Dyno Preparation
We often get asked the question "What do I need to do to my car before going on the dyno?". A good question with lots of varying opinions online. We have took the time to write up an overview below of how we would like your car prepared before we arrive at the dyno.
Making sure your car is 'Dyno ready'
Dyno power runs and engine calibration sessions create a similar level of load on the engine that you could expect on a track day. With this in mind, the best course of action to take when preparing for the dyno is to do the same as if you were about to do a track day. Before a track day we would expect you to check fluids are topped up (oil, coolant, fuel etc) and that there are no leaks from the engine or its ancillaries. Furthermore we also recommend checking the condition of your spark plugs and if a manual transmission, a healthy clutch that is not slipping, or will start to slip if expecting a large increase in torque from your current setup. If you require advice on which spark plugs to use and what gap to run, please email tech@racecal.co.uk
Fuel Level
I know we have mentioned fuel level in the fluids section above, however this is a point that is so often forgotten/overlooked. To properly calibrate your engine, we will require a suitable amount of your chosen fuel to complete the job. Calibration can consume anywhere between 20 and ~70 litres depending on the car and how long the dyno session will last depending on the complexity of the setup. Therefore, we would recommend arriving to the dyno with a full tank of fuel. RaceCal always recommend a '99 RON' fuel for your pump fuel map, this would be either Shell V-Power or Tesco 99 (Momentum). If these fuels are not available in your geographic location, please contact RaceCal with the fuel that you will be using so we are aware. If you are running an Ethanol blend or a specific race fuel, please feel free to contact us to discuss suitable required quantities.
Fluid Leaks
Please ensure your engine has no fluid leaks, not only can this be dangerous to your engine on the dyno, a large leak can also damage critical dyno equipment. RaceCal reserve the right to invoice customers for any cleaning or damage to calibration equipment caused by a fluid leak.
Known Underlying Problems
Whilst tuning on the dyno isn't going to stress the engine any more than driving at full throttle on the road/track, if your engine is using oil/smoking, pushing water out on load, low on compression or generally in poor health; completing a dyno power run or calibration session is not advised. RaceCal reserve the right to decline a power run or calibration session if we believe the engine is not suitably healthy. If you are unsure we can arrange a health check, including compression/leakdown test before your appointment.