Help on tuning Honda L15BE Turbo engine

[merlewagner]

I have now gone thru 2 L15BE engine failures due to detonation (my opinion). The first one was my fault due to a leak in the turbo output. The second event is a total unknown WOT resulting in a piston with a hole in it. This is a unique application (off road). I need to get advice on tuning. The objective is to be able to run the engine at wide open throttle(WOT) and maintain an RPM of 5500 for extended periods. RPM will be reduced down to 3500-4000 with load on the engine. This engine is the stock L15BE with the integrated turbo unit from Honda. Using an aftermarket ECU.

Anyone out there in the Florida area (Tampa) who is proficient or has knowledge in tuning for the Honda engine? I need to understand the safety factors that can be implemented with the ECU to eliminate or reduce the detonation issue. I just don't have the experience in this realm. I am a user not a tuner.

Lots of factors here; ECU, intercooler sizing, radiator sizing, etc.

Any ideas on who to talk to?

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

Hello and welcome


I raced a turbo car for 20 plus years in club events and from experience learned a few things.

1 The injector WOT maximum DC should ideally be around 80%

2 DO NOT set the tune for max power as it will be on the verge of detonation. Set it for RELIABILITY in all weather conditions be it hot or cold.

3 You mentioned radiator so is it overheating ??

4 Do you have temperature sensors pre and post intercooler to be able to monitor the coolers efficiency ?

5 IMO it is more important that your tuner knows his stuff as well as being familiar with your engines computer more so than any particular engine BUT in saying that specialist knowledge is important as well.

There is Honda specialist in the states called 4 piston racing that may be helpful.

https://4pistonracing.com/https://4pistonracing.com/

 

[merlewagner]

TCJBOLDIE, Thanks for the input, greatly appreciated. Question-WOT max DC: what are you referring to?
Coolant temp at failure was 106.3 deg C/ , MAT was 51.9 deg C, MAP was 20.8 inches.
I have intercooler sensors but was not recording that data at the time.
I will check with 4 Piston, thanks for the pointer.

 

[TCJBOLDIE]

WOT = Wide Open Throttle or foot flat on the floor or pedal to the metal.

DC = Duty Cycle of the injectors.

For example if you have say 1000cc injectors that is how much fuel CLEAN injectors will flow @ WOT
so for safety it is generally considered that the maximum amount that a 1000cc injector should be asked to supply @ WOT is between 800-850 cc's of fuel.

IF you have a clean 1000cc injector maxed out by the tuner then what do you think would happen if that injector got dirty and could only flow say 900cc"s @ WOT then that cylinder would be running lean and detonation would damage it by burning a hole in the piston or damaging rings.

Hope that clears things up for you

 

[merlewagner]

DC, now I understand. Thank you!! Will look at that

Thanks again

 

[lb4fun]

I would recommend water/alcohol injection for any turbo motor

 

[JimV]

What Kind of aftermarket ECU are you running?
meth injection is the way to go these days with the fuel being so bad these days.
I am a tuner myself and tuned many vehicles but I am out on the west coast in Canada.
If you are running a aftermarket ECU, there should be a nitrous tab that you can adapt to
use Meth(light blue windshield washer fluid with no additives) to cool things down and it
will prevent knock at the same time.
cheers

 

[merlewagner]

The issue was finally resolved. Had the builder of the engine come over and tune the engine for WOT and adjusting the load from minimum to maximum. Took a few hours of playing and adjustments but it is now functioning as it should. Lots of changes to the timing and fuel. Now it is running quite well.

 

[lb4fun]

I have now gone thru 2 L15BE engine failures due to detonation (my opinion). The first one was my fault due to a leak in the turbo output. The second event is a total unknown WOT resulting in a piston with a hole in it. This is a unique application (off road). I need to get advice on tuning. The objective is to be able to run the engine at wide open throttle(WOT) and maintain an RPM of 5500 for extended periods. RPM will be reduced down to 3500-4000 with load on the engine. This engine is the stock L15BE with the integrated turbo unit from Honda. Using an aftermarket ECU.

Anyone out there in the Florida area (Tampa) who is proficient or has knowledge in tuning for the Honda engine? I need to understand the safety factors that can be implemented with the ECU to eliminate or reduce the detonation issue. I just don't have the experience in this realm. I am a user not a tuner.

Lots of factors here; ECU, intercooler sizing, radiator sizing, etc.

Any ideas on who to talk to?

Water/alcohol injection will help in this situation . I would recommend dyno tuning for your use