Engine monitoring and fine tuneng (Data aqusition)

[holywood3645]

Ive been concerned about the lack of information and monitoring available on these old cars. My 3rd dual temp oil pressure has lost its charge so I?m running blind, I do have an after market adjustable fan control that works great.
I?m thinking of using a mychron 4 (that I have from my sons karting days) to monitor some parameters.
Water inlet
Water outlet
CHT
RPM
Oil temp
Lamba exhaust

I?m wondering if any one has either used a similar device and if the information collected it useful in optimizing performance and equipment diagnostics.
The mychron 4 fill fit behind the dash in the radio position.
And front dash cover can hide.

James

[Frogelan]

Interesting question and some of the answers to this may compel some forum members to reach for a glass of coolant (especially as the weather forecast today for England is 24?C !).

I used to rally and race a MGB which has a similar (new in 1989) combined guage and it is still going well (outlasting 3 engines etc).

However, I have never been a fan of the temperature senders and for my Elan project (the parts are still in the box!) I have opted for individual gauges and a thermistor sender.

Why not ask Caerbont (owners of Smiths) if they could do an updated version of the classical dual gauge or make a one off ?

https://www.smiths-instruments.co.uk/gt40 for details of the gauge and thermister.

The very helpful fellow on this type of subject is Neil Meakin: [email protected]

I think, Neil is one of the co-owners of the company.

[StressCraxx]

Ive been concerned about the lack of information and monitoring available on these old cars. My 3rd dual temp oil pressure has lost its charge so I?m running blind, I do have an after market adjustable fan control that works great.
I?m thinking of using a mychron 4 (that I have from my sons karting days) to monitor some parameters.
Water inlet
Water outlet
CHT
Oil temp
Lamba exhaust

I?m wondering if any one has either used a similar device and if the information collected it useful in optimizing performance and equipment diagnostics.
The mychron 4 fill fit behind the dash in the radio position.
And front dash cover can hide.

James

Hello James,

I used a Mychron4 in my Formula ford years ago. Works really well. I got water temp and tach to work well. I wrapped the tach pickup wire around the coil wire about 10 turns and it worked perfectly.

Regards,
Dan

[holywood3645]

Dan, did you monitor Cylinder Head Temperature or any other parameters.
Thanks
James

[holywood3645]

The. Radio slot didn?t work, made a plate to support Mychron and covered it with dash fabric. Temporary connected CHT, and rpm, have alarms set on CHT at 265 and shift light programmed at 5500 rpm, Both these inputs work great.
I used two tanex studs to attach to dash....
Thoughts...
James

[disquek]

I raced for many years and did tons of data acq in the race cars.

I have an old Race Technology DL1 Mk2 and Dash3 that I plan to install in my Elan. I'm not sure where I will put it yet. Or if it will just be temporary while I check the tune, or if I will leave it. Depends on a number of things (do I get another vintage race ride in 2019, etc).

My goal is mostly just to get the AFR right. I will admit that I'm pretty well spoiled by progressive shift lights. I haven't had to read a tach in a LONG time! lol

My first thought was to make a bracket to mount it where the ash tray goes.

-Kyle

[StressCraxx]

Dan, did you monitor Cylinder Head Temperature or any other parameters.
Thanks
James

Hello James,

I didn't have the opportunity or the sensors to monitor any other items, but it can be done with the right sensors and expansion port. It just gets spendy.

Best regards,
Dan

[elanman999]

Kyle,
I have EFI on my Elan and +2 and a Dash3 just fits into the radio slot. I have air/fuel ratio, air and water temp, ign timing and TPS reading from the Can bus on the Emerald ECU.
Water temp I needed as I got cheesed of with buying new gauges when the capilary went flat on the Elan.
I also did some testing of where to put the air temp sensor, the air box back plate is not a good idea as it gets heat soak from the engine and reads very high in some circumstances.
I'll try and post a pic later on today.
Edit: add pic.

Cheers
John

[disquek]

That's a very nice setup John!

I just put a new radio into my car, I wish I'd seen your idea earlier.

I'm thinking of making a bracket to mount the Dash3 over top of where the ashtray goes (my car is an S4).

I also like your screen layout with the large numbers. I think I will copy it! For now I will just have AFR, volts and RPM. In the race car I had 30+ channels of data. Shock pots, wheel speed x4, etc. It's fun stuff!

I had the same issue with getting a good airbox temp readings in the race car. I ended up making the mount for the sensor from phenolic material and covering the exterior parts with a couple of layers of adhesive backed aluminum coated silicone impregnated fiberglass. This isolated the sensor from the ambient heat. That motor was a non crossflow, so lots of heat. I also had an ambient temp sensor in the nose of the car and could then compare intake designs to get the lowest delta.

-Kyle

[holywood3645]

Can you share a link to the Dash3?
Thanks

[disquek]

The Dash3 is an older product that I think is no longer in production.

http://www.race-technology.com is the company that made them.

They have other newer nicer units now. I'm not sure if any are as small as the Dash3.

-Kyle

[holywood3645]

Yes, I found a dash2 and a dash4... the both look to big to fit in the radio slot. This is my burn with the MyChron is the size also.
Thanks
James

[Certified Lotus]

I used Mychron 4?s on my Racing karts. They worked great!

I?m really not interested in monitoring more data then the Lotus Elan OEM gauges provide. Kind of ruins the whole less is more philosophy for a Lotus Street car.

[holywood3645]

Ur ok running blind! I?m on my 3rd temperature gage..

[Certified Lotus]

I would think you have another problem than the gauge. Sending unit, wiring, ground?