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How to detect knock on LS1? Is knock sensor enough?

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Old May 5, 2008 | 04:10 AM
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Default How to detect knock on LS1? Is knock sensor enough?

I'm new to LS1 world, so this is the question - how do you detect knock reliably? Are stock sensors enough? If not, then how? With all the noise this engine makes, it's hard to detect it by ears, I think?
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Old Jun 26, 2008 | 01:29 PM
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I'll try once again How do you turbo-guys detect knock? Do you rely on factory sensor?
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Old Jun 26, 2008 | 02:33 PM
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My tuners in the past have all said that the stock setup is enough.
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Old Jun 26, 2008 | 03:27 PM
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i dont even have knock sensors.................fast xfi
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Old Jun 26, 2008 | 03:30 PM
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I was told by a very reputable tuner that once you change the pistons and bore out the cylinder, a factory knock sensor becomes useless. Best way is to tune it right by reading the plugs.
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Old Jun 26, 2008 | 03:54 PM
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A good tuner shouldn't be looking for knock via a factory sensor to tune a car.
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Old Jun 26, 2008 | 03:58 PM
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you cant hear it anyway, only thing u got is the kr sensors thats it, the true way to tell is by a dyno graph. if you have alot of spikes in the graph you got a jack tune or knock.
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Old Jun 26, 2008 | 05:27 PM
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I thought knock can't be seen on dyno graphs if PCM is not retarding timing, and timing is not very overadvanced
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Old Jun 26, 2008 | 11:07 PM
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Closed loop in-cylinder pressure transducer control...

its the only true way.. other than that.. its all a guessing game. Lots of time and effort go into factory sensors and calibration and those are just correlations to actual in cylinder data..
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Old Jun 27, 2008 | 05:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Jimmy P
I was told by a very reputable tuner that once you change the pistons and bore out the cylinder, a factory knock sensor becomes useless. Best way is to tune it right by reading the plugs.
This is interesting . If this is true I would really like to know how you guys are seeing knock . I am not sure I like the fact of running FI without that safty feature , I did it NA though .

SO what do you do just set it up to pull timing at certin IAT's

Originally Posted by DanO
Closed loop in-cylinder pressure transducer control...

its the only true way.. other than that.. its all a guessing game. Lots of time and effort go into factory sensors and calibration and those are just correlations to actual in cylinder data..
SO if you tune open loop I guess your SOL
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Old Jun 27, 2008 | 07:56 AM
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You set it up to pull timing and add fuel with the IAT, and coolant temp correction tables.
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Old Jun 27, 2008 | 11:56 AM
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It is very easy to listen for knock with the factory knock sensors, which are incredibly sensitive. There are various electronic goodies to allow this to happen.

Some will use the standard sensor, others will use their own sensors.

Websearch these items.

Phormula knock Analyser Pro

Link Knockblock

the Knock box

And there are no doubt countless other such setups at varying costs. MSD also do one.

Or the cheapest form, and many still say the best. Is a bit of copper tubing bolted to the block. Attach rubber hose and route this into a pair of ear defenders, say 8-10mm hose diameter is ample.

Obviously with all audible systems there is background noise, but it isnt that difficult to filter it out yourself, and hear the onset of detonation.

As for using the plugs....very good. Ahh, that plug has been destroyed by detonation...as well as you engine !!!! Great method, but it could get rather expensive in blown engines.

I'd rather a cheap, effective real time method, that allows you to detect, and correct any detonation before engine damage occurs.
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Old Jun 28, 2008 | 08:08 AM
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stevieturbo - these systems literal allow yout to hear ping by using stock sensor?

I'm not sure what's the explanation of reading the plugs at all. Say I had 13.5:1 under boost, I stop, wait until turbo cools down, then after ~3-5 minutes after boosted run I can see the plug. But by that time it could be covered with petrol already while I was slowing down or idling. So what would I see on the plug?
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Old Jun 28, 2008 | 10:10 AM
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Yes, you literally hear it with your ears. When you know what to listen for, the human detector is very good at filtering out the right noises, from the wrong ones.

But you do need to know what you are listening for. It sounds like a dull splat when detonation is occuring, and its very detectable at an early stage.
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Old Jun 28, 2008 | 10:14 AM
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stevie, have you ever been to Estonia? I remember I read about some V8 Granada taking 1st prize in top-speed event couple of years ago
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Old Jun 29, 2008 | 06:14 AM
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No, but I would guess it may have been Magnor from Norway, with a black 11.5 litre twin turbo, huge bonnet scoop.
Although he used to have a 302 twin turbo in it many years ago.

Furthest I have traveled is to Denmark for DHB 2008 at the start of June this year a few weeks ago. Magnor was there, although his car wasnt ready.

Other than that, I have never raced outside the UK.
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Old Jun 29, 2008 | 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by CamaroSS19


SO if you tune open loop I guess your SOL
If you had closed loop control using in cylinder pressure sensors.. you wouldnt need the "tuning" that you are used to.. it would be MUCH simpler (to some..lol)
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