MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Performance Related => Topic started by: jvanzyl on November 25, 2016, 15:51

Title: Book reviews on Engine Management and tuning
Post by: jvanzyl on November 25, 2016, 15:51
Hey Folks,
So I'm looking to learn more on engine management and tuning. I want to be able to plug in my eManage one day and gently tune my car to get the best out of it. I do appreciate that we're talking minimal amounts of gains here, but I'd like to have the ability to fettle it  :-) :-) :-)

As such can anyone recommend some good reading material to learn about this?

I've come across these two books on amazon and would be very grateful for anyone's opinion on them and their suggestions on what to read?
 m https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Tuning ... 1SE5T52NX0 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Tuning-programmable-engine-management-workshop/1503312976/ref=pd_rhf_ee_s_cp_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1503312976&pd_rd_r=VDNVRYBAPV1SE5T52NX0&pd_rd_w=U4mHm&pd_rd_wg=2W1Zg&psc=1&refRID=VDNVRYBAPV1SE5T52NX0) m
 m https://www.amazon.co.uk/Engine-Managem ... S677RPC3QD (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Engine-Management-Performance-How-S/dp/1932494421/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=B482N61RMNS677RPC3QD) m


Thanks very much!

John
Title: Re: Book reviews on Engine Management and tuning
Post by: Carolyn on November 25, 2016, 19:03
That first one looks pretty useful to me.  If you do get it, please give us your reaction?
Title: Re: Book reviews on Engine Management and tuning
Post by: jvanzyl on November 25, 2016, 21:13
OK cool, will do! It's looking like paperback only at the moment... Will try and track down and electronic copy...
Title: Re: Book reviews on Engine Management and tuning
Post by: shnazzle on November 25, 2016, 22:10
I've been reading this one and I can definitely recommend it. It's very good indeed.

 m https://play.google.com/store/books/det ... FX2FjDu6YC (https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=eVFX2FjDu6YC) m
Title: Re: Book reviews on Engine Management and tuning
Post by: Carolyn on November 26, 2016, 09:21
Just ordered one.  Thanks for the steer.
Title: Re: Book reviews on Engine Management and tuning
Post by: jvanzyl on November 26, 2016, 10:41
Thanks Patrick! I'll add this to the order list!
Title: Re: Book reviews on Engine Management and tuning
Post by: monsi on November 26, 2016, 18:35
I've also read the book shnazzle suggested and found it useful (I did the base tune on the megasquirt I've fitted), and one of the author's is related to the megasquirt project.  You will definitely need a wideband O2 sensor (that reads accurately) to even begin tuning, and to be honest the fuelling would have to be quite a long way off to pick up any real performance gains, although you might gain some fuel economy! The major gains come from tuning the spark table and this sensibly can only be tuned on a load bearing dyno to determine the advance angle that gives the greatest torque without knocking. Most people who tune spark without a dyno advance the timing until the engine knocks then retard it slightly however maximum torque doesn't always occur just before knock, leaving you with a engine on the verge of knock and probably less than maximum torque.

I would recommend having your car tuned on a rolling road to get the best safe power   s:D :D s:D
Title: Re: Book reviews on Engine Management and tuning
Post by: shnazzle on November 26, 2016, 19:55
That's pretty much what that book says haha! It is good but it's funny you should mention megasquirt because the book does seem to be more aimed at American muscle cars with conversions from carb to electronic fuel injection.
But it does cover a hell of a lot of bases around general tuning and engine mechanics.

It's one of those books that I think is great as part of an arsenal. I'll be getting the book John posted above.
Title: Re: Book reviews on Engine Management and tuning
Post by: jvanzyl on November 26, 2016, 20:19
Ok I've just bought your recommendation Patrick, it's a pity that the other Amazon one isn't also available on Kindle... Will have to settle for paperback!
Title: Re: Book reviews on Engine Management and tuning
Post by: shnazzle on November 26, 2016, 20:27
Curious to see what you think. I find it really easy to read