Practical Standalone Tuning: What You Should Look For
What You Should Look For
01.37
00:00 | During the initial startup, there's a lot of stuff going on, and it's easy to be focused so much on the mixture that you forget to take notice of everything else. |
00:08 | It pays to have a mental checklist that you can keep going through to make sure you don't overlook anything. |
00:14 | If the engine's brand new, or the car has just been assembled, it's important to carefully check for any fluid leaks. |
00:21 | This includes water, oil, and fuel. |
00:24 | Since, you'll be preoccupied with making the engine run, it's best to have a helper watching out for any problem signs. |
00:31 | Other aspects that you need to watch include engine temperature. |
00:34 | This is to ensure the engine is not overheating. |
00:38 | While we're obviously starting with a cold engine, if there is a problem with the cooling system, or an air lock, we don't want the engine to overheat. |
00:46 | You should also be watching the engine oil pressure if a gauge is fitted. |
00:50 | Again, this is a safety precaution and, while we obviously can't affect the oil pressure without tuning, we do want to make sure the engine is mechanically healthy. |
01:00 | The last parameter that is worth checking, at this point, is the battery voltage. |
01:04 | We want to make sure that the charging system is working properly, and this should result in a battery voltage of approximately 13.8 to 14.2 volts. |
01:13 | If you're seeing substantially less than this, there could be a problem, and we need to address this before continuing. |
01:20 | By the end of this module, you should be able to start the engine, and quickly dial in the fuel to get the engine running cleanly during an initial startup. |
01:29 | You should also know what to look for to make sure your engine is running correctly. |