Get a knock link if you want to do that, the knock sensors are not in the best place for performance, only in the best place for economy. Anyway the signal requires complex filtering.

Anyway the ECU will try to back off if it sees major trouble, only problem is if it is still pinking at full retard then it will retard the boost but in most peoples infinite wisdom they have disconnected the ECUs boost control.

Has anyone here lost an engine due to the engine having been previously run low on oil? I have a past history of owning Alfa's and on some of those its quite common. The coupe also seems to use oil at a similar rate, and if someone were to not check it regularly enough some problems might occur.
Or is the Coupe more robust to this treatment than the average Alfa engine?

I lost my previous engine through this.. supposedly

Ross

running low on oil is slang for not checking the oil enough

I check mine at least every week although my coupoe doesn't seem to use much since I fixed the leaking rocker cover gasket.

If the worst does happen though there is a cure available..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALFA-LANCIA-E...370QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I am sure it works wonderfully.. Not.

about as useful as scraping the fat off a donar kebab and slapping that in your engine.

He's done it already
Current widget will report knock (at least it does on mine due to some earthing probs... )

like I said on the 20VT the knock sensors are in the right place for engine efficiency and the wrong place for tuning. So the barnacle widget will tell you something but it won't help you to avert an engine failure

Thanks John, I think I'll get myself a knock link along with an electronic boost controller

Still got a bit more to learn about how all the different variables such as boost, ignition advance, fuelling, and temperatures all effect each other but getting there

Was the knock link useless unless it was properly setup on the rollers?

Ross

It is by far best if set up on the rollers but you need someone to actually make your car pink as well so it isn't just a case of going to your average rolling road and asking them to set it up.
Reason it is best set up that way is that there is a lot of background noise and it is making sure it is not just showing you that.

Is it possible to get something to read the ebv signal from the existing ECU with aftermarket boost controlers, to allow them to back off when the ECU thinks there is a problem?

the actuall ebv signal from the ECU is a PALSE.
It's not (what I initially thought) a signal that comes when the ecu wants the wastegate to open and vent.
It works with short pulses and their frequency changes (as in increases) when ecu wants to lower boost.

Now, even when you're driving normally with a bit of accel this thing pulses, so it's impossible to decipher (sp?) the moment that ECU thinks there's something wrong. So, forget that.

HOWEVER, I guess one of these companies could come up with an improved version of their kit that comes bundled with knock sensors and on tuning them (fck knows how though...) it would be able to lower boost when it senses know.
How about that?

Personally I'll stick to the adelco ebv

V.

I wouldnt want anything messing about with my boost, I'd rather stick an LED on the dash somewhere, if it comes on I'll know theres a problem and deal with it myself

by the time you notice the LED then damage may have occured anyway.

+1,
you'll need a big bugger 1W high power LED and beeper on top if you want to be sure...

V.

Nothing escapes my eye (although I suppose if it did I wouldnt know about it )

I'd notice it as soon as it came on if it was located in a conspicuous place, I always see the fuel light as soon as it flashes on for the first time...

Sure it pulses it during normal boost control, but when it thinks there is a problem, I would think it would just hold the vave open to try and knock the bost back as much as possile

To me though I think keeping an upgraded EBV with good mapping is a safer solution - was just thinking of the people that prefer boost controlers

Yea, I agree there

The Adelco, is that the "GM" Ebv?

yep, that's the one!