Vehicle adjustments for altitude?? (credit, law, eat)

[jazzlover]

A non-turbocharged gasoline engine loses approximately 4% of its horsepower for each 1,000 of elevation above sea level. So, at 6,000 ft. elevation, it has lost about 24% of its horsepower--10,000 ft. it's 40%. Modern fuel injection systems compensate for altitude, so the engine does not run "rich" at altitude like old carbureted engines did, but the oxygen is still not there for more power. Turbocharging, which is actually more effective on diesel engines, induces air (and oxygen) to the cylinder under pressure, effectively allowing the engine to "breathe" as it is at sea level (or lower). Poorer fuel economy of non-turbo'ed engines at high altitude and loss of power is just another one of those little "disadvantages" of living in Colorado that the Chamber of Commerce types sort of gloss over.

As to octane measurement, this has been covered before. This from Wikepedia:

In the Rocky Mountain (high altitude) states, 85 octane is the minimum octane and 91 is the maximum octane available in fuel. The reason for this is that in higher-altitude areas, a typical combustion engine draws in less air per cycle due to the reduced density of the atmosphere. This directly translates to reduced absolute compression in the cylinder, therefore deterring knock. It is safe to fill up a car with a carburetor that normally takes 87 AKI fuel at sea level with 85 AKI fuel in the mountains, but at sea level the fuel may cause damage to the engine. A disadvantage to this strategy is that most turbocharged vehicles are unable to produce full power, even when using the "premium" 91 AKI fuel.

Full article here:

Octane rating - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For over 25 years, I have used nothing but 85 octane unleaded regular in my gasoline vehicles with no ill effects. Several of those vehicles clocked way in excess of 100K miles. A turbodiesel vehicle absolutely is terrific at Colorado's high altitudes (I have one), but--thanks to the EPA adopting a different emission standard than the stringent-enough European standard--there are only a handful of turbodiesel light duty vehicles sold in the US. (And, while diesel costs more than gasoline, those turbodiesel vehicles typically get AT LEAST 30% better fuel economy than their gasoline engine-equipped counterparts.)

[ryanek9freak]

Geez, it would have to to offset the cost of $4.60 a gallon diesel!

[McGowdog]

We spent as much as $4.79 for the cheapest 87 octane petro in NoCal a couple/few weeks ago. Their Diesel was $5.05 and higher. Yikes! [add: we paid as low as $4.49 per. We budgeted for 5.00/gallon, so we had money to spare!]

I like the idea of this turbocharger or supercharger, but I don't like the 2500 to 3500.00 to get it. That's more than I've paid for most of the vehicles I've ever owned. I want to pay $3000.00 so I can get a bit better gas mileage and more speeding tickets. I have yet to lose a race to work.

[ryanek9freak]

Yeah, you're better of buying something with factory installed forced induction, such as a turbo Subaru or something else, like a Grand Prix with a Blower

[RangerDuke08]

E85 stations in Springs ...
Colorado SpringsAcorn305 S 8th Street Colorado SpringsPeterson Air force BasePrivateColorado SpringsChief Petroleum301 South 10th StreetColorado SpringsFarm Crest2105 Colorado AveColorado SpringsFarm Crest5050 BoardWalk
currently $2.79 at Acorn

[ryanek9freak]

People need to really check before they put that stuff in their cars. I've had more than one customer get towed in because they thought they could run it in their vehicle, but it wasn't compatible, and ate right through all the fuel system O-rings.

I know it's tempting to try it, because it's only $2.79 a gallon, but don't risk it unless your vehicle is Flex fuel capable.

[JAF1976]

Originally Posted by McGowdog

We spent as much as $4.79 for the cheapest 87 octane petro in NoCal a couple/few weeks ago. Their Diesel was $5.05 and higher. Yikes! [add: we paid as low as $4.49 per. We budgeted for 5.00/gallon, so we had money to spare!]

I like the idea of this turbocharger or supercharger, but I don't like the 2500 to 3500.00 to get it. That's more than I've paid for most of the vehicles I've ever owned. I want to pay $3000.00 so I can get a bit better gas mileage and more speeding tickets. I have yet to lose a race to work.

Just be careful who you pull up next to you never know what might be lurking under the hood of something like this

[McGowdog]

Originally Posted by JAF1976

Just be careful who you pull up next to you never know what might be lurking under the hood of something like this

Ummm, be careful of what? Of someone who needs a driving lesson? I don't get your post.

Here's something pretty straight-forward right here; it's a machine that I operate that came out before you were an itch.

[JAF1976]

Originally Posted by McGowdog

Ummm, be careful of what? Of someone who needs a driving lesson? I don't get your post.

Here's something pretty straight-forward right here; it's a machine that I operate that came out before you were an itch.

That is a nice bike! There are some things running around here on the street that might suprise you.





http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8467/jf54jk0.jpg (broken link)

[sterlinggirl]

He's got you Gowdog....it was close, but the galvanized pipe fittings obviously give him a competitive advantage.