BLMONGOOSE

I just recieved my AUTO TAP. I was wondering which is the best Gauge or tool to use to monitor detonation. What do I look for on that gauge that will show detonation? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

cablebandit

iTrader: (37)

go to the "ignition" section and monitor knock retard. If you get ANY let out of it. Yeah you wont hear it and it will SEEM ok but if you don't let out of it you WILL crack a ring/ringland. Best way to overcome detonation is with higher octane fuel or pull some timing.

Black LS1 T/A

My understanding is that, even though you don't want ANY Knock Retard, anything less than 3.0 is within tolerance.

Of course, your goal should be to make it zero.

Anyone else care to weigh in on this?

BLMONGOOSE

What degree should I let off at 1,2,3,4,5...? I just did a sample run that I took last night in my chevy trailblazer and I had a knock retard of upto 2.8 at about 5700 RPM's. And as the throttle was coming down after I let go of the gas I was getting Spark knock from 2.3-1.4. Is this normal? Should I be worried of 1, 2, 3 degrees or should I only wory if it goes to 5 or so?

Black LS1 T/A

Well, for reference, I get 1.5 to 1.9 degrees of KR in 2nd and 3rd gear, none in 1st. It was always that way even before the SC. It does not matter what octane I run... it is always the same.

BLMONGOOSE

Wouldnt the air/fuel gauge also help prevent detonation. You cant let the engine run too lean beacuse it will detonate.

What would be considered a lean reading ????:1

Black LS1 T/A

Generally speaking, around 12.0:1 A/F ratio at peak RPMs is the leanest you might want to risk.

You want to be slightly rich up to your peak torque and let it lean out toward the 12.0:1 figure as it reaches peak RPM. That's my understanding.

Taken by themselves, no one thing is the answer to tuning... so many parameters must be taken into consideration and can affect the other...

BLMONGOOSE

Anyone else out their worried about Detonation besides me, cablebandit and black LS1?

Detonation is what kills our valuable setup.

Any other gauges or sensor I should monitor that would warn me that my engine is detonating?

DenzSS

I think the only things you can really monitor are knock retard and your O2 sensors.

Isn't the PCM limited to a total of 4 degrees it can pull?

If you're running a turbo, you could always put in an EGT sensor.

Blackbird

you can get a scanmaster and have it monitor KR realtime and mount it right in front of you.

also your other friend is your ear.

calebs01formula

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Blackbird:
<strong>you can get a scanmaster and have it monitor KR realtime and mount it right in front of you..</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think this is what your looking for
<img border="0" alt="[Burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

DenzSS

Even then, KR isn't necessarult correct. A lot of FI cars have false knock.

MelloYellow

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Blackbird:
<strong>you can get a scanmaster and have it monitor KR realtime and mount it right in front of you.

also your other friend is your ear.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ditto

BLMONGOOSE

Does the scanmaster only monitor spark knock? And how does it connect to the car, through the same auto tap plug, or is it wired directly to the PCM.

DCPunkSteve

http://www.jandssafeguard.com/

Check this site out, they used to have a product that was basicly a 2 1/16" guage for monitoring detenation.

99 WS6

I bought a scanmaster and mounted it just above the speedo/tach. It is right in front of you and all you have to do is take a quick look every couple of seconds.
The Camaro guys have a nice spot to mount it right by the radio. I cut a hole in the trim just above the instrument cluster and mounted it there.