceleration, and this will show how much power is delivered to the wheels while measuring engine potency.
Engineers will also attach data monitors to the engine that will help them to compensate for any loss of power through the gearbox and transmission. This will enable them to determine how much power is available at the flywheel, as a base marker.
Elimination and Improvement
This is very useful information to have, as it will enable a mechanic to drill down into performance issues. They'll be able to tackle any problems, replace appropriate parts and then retest the vehicle on the dyno once again.
This process of elimination will eventually help you to arrive at your optimal performance level. Contact an auto service centre to learn about other kinds of diesel auto diagnostics.
Share13 August 2018
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