Fuel Issues While Tuning

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I've been working on a new tune with Lito for the past few weeks, and there seems to be a fueling issue that we can't get around. Whenever I reach full throttle the pressure drop across the injectors plummets, and then oscillates back and forth pretty widely. Similar behavior with the fuel pump duty cycle etc.

I have a few logs from the drag strip this past week; it behaves in a similar fashion on the street shifting at lower rpm. The pcm freaked out in 4th gear and added a ton of timing (ramped up to 32 degrees), ignore that part.

Pressure Drop.jpg

Duty Cycle.jpg

We've gone through quite a few tune revisions that haven't seemed to solve it. Has anyone seen a mechanical issue that causes a similar issue?

I'm running an unmodified GT500 dual fuel pump and ID1000 injectors, with a 2.8 L Kenne Bell, 18 psi of boost. The rest of the fuel system is stock. I had a boost a pump hooked up pre-FPDM, but disabled that at Lito's request. Running pump gas, 93 octane.
 

86GT351

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I've been working on a new tune with Lito for the past few weeks, and there seems to be a fueling issue that we can't get around. Whenever I reach full throttle the pressure drop across the injectors plummets, and then oscillates back and forth pretty widely. Similar behavior with the fuel pump duty cycle etc.

I have a few logs from the drag strip this past week; it behaves in a similar fashion on the street shifting at lower rpm. The pcm freaked out in 4th gear and added a ton of timing (ramped up to 32 degrees), ignore that part.

View attachment 80037

View attachment 80038

We've gone through quite a few tune revisions that haven't seemed to solve it. Has anyone seen a mechanical issue that causes a similar issue?

I'm running an unmodified GT500 dual fuel pump and ID1000 injectors, with a 2.8 L Kenne Bell, 18 psi of boost. The rest of the fuel system is stock. I had a boost a pump hooked up pre-FPDM, but disabled that at Lito's request. Running pump gas, 93 octane.
Understanding Lito requested to disconnect the Boost a Pump...…….Hook it up and see if the issue goes away. Somewhat simple test.
 
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The Boost a Pump was initially hooked up, the variation in pressure drop was much worse. It has improved without it connected, and Fuel Pump Duty Cycle is around 40 percent under WOT. However, I still get pops, hesitation, and other weird behavior when coming onto full throttle.
 

Racer47

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Did you replace the stock connector at the fuel pump rail? There is a pretty severe restriction there. There is also a check valve in the fuel hat to hold fuel pressure when you turn the car off. It makes restarting faster but that is also a restriction.

I was going to piece my own fuel line system together but its cheaper and easier to buy the kit from S&H. Its all -8AN from tank to fuel rail, including a high flow filter. I don't remember my numbers but I went from fuel starved to way more than enough with a gt500 pump and KB 2.6 at 17psi simply by upgrading the fuel line.

As a quick fix attempt, replace the fuel filter. It may be plugged and bypassing causing the surging. But long term, you need better fuel lines. The two links are to the S&H FB pages about the kit. The pics are the fuel restrictions. The last attachment is the directions to install the kit.

If you buy the fuel line kit and sell the boost a pump, cost will be close to even and you'll have a better fuel system because it doesn't need excessively high fuel pump pressure to overcome the fuel line restrictions.

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fuel rail connector.jpg ck valve.jpg
 

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Laga

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Did you have a full tank of fuel while testing and at the track? I have no starvation problems with 8# of boost and E85 with the stock fuel setup with a BAP and a full tank of fuel. However, anything less than 5/8 of a tank of fuel @WOT, and the fuel pump gets uncovered and sucks air. Even with your dual pumps, if the fuel is not where the pump is, you will suck air.
Just a thought.
 

Pentalab

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Did you check the 'sock' filter that goes on the bottom of the fuel pump ? A few summers ago, my FPDC skyrocketed, and fuel pressure dropped like a rock... only when I tried to get into boost. Turns out the 'sock' filter on the bottom of the oem fuel pump on my 2010 was clogged. 'Easy' fix. (fuel filter had been previously changed).
 
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I was going to piece my own fuel line system together but its cheaper and easier to buy the kit from S&H. Its all -8AN from tank to fuel rail, including a high flow filter. I don't remember my numbers but I went from fuel starved to way more than enough with a gt500 pump and KB 2.6 at 17psi simply by upgrading the fuel line.

As a quick fix attempt, replace the fuel filter. It may be plugged and bypassing causing the surging. But long term, you need better fuel lines. The two links are to the S&H FB pages about the kit. The pics are the fuel restrictions. The last attachment is the directions to install the kit.

That's a cool looking kit, I like that a lot! From the looks of the info on their page you can upgrade the same system to a return style? I'll reach out to them tomorrow!

I actually replaced the OEM fuel filter just before re-tuning. It had been on my shelf for a while, but I didn't get the impression there was anything wrong with it.


Did you have a full tank of fuel while testing and at the track? I have no starvation problems with 8# of boost and E85 with the stock fuel setup with a BAP and a full tank of fuel. However, anything less than 5/8 of a tank of fuel @WOT, and the fuel pump gets uncovered and sucks air. Even with your dual pumps, if the fuel is not where the pump is, you will suck air.
Just a thought.

I'd say it's rare that I'm at the track with less than half a tank, I don't do anything remotely WOT below a quarter tank to avoid fuel starvation issues like you described. I'd have to guess that it hasn't been dependent on fuel level, but I'll keep an eye on that.

Did you check the 'sock' filter that goes on the bottom of the fuel pump ? A few summers ago, my FPDC skyrocketed, and fuel pressure dropped like a rock... only when I tried to get into boost. Turns out the 'sock' filter on the bottom of the oem fuel pump on my 2010 was clogged. 'Easy' fix. (fuel filter had been previously changed).

I'm thinking about pulling the pump to check that this weekend. I figured since my duty cycle has remained low the sock is probably clear, but at this point it doesn't hurt to look.
 

MrBhp

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Did you replace the stock connector at the fuel pump rail? There is a pretty severe restriction there. There is also a check valve in the fuel hat to hold fuel pressure when you turn the car off. It makes restarting faster but that is also a restriction.

I was going to piece my own fuel line system together but its cheaper and easier to buy the kit from S&H. Its all -8AN from tank to fuel rail, including a high flow filter. I don't remember my numbers but I went from fuel starved to way more than enough with a gt500 pump and KB 2.6 at 17psi simply by upgrading the fuel line.

As a quick fix attempt, replace the fuel filter. It may be plugged and bypassing causing the surging. But long term, you need better fuel lines. The two links are to the S&H FB pages about the kit. The pics are the fuel restrictions. The last attachment is the directions to install the kit.

If you buy the fuel line kit and sell the boost a pump, cost will be close to even and you'll have a better fuel system because it doesn't need excessively high fuel pump pressure to overcome the

That's some solid kit there. I was not disappointed when I got mine.
 

SVT Rider

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I notice in the data log snapshots your Battery voltage PID is citing a min of 11.75V. That is too low in my opinion. I would suspect your electrical system (thinking Alternator or Battery as a first suspect).
 
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I notice in the data log snapshots your Battery voltage PID is citing a min of 11.75V. That is too low in my opinion. I would suspect your electrical system (thinking Alternator or Battery as a first suspect).

Good catch! I actually threw the serpentine belt at the top of the track, the voltage drops off pretty sharply to ~12 volts after that. The voltage stays right around 14.10 volts when everything is working correctly lol.
 

SVT Rider

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Good catch! I actually threw the serpentine belt at the top of the track, the voltage drops off pretty sharply to ~12 volts after that. The voltage stays right around 14.10 volts when everything is working correctly lol.
Haha, well that would do it. Alright, then that's not suspect.
 

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