Dyno Sessions

• Setup verification
• Getting Ready
• Testing Procedure
• Follow up

Setup Verification:

• Dyno testing is most often used to determine the maximum power that the car can generate at the drive wheels. For a successful session, the car must be ready to withstand maximum loading at or near redline, high temperatures, high fuel flow, several restarts and some tire wear.
• Preparation should include verifying timing, fuel pressure, compression, basic ECU setup for after-market units.

If you need assistance with this preparation or want to verify the work done by others, Dragonwerks can provide this system verification or proofing for you.

Getting Ready:

• Prepare your car: go over the car as if you were preparing for a race or track day. This is a partial check list:
• Cooling system: Coolant topped up; rad secure, clear of debris; hoses in good condition, clamps tight; fans in working condition
• Exhaust system: check for leaks from end-to-end. Exhaust leaks can reduce horsepower, especially with headers and turbo systems. As well, this is important to ensure our wide band oxygen sensor will get accurate readings.
• Fuel System: Check fuel lines; check fuel pressure; check all electric connections
• Turbo/Supercharger: Check all clamps on intake system; check all vacuum lines; review installation instructions for waste gate and boost controllers and ensure the vacuum lines and electric connections are correct; check for full throttle opening when accelerator pedal is fully depressed; check throttle return spring(s.) Bring any installation documentation if this will be the first time on the dyno.
• Consider installing new plugs this will improve repeatable runs from session to session.
• Driveline: Transmission and rear end fluid topped up; CV and U-joints in good shape
• Tires inflated to correct pressures; tire must be in good shape - expect some wear from testing.
• Fill the tank with fuel - long sessions can use a lot of fuel.
• Bring extra water/methanol mix.
• Gather your stuff:
• Laptop, software, cables, extension cords, memory card
• Any installation instructions that came with your components
• Component checking: for example turbo or intercooler efficiency - bring the specifications and we can make the appropriate calculations and take the neccessary temperature measurements.
• Plan
• Decide what you want to test, how you intend to test those items: e.g. power runs or constant load.
• Write it down and bring it with you.

Test Procedure:

• Calibration
• RPM: there is usually a procedure to calibrate the tachometer to the dyno’s sensors to ensure accurate reading of the engine speed.
• Parasitic Losses: at Dragonwerks we calibrate each car to the dyno to ensure the most accurate readings. This is a coast-down test from the maximum speed that will be used in the performance testing.
• Power Runs:
• This is the normal, wide-open-throttle test run. We do a minimum of 2 runs to ensure correct measurements.
• Other Testing: A variety of other test modes are available to simulate actual road/race conditions
• Constant Load testing is used for “tip-in” and drivability testing.
• Programmed Force can be used to simulate actual road segments. For example, we have a test that models the back straight at Mosport.
• 1/4 mile runs
• etc.
• Tuning:
• We offer a range of assistance to help get the most from your car. We have worked with many different systems and can either offer advice and/or operate your ECU’s software to optimize your tune.

Follow up:

• Data files:
• We will send you any data files you request, from the test runs. These are exported in a comma-separated, text-file format. ($20 fee may apply)
• We also supply an dyno run viewer which is a special Excel spreadsheet that allows you to load any 2 Power Runs for comparison and analysis. (available on the “More...” tab)