Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 33

Thread: ECO Mod: Howto reduce level of enrichment when cold

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Country is Europe, state is Germany
    Country
    Germany
    Posts
    1,713
    Thanks
    234
    Thanked 1,158 Times in 670 Posts

    ECO Mod: Howto reduce level of enrichment when cold

    The situation: When the cold engine is started, the fuel/air mixture is enrichened by adding extra fuel. The colder, the richer. This is to make the car more driveable, so it won't sputter and shake, and most important for emissions, to get the catalyst to working temp as quick as possible. The superfluous fuel burns inside the catalyst and that heats it up real quick.

    The problem:
    There is generally very much more enrichment than really necessary. A bit less would save lots of fuel during warm-up.
    Now, we can't re-program the ECU for that, but there is something else that can be done! If the ECU gets informed by the coolant sensor that the engine is a little warmer than it actually is, it will produce less enrichment and save gas. However, when the car is warmed-up, the sensor must tell the ECU the correct temperature in order for the engine to operate properly.

    How is this done?
    The coolant temperature sensor is a simple NTC. Most cars use this method. The resistance of the NTC increases when cold, and decreases when hot.
    The Mirage sensor has about 2500 Ohms at 20′C / 72′F, around 180 Ohms at boiling point, and about 15 000 Ohms (15K Ohms) at -20′C.
    With this mod, a second sensor is added parallel to the first via a series resistor of 2700 Ohms. The series resistor is of similar resistance as the temp sensor at room temperature. This resistor is to make the sensor-circuit report the correct temperature when the engine is approaching, and when it has attained normal warmed-up state. Important: The ECU must receive correct temp notification at operating temperature.
    See circuit diagram for details. The two added parts are on the top part of the diagram.

    Name:  circuit .jpg
Views: 2770
Size:  40.6 KB

    I got the second sensor at a junk yard. It is electrically identical to the original sensor, but mechanically of somewhat different shape and size.

    Below is a photo of the secondary sensor with plug and wires, soldered onto a copper bracket. The copper was a junked piece of a copper water pipe, soldered onto it for the sake of better heat conductivity:

    Name:  extra temp sensor.jpg
Views: 2476
Size:  54.0 KB

    Ideal would be to use the same type coolant temperature sensor the Mirage came with, but this one perfectly serves the purpose.
    The original sensor is installed on the left side of the cylinder head, and although it is fastened on the head, most of it is immersed in coolant. You can find it between the engine and the battery. There is one brown, and one sky blue wire attached to it by a removable plug. In the following photo, it would be in the far right, but can not be seen here because there is other stuff in front of it. The new second sensor is in the middle of the photo.
    The second sensor was soldered to a copper bracket and bolted onto the cylinder head. That ensures ideal heat conductivity, because the second sensor needs to report engine temperature correctly, just as the original one.

    Note: a strong and heavy soldering iron is needed for soldering the sensor to a copper bracket! That way, the sensor does not have to suffer from high soldering temperature too long. After soldering, be sure to check the sensor electrically, because too much soldering heat can wreck it. Check there is no internal conductivity between the connectors and the case.
    It was then fastened to the cylinder head where it seemed convenient. Thus it can be assumed it has and reports the same temperature as the coolant and the original sensor.

    The second sensor is connected by a plug/jack, its two wires leading to the two wires of the original sensor via the 2700 Ohms series resistor. See circuit diagram. All wiring was put neatly into the cable assembly. All of the new electrical connections and the resistor were perfectly insulated. The cable assembly looks like it has been manufacturered that way, and not been touched since.

    Name:  extra sensor attached.jpg
Views: 2593
Size:  96.0 KB

    Note: There has been a recall in the USA to reprogramme the ECU for reduceing the way too excessive enrichment of the cold engine. If they offer it for your car, go get it done! This mod goes a bit further.

    This mod will not just reduce enrichment a bit when cold, but also further reduces excessive enrichment during the entire warm-up period and thus saves fuel. I have have not had any driveability issues whatsoever. In Europe, the above mentioned recall was not offered.

    The fine print:
    1) As usual, everything at your own risk.
    2) If you are not used to work with a soldering iron, or not used to working with electrics/electronics, or have not much notion or little experience with car electrics, please don't do this yourself!


    FYI here the electrical curve of the second temp sensor, being electrically identical to the OEM sensor.
    Based on the info from above, a knowledgeable person could if they wanted recalculate this mod and exactly understand what it does:
    Name:  coolant sensor properties.jpg
Views: 2588
Size:  37.1 KB




    Edit:

    See the table Eggman calculated and added in post number 18.
    It clearly shows the modified coolant temp as reported to the ECU.
    Thanks Eggman!


    EDIT UPDATE:

    Tried different values for the series resistor in my 1.0L Mirage, and this is what happens:

    At 2.500 Ohms everything is fine.

    2000 Ohms also works well.

    1750 Ohms or less is no good, because the radiator fan will come on too early during warm-up with the radiator still being cool and the thermostat closed. Remember, this car has only one single temperature sensor for everything!

    To sum it up:

    1) any value between about 2500 and 2000 Ohms is fine.

    2) This mod goes much further than the reprogramming of the ECU (USA recall) for enrichment reduction.

    3) My car is a 1.0L without(!) EGR valve. Yes, the 1.0L engine without AS&G is sold in Europe without EGR, but the 1.0L with AS&G does have EGR.

    I think using valve-overlap is maybe how they keep NOX down at testing-relevant revs and load levels, unless they VW their way out to get better figures...


    Last edited by foama; 04-24-2022 at 09:03 AM.

  2. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to foama For This Useful Post:

    Daox (12-01-2018),Eggman (05-17-2016),MetroMPG (02-28-2021),mohammad (04-25-2022),x111951753 (01-13-2022)

  3. #2
    Moderator Eggman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    10,158
    Thanks
    4,039
    Thanked 2,788 Times in 2,107 Posts
    Interesting. What changes have you noticed while using this setup?

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 49.6 mpg (US) ... 21.1 km/L ... 4.7 L/100 km ... 59.5 mpg (Imp)


  4. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Country is Europe, state is Germany
    Country
    Germany
    Posts
    1,713
    Thanks
    234
    Thanked 1,158 Times in 670 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Eggman View Post
    Interesting. What changes have you noticed while using this setup?
    What I have noticed?
    During warm-up, the display shows less fuel being consumed.
    The normal stabilized consumption level, or normal warmed-up consumption level, is being reached earlier.
    Very shortly before reaching warmed up temperature, the revs in idle can be a little bit lower, but almost unnoticeable.
    To put it short, it saves considerable fuel during the warming-up phase. The colder, the more savings, and this is most noticeable during short distance driving.

    Btw: This works with almost every engine, regardless of make...

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to foama For This Useful Post:

    Eggman (05-18-2016)

  6. #4
    Moderator Eggman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    10,158
    Thanks
    4,039
    Thanked 2,788 Times in 2,107 Posts
    Thanks for your reply. How does your car drive with this modification? Do you notice any difference in how it runs?

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 49.6 mpg (US) ... 21.1 km/L ... 4.7 L/100 km ... 59.5 mpg (Imp)


  7. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Denmark
    Country
    Denmark
    Posts
    369
    Thanks
    232
    Thanked 36 Times in 33 Posts
    Nice mod. but can the engine run lower than 750 rpm when warmed up, if no, why? I used obd to show me the fuel consumption at idle when warmed up, it was about 0.6 liters/ hour. not bad if it is true...

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage Intense 1.2 manual: 47.9 mpg (US) ... 20.4 km/L ... 4.9 L/100 km ... 57.6 mpg (Imp)


  8. #6
    Moderator Eggman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    10,158
    Thanks
    4,039
    Thanked 2,788 Times in 2,107 Posts
    Also, how about using a thermal switch that disconnects the new circuit when the engine reaches operating temperature?

    I'm curious to know what coolant OBD reports with this modification. Is there any chance you could collect some data on this for some operating cycles?

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 49.6 mpg (US) ... 21.1 km/L ... 4.7 L/100 km ... 59.5 mpg (Imp)


  9. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Country is Europe, state is Germany
    Country
    Germany
    Posts
    1,713
    Thanks
    234
    Thanked 1,158 Times in 670 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Eggman View Post
    Also, how about using a thermal switch that disconnects the new circuit when the engine reaches operating temperature?

    I'm curious to know what coolant OBD reports with this modification. Is there any chance you could collect some data on this for some operating cycles?
    Due to putting a resistor in series with the second sensor, the temperatur (Ohms) reported to the ECU is correct when warmed up. Thus no difference when warmed up, and no need for a thermal switch.

    If you want to calculate it, take the resistance-to-temp curve from the first post. The Ohm at a given temp is reported to the ECU, which understands ohms as temperature.
    From that you can see what a particular ohms-value means in temperature. This is for the unmodified Mirage.


    Compare the values of the unmodified to the modified circuit like this:


    To calculate the modified circuit: Consider R1 to be the original single sensor. The temp/Ohm values of the original sensor (R1) are shown in the table.
    The additional sensor R2 has the value of (R1 + 2500 Ohms). Both sensors are assumed to be at the same temp.
    The modified circuit consists of R1 (the original sensor) parallel to (R2 + 2500 Ohms).
    For each temperature of interest, calculate these new temp/Ohm values, and compare them to the original unmodified circuit containing only R1. The difference between modified and unmodified circuit is shown as the difference in Ohms. See the table for how much Ohms means how much temperature being reported.

    The formula for the resistance of the modified circuit goes like this:

    R1 = original sensor. (Characteristics Ohm-versus-temp are in the table on the bottom of the first post.)
    R2 = second sensor, (having same Ohm-value as original R1) plus 2500 Ohms for the resistor in series.
    That can be written like this:


    R1 x (R2 + 2500 Ohms)
    ----------------------------------- = resistance of the modified circuit at a given temperature.
    R1 + ( R2 + 2500 Ohms)


    That formula gives the Ohms value of the entire modified circuit at a particular temperature.
    Compare the value of the equation with only the value of the original sensor R1 (the unmodified circuit) and you have the difference.
    Last edited by foama; 05-18-2016 at 09:12 AM.

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to foama For This Useful Post:

    MetroMPG (02-28-2021)

  11. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Minneapolis
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    121
    Thanks
    70
    Thanked 42 Times in 32 Posts
    No thank you. Have a great day.

  12. #9
    Senior Member Cobrajet's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Olympia, WA
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    3,126
    Thanks
    1,197
    Thanked 1,848 Times in 1,101 Posts
    Ironically, US market Mirages have an open recall to correct this very thing.

  13. The Following User Says Thank You to Cobrajet For This Useful Post:

    flatbroke (05-18-2016)

  14. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Minneapolis
    Country
    United States
    Posts
    121
    Thanks
    70
    Thanked 42 Times in 32 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Cobrajet View Post
    Ironically, US market Mirages have an open recall to correct this very thing.
    And that's great. A flash or component replacement by the manufacturer is fine.



Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •