Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I live in the NT and am looking for ways to combat the effects the constant heat has on my TD42's performance.

I have heard mentioned somewhere before that cooler fuel makes a bigger bang.

I am wondering if anyone has placed some sort of radiator somewhere between the tank and the injector pump?

If so, was it worth it?

Also, are lift pumps only used to mask airleaks or do they offer performance gains?

The car in question is a GU TD42 ute running roughly 110rwKw @ 14 psi with stock turbo and top mount i/c

I'd suggest that all gains from a cooler between the tank and IP will be lost as soon as it hits the IP, and if not then, running through the lines would definately heat it up (under bonnet heat etc.).

I've heard of Ferrari F1 team refrigerating their fuel, but can't say i've heard of too many roadgoing cars doing it.

Thats just my thoughts anyway.

A lot of the new common rail diesels run fuel coolers from the factory, so you'd think that they need them. Although ive ran a few hiluxes with the cooler bypassed (got spiked and was leaking) for a yr or so with no ill effects. Im not sure about on an old tech diesel like the TD42 though, never heard of it anyway.

Where abouts in the fuel system do they run the cooler? I suppose another factor would be heated fuel from compression/pressure at the IP - not sure if that is a factor in the equasion.

on the V8 cruiser utes there is one between tank and IP on both tanks. two fin type radiant coolers

chunderlicious wrote:on the V8 cruiser utes there is one between tank and IP on both tanks. two fin type radiant coolers

I think you'll find those coolers are on the fuel return lines as the fuel picks up heat as it's compressed going through the pump and the coolers do their job rather than returning hot fuel to the fuel tank.
Regards Andrew.

They are also very poorly placed and cop a flogging on any vehicle that does real 4wding. We made up vented bash plates on our Hiluxes to protect them when in the paddocks etc.

i would of thought pre heating fuel would be better then cooling it..
with my setup i had simular problems a while back. what i did and still have is my frount mount intercooler with a water spray system i made up and 6 jets facing intercooler.. i made a stainless tank mould into my bullbar, to activate it is a press/hold swith in the cab and while holding the button absolutly saturates the intercooler with water.. i use it for hills.. its not a huge difference buts it definetly noticable.. feels like a bit more torque and helps with temperatures. with my latest setup though this is not needed but when i ran a standard pump and turbo it helped out on the hills and heat.

Its all to do with maintaing fuel density. When fuel is compressed it heats up, can get up to 80c. Thats why it is cooled on common rail diesels, have only ever seen it on the return system. Im sure there is a map to alter fuel volume and timing according to fuel temps.

In a td42 or any other pump, when tested on a test bench the fluid temp needs to be 40c generally. Where you are, how will you maintain cooler temps with high ambient temps.

In theory the cooler the fuel the more there is to deliver, so yes it will work, gains made may not overcome the time and cost, only before and after measuring will tell.

Andy

I think i've been talked out of it considering the benefits/effort ratio. I also feel a bit dumb somehow thinking for a bit there i could cool the fuel down but the reality is if its 40deg outside, chances are the fuel in the tank will also be 40deg so adding a radiator of some description will do 2/5ths of Fark all. Thanks for your input anyway fellas. I think i'll just start saving for one of these laminover intercoolers to combat the heat.

While I have you on the line andy, the lift pump uestion in my original post?

awill4x4 wrote:

chunderlicious wrote:on the V8 cruiser utes there is one between tank and IP on both tanks. two fin type radiant coolers

I think you'll find those coolers are on the fuel return lines as the fuel picks up heat as it's compressed going through the pump and the coolers do their job rather than returning hot fuel to the fuel tank.
Regards Andrew.

X 2 its common in the marine industry to cool returned fuel to prevent condensation in the fuel tanks and diesel bug etc.....

what about running your fuel inline into an after market trans cooler and switched thermo fan

i can see that working .. maybe an extra fuel filter just might in order ...

and also insulated fuel line from the cooler into the fuel rail

i would put a temp guage on the fuel line going into the IP and see what it gets to during summer with 1/2 tank or less of fuel.
what can happen is if the air temp is really high the fuel doesn't cool down in the tank and the fuel temp gets higher and higher temping on how long you drive. mechanical pumps don't correct the injection/timing for the heated fuel. a small transmission cooler on the return line would keep the temp down to air temp. however it can cause problems in very cold climates.

lift pump helps especially on highly tuned pumps as the pumps tend to run out of fuel. the lift pump just keeps the IP filled. also a stable pressure should help with timing.