hedley Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 I must have been having a blonde moment when all this megasquirting stuff became popular. Would someone mind telling me what exactly megasquirt is please? what can you fit it to? is it only petrol? either carbs or efi? I keep reading posts about it but its like im missing the first few pieces of the puzzle... Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young bobtail Rhys Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 If you just type in on the search tab "megasquirt" then that will save a whole load of answers for you, and in addition gives you the answer Or even better, click on this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white90 Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 tech archive under engines sub section Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 Megasquirt is effectively a DIY fuel injection system. It was developed as an 'open source' project where lots of people contribute to the hardware and software. The best bits of design get incorporated into whatever the current version is - and the bits that are problematic do not (by a process of peer review). The result of this is that it is very solid and reliable - as well as being low cost and easy to install, modify, re-program etc. The hardware design is freely available - so you could scratch build a MS unit if you wanted to. Most people however build the hardware from a kit or get some kind individual to build and test it for them. MS allows you to define and tune your own fuel maps. You can over time make it a perfect fit to your truck rather than a one-size-fits-all ECU or Carb. Later on in the development, they came up with a way of replacing the distributor by fitting one coil per spark plug (or one between two) and triggering which fires and when electronically. This allows you to set your own advance and retard curves and tie them accurately to what the engine as a whole is doing. What you get, or at least can get, is more power, easier starting, smoother running and better economy. It can be fitted to any vehicle with fuel injection where it just plugs in to the existing injectors. It can also be used with carbs using what is known as 'throttle body injection' where you disconnect the fuel supply to the carb and fit a big injector which just squirts fuel into the inlet manifold. It just uses the butterfly valve in the carb to throttle the engine as normal. MS has been fitted to all kinds of petrol engines including chain saws, bikes, lawn mowers - as well as cars and trucks. It is that versatile. It could potentially be used to run a common rail diesel injection system - don't know if anyone has done it yet though. Some people have even used it to control LPG, Nitrous or water injection. To tune it, you load a bit of free software on to your PC and plug it in via serial RS232 or USB via a serial adaptor. Start with someone else's fuel map for a similar engine then by looking at the mixture via the lambda (oxygen) sensor readout in the software - tweak the settings to be better. It has an auto-tune function which gradually does this itself over a period of time. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThreeSheds Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Top answer Simon - concise and yet tells you everything you need to know. This ought to be the first 'hit' if anyone searches for Megasquirt I reckon.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedley Posted June 19, 2008 Author Share Posted June 19, 2008 Thats exactly the answer i was looking for simon, thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_mouse_man Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Top answer Simon - concise and yet tells you everything you need to know. This ought to be the first 'hit' if anyone searches for Megasquirt I reckon.. I appreciate that explanation - I've been reading all this stuff about MS too but missed out on the first part. Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Yep Si Rs answer is loverly, This is worth a read not as eloqent eleqent eleqe el ele ellleoq Well worded but still woth a read Best thing I've ever done to my V8 .............runs amazingly well now ........and waterproof Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedley Posted June 19, 2008 Author Share Posted June 19, 2008 This is worth a read [/] It was after reading this post that made me ask the question in the first place... Thanks to simon, i now have some clue of what it is/does... Ive always tended to stay away from V8's, untill now, my pockets were never deep enough for the fuel economy and insurance. (only a young 'un see) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Although there is lots of technical info about the spec & functions of MS. Even on the MS site it's hard to fathom out what it's all about unless you have prior knowledge. I think that prior knowledge is assumed just about everywhere that talks about MS - and for me too, that was the biggest hurdle! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted June 21, 2008 Share Posted June 21, 2008 So good I have asked Si and he has agrred that his most exellent explaination will head the Main Megasquirt thread in the tech forum Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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