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"65000 spark cycles"

PostPosted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:19 pm
by MikeD
My motor has "65000 spark cycles in Range 1". Can anyone translate that to something meaningful to me as a human? That sounds like a lot to me, but is it really?

If my calculations are correct that comes to something like 1.5 to 1.59 minutes (assuming range 1 is between 6800 and 7200 RPM). With 1100 hours on the motor that seems very insignificant. But of course that's presuming my math is good.

Re: "65000 spark cycles"

PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:19 am
by Dan Chambers
MikeD wrote:My motor has "65000 spark cycles in Range 1". Can anyone translate that to something meaningful to me as a human? That sounds like a lot to me, but is it really?

If my calculations are correct that comes to something like 1.5 to 1.59 minutes (assuming range 1 is between 6800 and 7200 RPM). With 1100 hours on the motor that seems very insignificant. But of course that's presuming my math is good.


Mike:

Looking at it analytically, I'd need more info on what "Range 1" is. Is that a total of all cycles? Is that a number of spark cycles in a range above 6000 rpm?

More importantly, are there ranges that record total cycles above 6000 rpm, 7000 rpm? Is there a "fault" recording range for "above" 7200 rpm? Are there other data recordings for oil pressure/temp/rpm's "events"?

I'd need more info on what the ranges are and what they interpret when recording historical data to understand your question. Is there a source for defining the Ranges, or is this "Porsche secret voodoo" stuff that we're not privy to?

Just my dos-pesos......

PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:55 am
by MikeD
Dan, thanks for the response.

As I understand it, "Range 2" is over redline. Which in my case is 7200 RPM. "Range 1" is close to redline. I was told about a year ago what close means, but cannot remember. I assumed for my math that it was 6800 to 7200.

Other than that I know absolutely nothing about what "65000 spark cycles" means and was hoping one of the mechs in the club could shed some light.

PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:22 am
by Steve Grosekemper
MikeD wrote:Dan, thanks for the response.

As I understand it, "Range 2" is over redline. Which in my case is 7200 RPM. "Range 1" is close to redline. I was told about a year ago what close means, but cannot remember. I assumed for my math that it was 6800 to 7200.

Other than that I know absolutely nothing about what "65000 spark cycles" means and was hoping one of the mechs in the club could shed some light.


Mike,
You have a 4-cycle engine that makes a spark every 2 rotations. So that is 130,000 engine rotations divided by the number of cylinders.


130/6= 21,666.66
Roughly 3 minutes @7200 RPM.

(That is if my math is correct)
:roll:

PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:45 pm
by Bob Gagnon
Steve,

It looks to me like your calculations are correct, but given that I think Mike time trials his car, the 3 minutes seems a short time to be close to the redline unless he short shifts the car. I would think Mike would achieve 3 minutes close to the redline during during a time trial weekend event.

If the data were for a single cylinder rather than cumulative for all 6 cylinders, the time would be on the order of 18 minutes which still seems short to me given the way Mike has used the car.

I wonder if some other information is missing here or I am missing something?

Bob G.

PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:21 pm
by lowyder993s
Steve Grosekemper wrote:

130/6= 21,666.66
Roughly 3 minutes @7200 RPM.

(That is if my math is correct)
:roll:


Dump that pig and get a 911...heck I do that in a weekend easy! AND no computer to tattle-tell on me! :wink:

PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:36 pm
by MikeD
Thanks for the input guys... well all the input EXCEPT Jim's ;)


Steve, I'm sorta in line with Bob's thinking. 3 minutes in Stage 1 doesn't seem like enough to be "abuse" to me. It might be longer than your average Boxster S motor. But I would think the engine could easily handle it.

BTW Jim, don't think I didn't mention the idea of an air-cooled Boxster S to Jae. Still am not convinced that wouldn't be a worthwhile venture. As long as it's a 3.2L air-cooled motor I should be able to stay in class :D.

PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:39 pm
by lowyder993s
Make ya a deal on mine....I need something to keep up w/ Payne, Ehrman et al :wink: :wink:

PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:47 pm
by MikeD
lowyder993s wrote:Make ya a deal on mine....I need something to keep up w/ Payne, Ehrman et al :wink: :wink:


Don't tempt me dude! What do ya want for it?