Sensors; Lambda, IAT and Water Temperature

Anything to do with the 1200 Corsaro series
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BumbleBee
Posts: 230
Joined: 13 Jun 2017 21:10
Location: Reading

Sensors; Lambda, IAT and Water Temperature

Post by BumbleBee »

Hi All,
Newbie to fuel injection on the 1200 engines here. Looking for some clues about the relationship between the Lambda, Inlet Air Temperature and Water Temperature sensors. I mean I know what each one measures. But it seems to me the outputs from them is maybe used to do the same thing e.g. adjust the fuel:air mixture. So are those outputs used all the time or are some sensor outputs only used some of the time? Or maybe some take priority over the others?
Ebi
Posts: 13
Joined: 19 Sep 2016 06:19
Location: Stuttgart

Re: Sensors; Lambda, IAT and Water Temperature

Post by Ebi »

Hi Bumblebee,
there are various parameters which have an effect to the fuel quantity and ignition timing:
- ambient temperature
- engine (water) temperature
- throttle position
- air pressure
- engine speed / rpm
- front or rear cylinder
- lambda value (if a lambda controlled map is used)

There are maps and tables for each parameter in the ECU software, the parameters are constantly read and processed. The result of this process is one fuel injection and one ignition timing value for each ignition and cylinder, front and rear - they are a little bit different, because the temperature is different.

The complete ECU content is available as a binary file. With tools like TunerPro it is possible to interpret this file, as long as it is known at which position the maps, tables and some flags are located. This pointer information is stored in a TunerPro XDF interpretation file.
It is possible to edit and modify the maps and tables to optimize fuel consumption, engine power or throttle response on a dyno.

Some examples of interesting modifications:
- activate/deactivate lambda control
- modify fan activation temperature
- modify engine speed limiter
- flash a complete ECU file with better fuel efficiency and smooth engine behaviour at low rpm

There is a lot you can play - the playground is open :mrgreen:

Regards
Ebi
BumbleBee
Posts: 230
Joined: 13 Jun 2017 21:10
Location: Reading

Re: Sensors; Lambda, IAT and Water Temperature

Post by BumbleBee »

Does low Oil Pressure at the sensor, cause any effect on the fueling e.g. during starting or running?
morini_tom
Posts: 1088
Joined: 05 May 2006 13:47
Location: Northampton

Re: Sensors; Lambda, IAT and Water Temperature

Post by morini_tom »

I don’t know but I wouldn’t think so.

In its running in period I had a few low pressure warnings (rectified at first service with a new sensor) and I didn’t notice any difference in the way it ran.

More sophisticated engine control systems might restrict power to prevent any engine damage that could be caused by low oil pressure, inactivation of piston cooling jets or inability to phase camshafts etc but our engine doesn’t have those things.

As the rider it’s our responsibility to see the low pressure warning and moderate our right wrist movement accordingly. It’ll fuel for the air you give it.

Why, are you having issues?
BumbleBee
Posts: 230
Joined: 13 Jun 2017 21:10
Location: Reading

Re: Sensors; Lambda, IAT and Water Temperature

Post by BumbleBee »

No oil issues no. Probably just a consequence of trying to learn something new :D
BumbleBee
Posts: 230
Joined: 13 Jun 2017 21:10
Location: Reading

Re: Sensors; Lambda, IAT and Water Temperature

Post by BumbleBee »

Without knowing it, I have been running the fuel injectors at lower than normal voltages, due to an electrical problem. I'm thinking of putting some injector cleaner through the fuel system in case crud has formed at the nozzles.
morini_tom
Posts: 1088
Joined: 05 May 2006 13:47
Location: Northampton

Re: Sensors; Lambda, IAT and Water Temperature

Post by morini_tom »

How low a voltage were you running do you think? And where do you suspect the low voltage was- in the whole system or just certain components?

The delivered injector pulsewidth will be compensated for battery voltage to still deliver the correct fuel mass so won’t have had any ill effect in my opinion.

If other parts of the electrical system were not seeing the same voltage drop then I suppose you could have had some mismatch between for example measured lambda values and air and fluid temperatures which could create some unusual behaviour, but quite unlikely I think.

Port injectors are nowhere near as susceptible to crudding up as direct injectors as they don’t see the heat and combustion byproducts that DI injectors do in the combustion chamber, and they aren’t as sensitive to low voltages either due to the much longer pulsewidths compared to high pressure direct injection.

Injector cleaner can have its benefits but can also be a bit snake oil. If you stick with a known brand it probably won’t do any harm though- although keep in mind our plastic fuel tanks- it’s worth doing your research to ensure compatability.

Personally I’d fill it with decent fuel with as low an ethanol content as possible and give it a good thrashing. Hard to do on the road on a 1200 but some good heat cycles and an Italian tuneup always helps
BumbleBee
Posts: 230
Joined: 13 Jun 2017 21:10
Location: Reading

Re: Sensors; Lambda, IAT and Water Temperature

Post by BumbleBee »

Voltages anywhere from normal down to low enough to stop the bike from running. Caused by a slowly corroding wire at the 12V output connector from the regulator. That led to the generator gradually not being able to keep up with the electrical demands of the bike. It certainly ran badly below 3000 rpm.
I hear what you say about port injectors not crudding up like direct injectors do. I hadn't realised the bit about pulse width doing some compensating. Thanks for that.
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