Tip for better acceleration in modern vehicles

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7413 posts

Uber Geek

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#2607242 19-Nov-2020 21:49

Most of the stuff I’ve seen on this is in the context of 4WDs; how useful would one be in addressing similar lag on a conventional front-wheel car?

My car (a Mazda 6 diesel) is slow on the initial throttle response, particularly when trying to nip across intersections - especially when I forget I’m not in my wife’s Leaf!

Bung

6477 posts

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#2607283 20-Nov-2020 07:38

Trying to nip across intersections is always fraught. There are several in Wellington where there's a steel cover or paint just in the wrong place. If you try to get going too quickly you just get wheelspin just as you are committed even with the drive by wire trying to avoid this.

halper86

547 posts

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#2607296 20-Nov-2020 08:32

Senecio: They basically change the curve, so if the accelerator is depressed 10% it sends a 20% signal instead. So in that respect, yes it’s the same as pressing the pedal further. However what they also do is remove the dead spot that’s inherent in many fly by wire throttle cars but most prevalent in modern common rail turbo diesels. Hence why the OP has a good response in his Ute.

I’m planning to install one in my Skoda Yeti with the 2.0 TDi engine. It has a horrendous dead spot from idle. I’ve been caught a couple of times when turning across traffic at an intersection. Should have had plenty of time but the car just sat there for what seemed like 1-2 secs before taking off.

My dad just installed one of these in his BT-50, can definitely tell the difference.

K8Toledo

1014 posts

Uber Geek

#2607319 20-Nov-2020 09:19

Batman:

MikeB4:

Wouldn't it be quicker and less labour intensive just to change down a gear or two?

My car has no gears

Sounds like CVT technology (rubber band wrapped around a traffic cone).

Yoban

447 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2607331 20-Nov-2020 09:32

Senecio: They basically change the curve, so if the accelerator is depressed 10% it sends a 20% signal instead. So in that respect, yes it’s the same as pressing the pedal further. However what they also do is remove the dead spot that’s inherent in many fly by wire throttle cars but most prevalent in modern common rail turbo diesels. Hence why the OP has a good response in his Ute.

I’m planning to install one in my Skoda Yeti with the 2.0 TDi engine. It has a horrendous dead spot from idle. I’ve been caught a couple of times when turning across traffic at an intersection. Should have had plenty of time but the car just sat there for what seemed like 1-2 secs before taking off.

If that is what it is doing, wouldn't a remap/reprogram of the ECU be a better option?

K8Toledo

1014 posts

Uber Geek

#2607354 20-Nov-2020 09:53

Senecio: They basically change the curve, so if the accelerator is depressed 10% it sends a 20% signal instead. So in that respect, yes it’s the same as pressing the pedal further. However what they also do is remove the dead spot that’s inherent in many fly by wire throttle cars but most prevalent in modern common rail turbo diesels. Hence why the OP has a good response in his Ute.

I’m planning to install one in my Skoda Yeti with the 2.0 TDi engine. It has a horrendous dead spot from idle. I’ve been caught a couple of times when turning across traffic at an intersection. Should have had plenty of time but the car just sat there for what seemed like 1-2 secs before taking off.

Before IT industry I drove trucks for 14 years, including 6 years in USA..

Trucks use FBW, have diesel engines & most of the torque is produced by 35psi turbochargers. I've never heard of this dead spot you refer to which is so prevalent in FBW engines.

You're more likely getting Turbo lag. Turbo lag isn't related to Fly By Wire, it's the time it takes for the impeller to spin up - and a drawback of all turbo's.

The 94-98 Subaru Twin Turbo was notorious for lag between the primary & secondary under heavy acceleration.

Someone else noted already double tapping the accelerator simply spools up the impeller.

(As an aside, I personally dislike turbos - lag is the reason why. Gimme N/A anyday of the week. :D)

Technofreak

6530 posts

Uber Geek

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#2607419 20-Nov-2020 10:47

Yoban:

Senecio: They basically change the curve, so if the accelerator is depressed 10% it sends a 20% signal instead. So in that respect, yes it’s the same as pressing the pedal further. However what they also do is remove the dead spot that’s inherent in many fly by wire throttle cars but most prevalent in modern common rail turbo diesels. Hence why the OP has a good response in his Ute.

I’m planning to install one in my Skoda Yeti with the 2.0 TDi engine. It has a horrendous dead spot from idle. I’ve been caught a couple of times when turning across traffic at an intersection. Should have had plenty of time but the car just sat there for what seemed like 1-2 secs before taking off.

If that is what it is doing, wouldn't a remap/reprogram of the ECU be a better option?

Probably, but the guys selling the throttle controllers are not in that market.

So far as I can tell giving the accelerator a firmer prod will do the same as these controllers. By all means if you want to get better acceleration for the same throttle movement install one of these devices, but personally I have better ways of spending my automotive dollars.

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morrisk

364 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#2607422 20-Nov-2020 10:48

Best advice to get better acceleration in a modern vehicle is to buy an EV!

Scott3

3963 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2607423 20-Nov-2020 10:50

Yoban:

If that is what it is doing, wouldn't a remap/reprogram of the ECU be a better option?

If it is a turbo engine, generally such modification requires LVV certification. Something that is best avoided.

See page 19 here:

https://www.lvvta.org.nz/documents/suplementary_information/LVVTA_LVV_Cert_Threshold.pdf

Technofreak

6530 posts

Uber Geek

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#2607425 20-Nov-2020 10:53

K8Toledo:

Before IT industry I drove trucks for 14 years, including 6 years in USA..

Trucks use FBW, have diesel engines & most of the torque is produced by 35psi turbochargers. I've never heard of this dead spot you refer to which is so prevalent in FBW engines.

You're more likely getting Turbo lag. Turbo lag isn't related to Fly By Wire, it's the time it takes for the impeller to spin up - and a drawback of all turbo's.

The 94-98 Subaru Twin Turbo was notorious for lag between the primary & secondary under heavy acceleration.

Someone else noted already double tapping the accelerator simply spools up the impeller.

(As an aside, I personally dislike turbos - lag is the reason why. Gimme N/A anyday of the week. :D)

I was never a turbo fan until I test drove a turbo car last year. The acceleration from down low was exceptional in my opinion. It had a really wide torque band. I was impressed. Having said that I still bought a N/A.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

Bung

6477 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2607447 20-Nov-2020 11:17

Technofreak:
I was never a turbo fan until I test drove a turbo car last year. The acceleration from down low was exceptional in my opinion. It had a really wide torque band. I was impressed. Having said that I still bought a N/A.

Many turbo cars now have comparatively small turbos aimed at the wide torque you've mentioned. Our current 1400 is better all round than the 2l it replaced and 3l/100km better economy. From 1500rpm on it just goes whereas the older car had to be doing 3000rpm to accelerate.

Obraik

2123 posts

Uber Geek

#2607456 20-Nov-2020 11:33

Imagine having to worry about pesky throttle lag and changing gears. I'll happily enjoy the instant torque and acceleration in my Tesla as your glorified fireboxes decide what to do 😉

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