TC -ION Sensing Detection Explained
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Ions are charged particles (atoms), when a flame front occurs pressure increases and more ion current is generated.
From I remember this ion front is picked up across the spark plug gap inducing a voltage back into the coil. The ecm picks up this charge and sees it as a detonation event.
IIRC
This technology is evolving
From I remember this ion front is picked up across the spark plug gap inducing a voltage back into the coil. The ecm picks up this charge and sees it as a detonation event.
IIRC
This technology is evolving
I copied this from your link very good. so basically it does not measure the resistance of the plugs or wires , but it is using the spark plug as it were as a sensor measuring what is happening in the combustion chamber.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 16,271
Likes: 15,108
From: Somewhere SW
Knock creates a pressure oscillation in the combustion chamber that is reflected in the current measurement.
I copied this from your link very good. so basically it does not measure the resistance of the plugs or wires , but it is using the spark plug as it were as a sensor measuring what is happening in the combustion chamber.
I copied this from your link very good. so basically it does not measure the resistance of the plugs or wires , but it is using the spark plug as it were as a sensor measuring what is happening in the combustion chamber.
According to the ion sensing info I've read engineers are looking at using ion sensing to control spark timing and fuel mixture, as well as detecting misfire and knock events.
This looks to be one of the biggest automotive tech breakthroughs in years. If engine designers start basing the whole engine tune off of ion sensing it would radically change the way engine tuning is done.
LOL no, I'm an auto tech with 25 years under my belt
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,773
Likes: 2,603
From: san antonio
I read this thread just for fun; I am EFI challenged. However the read did make me realize how much I love my carbureted all bore 107" motor in my '02 FLHT; 122TQ/110HP; 100TQ by 2000 rpms, 87octane and no knock. I do get some pinging when south Texas heat kicks up near 100* but I can hear the ping and start running 93 octane to solve the problem.
Last edited by djl; Jun 10, 2015 at 02:26 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Yes, it measures current, this is why having the proper ignition components in place is important.
According to the ion sensing info I've read engineers are looking at using ion sensing to control spark timing and fuel mixture, as well as detecting misfire and knock events.
This looks to be one of the biggest automotive tech breakthroughs in years. If engine designers start basing the whole engine tune off of ion sensing it would radically change the way engine tuning is done.
LOL no, I'm an auto tech with 25 years under my belt
According to the ion sensing info I've read engineers are looking at using ion sensing to control spark timing and fuel mixture, as well as detecting misfire and knock events.
This looks to be one of the biggest automotive tech breakthroughs in years. If engine designers start basing the whole engine tune off of ion sensing it would radically change the way engine tuning is done.
LOL no, I'm an auto tech with 25 years under my belt
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
You are lucky this stuff is getting more complicated all the time cause of the epa and the government wanting less emissions and better fuel economy.
It is tough cause people think you just hook your scanner to the car and it tells you what is wrong! Wrong you still have to test those sensors and check those wires and voltages and resistance.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
I read this thread just for fun; I am EFI challenged. However the read did make me realize how much I love my carbureted all bore 107" motor in my '02 FLHT; 122TQ/110HP; 100TQ by 2000 rpms, 87octane and no knock. I do get some pinging when south Texas heat kicks up near 100* but I can hear the ping and start running 93 octane to solve the problem.
I wish I had a carb on my bike, it would have been tuned by now.LOL...
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 420
Likes: 5
From: Kingsport, TN
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,416
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From: Honah Lee
Minus one on the carb. Got to keep in mind that the engine life is 1/3 less on most carb engines. It is due to the fact that most of the time, a lot of wear due to cold start rich fuel ratio mixtures washing the lubrication from the cylinders. Fuel to air ratio on a carb from idle to wot is stone-age crude compared to a computer controlled injection system. Even my 04 without oxygen sensors has hundreds of variables in it throughout the range.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jun 11, 2015 at 06:38 AM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,773
Likes: 2,603
From: san antonio
Minus one on the carb. Got to keep in mind that the engine life is 1/3 less on most carb engines. It is due to the fact that most of the time, a lot of wear due to cold start rich fuel ratio mixtures washing the lubrication from the cylinders. Fuel to air ratio on a carb from idle to wot is stone-age crude compared to a computer controlled injection system. Even my 04 without oxygen sensors has hundreds of variables in it throughout the range.
I would not argue that I could probably squeeze another few TQ/HP from the motor with EFI but the marginal increase, for me, is not worth giving up the convenience afforded by a carbed motor; each to his own.
