Automotive Engineering: Engine Fuel Map Design

In order to understand how to bring out the most power from a car’s engine, we needed to learn how an engine works. The main focus of this research was to tune the engine and create a fuel map that would allow it to run at its optimum level. We used the Win Tec-GT computer software to test the performance of a 2002 Yamaha YZFR6 engine that the Rutgers 2008 Racing Team uses in their car. To easily test the engine we connected it to a dynamometer that simulated a load on the engine, making it do work and simulate real life driving. The engine included numerous sensors that relayed information about conditions such as crank position and coolant temperature, allowing the Tec-GT to communicate with the engine and adjust parameters. Our main areas of interest with the Tec-GT and the tuning of the engine were the ignition advance and volumetric advance tables. By changing different values on these tables we were able to adjust the amount of fuel that entered the engine as well as the time of injection. The two tables were adjusted until the engine performed at its highest potential at each possible variation of load and RPM. However, even when this map was completed some effects could not be tested without driving the car, such as acceleration changes in the