How to set the fuel pressure.
Turbo Mini Forums

1) Buy a Gunsons Lo-Gauge online http://www.buy-secure.co.uk/gunsons_test_tune.htm. Halfords do not sell them anymore, neither do motorworld or many other 'parts' places, so this really is the easiest option.

2) Once it arrives unwrap from packaging.

3) Admire it's beauty and usefulness.

4) Open your bonnet and locate the regulator. If Smoking a cigarette / cigar / pipe / bong at this time, extinguish or pass to a colleague to finish on your behalf.
Now loosen the adjuster nut on the regulator (10 or 11mm spanner) and unscrew the adjuster right out (anticlockwise), then back in one full turn.

5) Remove fuel pipe going into carburettor, and fit gauge in end of this fuel pipe. Fit jubilee clip / cable tie / soemthing to avoid fuel coming out.

6) Turn on ignition so fuel pump is running.

7) look at gauge (will probably be reading around 0.5 psi with the adjuster right out)

8 ) Screw in (clockwise) the adjuster screw until pressure reaches 3.5psi on your Gunsons Lo-Gauge. Although tempting, because some joey once told you that big power gains are achieved by running higher pressure, this is not true, so abide by the 3.5 psi pressure figure.

9) Without moving the adjuster screw, nip up the locknut. (note the word 'nip' - it doesn't need torquing up like a wheel nut). Check fuel pressure is still at 3.5psi, if not, slacken locknut and adjust the screw to suit (clockwise to increase pressure, anti-clockwise to decrease) then nip up the locknut.

10) Turn off the ignition.

11) Prepare to Disconnect fuel pipe from the Lo-Gauge. Bear in mind fuel will be present in the pipe, so have some rag under the pipe when removing the fuel pipe to soak up the fuel.
Once pipe is remove from Lo-Gauge, re-fit to the carburettor using a jubille clip / cable tie / etc.

12) Discard petrol soaked rag in safe place. If applicable, Re-light cigarette (previously extinguished - see step 4).



Bosh!

Job done!

Edited by TurboDave16V on 9th Jul, 2004.

9/10 dave!

Team www.sheepspeed.com Racing

Not bad dave!

You missed the "take a swig of 1664" bit though!

Very usefull info, thanks.

) Screw in (clockwise) the adjuster screw until pressure reaches 3.5psi on your Gunsons Lo-Gauge. Although tempting, because some joey once told you that big power gains are achieved by running higher pressure, this is not true, so abide by the 3.5 psi pressure figure.


dave, although you clame the setting to be 3.5psi, if you dig deeper, u'l actualy fine its 4- 4.5, duno who told u 3.5. and to back this up, ive had many standard metro turbo cars, and they al read over 4psi after the reg!?

dont like the thort of some chappy melting pistons your advice. if in doubt, you should recoment that people fit a lamda sensor, and air/fuel ratio meter, so engine mixture can be viewed while driving, theyre 100% accurate as reflected in rolling road. ref demon tweeks for components.

if you feel in control, your not going fast enough!

I have a freshly built Slark Race Engineering 1293 turbo engine. which includes forged pistons, piper t3 cam, 36/32mm offset valves.... lets come out to play!!!

I have to say I agree, I thought it was 4.5 PSI as standard (off the top of my bonce). I'll check it in the haynes bible, sure it will be stated there.

Choppo

Hannibal: There are two ways we can do this: the easy way and the hard way. In a few minutes my friends and I are going to come down on you like your worst nightmare. You're gonna wish the Earth had opened up and swallowed you whole.
bad guy: What's the easy way?
Hannibal: That WAS the easy way.

Forget to say, that a good RR should check this for you and set it up, always a good idea to get an engine set up on one, especally a turbo!

Hannibal: There are two ways we can do this: the easy way and the hard way. In a few minutes my friends and I are going to come down on you like your worst nightmare. You're gonna wish the Earth had opened up and swallowed you whole.
bad guy: What's the easy way?
Hannibal: That WAS the easy way.

thanks choppo. how to keep your mini alive No1, and haynes for montego, and metro turbo both agree, 4-4.5 psi base setting.

sorry to squobble, just think if an 'how to' is posted, it should be accurate.!!

if you feel in control, your not going fast enough!

I have a freshly built Slark Race Engineering 1293 turbo engine. which includes forged pistons, piper t3 cam, 36/32mm offset valves.... lets come out to play!!!

I err on the side of safety - 3.5 is more like you'll ever see from a mechanical fuel pump...

3psi, 4.5psi, no difference at all. So long as you set it, so be it.

The link supplied at the top of this page didnt have stock when I wanted to set mine so I used my boost guage as recomended by someone on this forum.Thanks,I was running around 12psi fuel pressure but all is well now.
Allan

http://www.rabdunn.co.uk/

I've just fitted my fuel pressure gauge. It's now set at 3psi which is extremely easily adjusted now :)


http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/catalogue/pr...p15&from=search

But, the thing is.. After I've turned the ignition off, the gauge stops at 1psi. Is it supposed to??
On a N/A Mini, this would be normal, but what happens here?

Also, on full boost, this gauge will overread. I guess I'll just have to see what happens..

Vegard, I would advise that you only plumb the fuel pressure gauge in when required, as having a pressurised fuel line into the cabin all the time is a bit risky in the event of an accident I am sure you will agree! That assumes you have fitted to your dash of course.
Usually once set at the regulator the fuel pressure does not change anyhow?

I had the engine die on me last year due to a loose nut on the pressure regulator. I will never drive a mile (or kilometre for you guys now) without one....

I do understand what you're saying, but I don't vare... :)

You can get special fittings to do this correctly, its basically a diaphragm, fuel stays on one side, then something non-flammable on the other. has to be done for FIA rules i reckon as fuel cant be in the drivers side of the bulkhead.

Up to you, but as Iain says, fuel squirting round in the cockpit is never a good idea..........why not cure the cause of your previous problem rather than put something to monitor the effect, e.g. double up on the locknut on your fuel pressure regulator, or use a nyloc, or loctite, or even lockwire it, whatever...........rather than using a gauge so that you know when it has come loose, make damn well sure it CAN'T come loose.

Root cause analysis- solve the problem, don't counteract it...........

I would have thought that you would be able to get an electronic version of the gauge.

Team www.sheepspeed.com Racing

I'm totally with MacGyver on this one...

Never mind fuel squirting everywhere. :)
Is it normal that the gauge stops on one psi after I've shut down the pump?
I will use the gauge initially to see that the diaphragm works etc..

I'll just ditch my oil pressure and water temp gauge as well.. Nah mate.. No need

Up to you then

The 1psi thing - I noticed it with mine aswell... It drops off eventually, but not immediatelly.

Thanks Dave :)
I'll see about this diwphragm thingy.. The more gauges, the merrier!