Author Topic: Fuel pressure seems to drop before engine RPM just after launch???  (Read 11930 times)

Offline GlennLever

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Fuel pressure seems to drop before engine RPM just after launch???
« on: September 22, 2013, 07:06:01 PM »
We went and did some test and tune today.

The symptom we have is the engine comes up to RPM on the trans brake, I release the trans brake and the dragster launches, and then falls on its face. It then picks’s itself up and has a pretty normal run. I hit my shift point at 6300 RPM, RPMs drop off as you would expect and then climbs again.

What is pictured below and in the attached files (not sure which is easiest for you to view) is a graph produced in the data logger.

It appears to show a drastic drop in fuel pressure before the slump in engine RPM. The first graph shows the complete run. The second graph is just the area between the blue vertical lines to zoom in on the troubled area.



This is the zoom in on the trouble area.
When the engine RPM reaches 4756 the fuel pressure is at 31.92 pounds.
When the engine RPM reaches 4810 the fuel pressure has dropped to 3.37 pounds.
When the engine RPM drops to 3527 the fuel pressure recovered to 16.13 pounds and continues to climb.

The red vertical lines are for reference between the two graphs of fuel pressure and engine RPM.



If we lean the engine out (not changing the fuel main bypass, but add air by decreasing the top pulley the problem is not as pronounced. We are blowing fuel out the number 8 cylinder.

This graph represents an 8.904 ET run in the ¼ mile
We lean it out and ran an 8.409

We have check compression, valve lash, put in a new MSD box, New coil, removed the primmer, check timing, increased timing to 30 degrees, check the inside of the distributor cap, remove and cut open the torque converter (no problems found)


« Last Edit: September 22, 2013, 07:11:56 PM by GlennLever »
Glenn R. Lever
Rochester, New York 14617-2012
My Cars https://www.lever-family-racing.com/

Offline George

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Re: Fuel pressure seems to drop before engine RPM just after launch???
« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2013, 05:48:35 AM »
High speed ?

Offline GlennLever

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Re: Fuel pressure seems to drop before engine RPM just after launch???
« Reply #2 on: September 23, 2013, 05:58:54 AM »
High speed ?

I only have an idle and a pump saver. We did check the idle, but not the pump saver. I'll do that today
Glenn R. Lever
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Offline George

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Re: Fuel pressure seems to drop before engine RPM just after launch???
« Reply #3 on: September 23, 2013, 06:19:47 AM »
I'm far from and expert and don't have much data on my deal but it looks like something could be opening when fuel pump speed/pressure comes up. I know since we have introduced our injected engine to 10-15% nitro the system pressure has risen to the point we are too rich on the big end (1/8 mile) and next time out I'll be playing with a high speed bypass.

Good luck and safe travels. George

Offline masracingtd1167

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Re: Fuel pressure seems to drop before engine RPM just after launch???
« Reply #4 on: September 23, 2013, 11:30:06 AM »
Glen are you leaving at full throttle with a chip?

Offline GlennLever

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Re: Fuel pressure seems to drop before engine RPM just after launch???
« Reply #5 on: September 23, 2013, 11:39:53 AM »
MSD two step

full throttle on the trans brake.

Spud believes it is a fuel supply problem and I agree.
Glenn R. Lever
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Offline masracingtd1167

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Re: Fuel pressure seems to drop before engine RPM just after launch???
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2013, 01:21:40 PM »
My only thought about this if you go to full throttle on the chip the barrel valve is all the way open and you have all that fuel while the motor is on the chip and go dead rich . But I wouldn't think the fuel pressure would drop. I would be interested to hear what Spud has to say . 

Offline Totally T

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Re: Fuel pressure seems to drop before engine RPM just after launch???
« Reply #7 on: September 23, 2013, 03:46:55 PM »
Ive never been a fan of 2 stepping a engine although several do. A SLE is the way to go on that. What kind of filter do you run?
Troy Wilson
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Offline GlennLever

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Re: Fuel pressure seems to drop before engine RPM just after launch???
« Reply #8 on: September 23, 2013, 04:28:13 PM »
Spud believes it is on the supply side and I am leaning that way. I am thinking the baffle in the fuel tank is getting stuck shut when I brake after the burn out.

I run a system 1 filter.

I'm going to try wiring the baffle open to see if that helps
Glenn R. Lever
Rochester, New York 14617-2012
My Cars https://www.lever-family-racing.com/

Offline GlennLever

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Re: Fuel pressure seems to drop before engine RPM just after launch???
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2013, 06:12:00 AM »
Easy peasy.

This took maybe ten minutes. Coat hanger "U" clip around flapper, and spring clip at the top.

I am confident this will hold the flapper open for a trail.

Glenn R. Lever
Rochester, New York 14617-2012
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Offline George

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Re: Fuel pressure seems to drop before engine RPM just after launch???
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2013, 07:57:55 AM »
Good ole coat hanger.

Are you running a SS element in your filter?

Offline GlennLever

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Re: Fuel pressure seems to drop before engine RPM just after launch???
« Reply #11 on: September 25, 2013, 09:28:03 AM »
Good ole coat hanger.

Are you running a SS element in your filter?

Yes SS System One
Glenn R. Lever
Rochester, New York 14617-2012
My Cars https://www.lever-family-racing.com/