Dodge Neon SRT4 Engine Fundamentals

The Dodge Neon SRT4 is tuned to fulfill selected specifications from the production line. Their particular objective when tuning the vehicle is not to increase the engines power output but to average power figures and gas mileage as described in released specifications. As you modify your vehicle you should tune your engine so you truly benefit from the customization. Simply changing the wastegate or another component might lead to high boost but your engine will not be performing at optimal levels.

Your motor will work harder when tuned for increased power. Increased power in most cases decreases fuel economy. Moreover, there are a few stock components that will needs to be changed considering they are not meant to withstand stress a result of the boost in power. After the engine is tuned it will need normal servicing and servicing to help maintain performance and reliability. Enhanced power usually decreases gas mileage.

Power production, gas mileage and reliability should be considered when tuning your car. Each of these is as essential as the other. It would be a mistake to turn your vehicle to realize optimum power production and also greatly reduce your gas mileage to an unacceptable level and places a great deal of stress on the components that you simply end up investing a lot of money just keeping it running. So, tune the engine to achieve a compromise involving power production, gas mileage and dependability.

SRT4 Tuning

The motor is controlled by a computer (PCM). The PCM is a complex computer system used to set how you want each component to function and tracks parameters including air flow, air temperature, oxygen within the exhaust, throttle position and engine load. Changing your PCM tune is called remapping. When you remap your ECU you’re reprogramming how the computer manages the wastegate and fueling which in turn affects the amount of fuel/air that can be burnt.

Canned remaps can be obtained but is only going to lead to minimal improvements in power output, fuel economy and dependability. A custom remap is specific towards the specific engine in most cases achieves the greatest results. Modifications to engine components requires a custom remap to actually achieve noteworthy changes. It should be mentioned by using many of today’s tuners you’ll be able to save and use different tunes for differing conditions and purposes with little effort and time.

Wastegate

The car’s engine exhaust spins the turbo pushing air in to the intake which results in more exhaust turning the turbo faster. Without regulating the boost level this closed loop system would keep generating greater pressures until the engine failed. Consequently, the wastegate lets off boost pressure each time a set pressure level is reached.

One particular problem with the wastegate is it operates by a spring. When the boost pressure approaches the maximum that can be held with the spring the wastegate actually starts to open (creeps) thereby releasing pressure. As a result, there is a slight decline in boost before the precise boost level is reached. Hence, a boost controller is used to counteract the unwanted release of boost pressure inherent while using wastegate.

Fueling

Components associated with fueling include the fuel pump(s), injectors, fuel pressure regulator and fuel filter. The correct air to fuel mixture is essential for maintaining power output and reliability of the engine. To rich or to lean fuel mixture will decrease power production and may cause severe problems with dependability. The more power you are achieving the more critical the air to fuel mixture becomes.

Blow Off Valve (BOV)

Whenever your turbocharged engine spools up, it pressurizes the intake system, which inturn pushes additional air into the combustion chamber. Once you take your foot off of the accelerator, that pressure stops immediately and the excess pressure is immediately released by the BOV. Without a BOV the pressure would change course and go back up the intake system, creating undue force on the turbocharger’s components. This kind of pressure return will also lower the speed of the compressor wheel, meaning it will take much longer to spool up again when the throttle is opened.