Author Topic: Fuel consumption - what is happening here...  (Read 2203 times)

Offline makomark

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Fuel consumption - what is happening here...
« on: October 18, 2013, 05:48:30 PM »
Marine application so this means substantial load on the engine.

Several of us at the marina have noticed the same phenomena and it occurs independent of engine or carb or hull.

Here's the scenario:

Running at cruise rpm (2400 to 2800) up on plane in a following sea...fuel consumption steady (using fuel flow meter) and then the boat starts up the back of a big wave. The rpm will drop 100 to 200 rpm and the fuel consumption actually rises....once you pop over the big wave's crest, rpm levels back off at the original setting as does the fuel consumption.

We can't reach a consensus as to why the rpm drops and the fuel consumption increases...most cite the theory that the air pumped into the engine, thru the carb, decreases with the rpm drop so the fuel consumption should fall off too (but it doesn't).

My theory says that the VE goes up when the rpm drops off so there is more air mass entering thru the carb. The carb meters fuel based on the mass of air entering the venturi. This justifies the increased fuel consumption.

Anybody weigh in or offer an alternative theory?   tnx   mark

Offline Cliff Ruggles

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Re: Fuel consumption - what is happening here...
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2013, 03:20:38 AM »
Good question.  Engine speed and load will have an impact on how much fuel in consumed at any throttle opening. 

What basically happens is that the pressure differential above and below the throttle plates changes (engine vacuum).  The differential in pressure with additional load simply pulls more fuel from the main boosters.  This is the magic of the venture principal, and why carburetors work so well as metering devices.

Changing the throttle angle has the same effect at the same engine load.  The quadrajet in particular has a very sensitive booster area due to the design of the center booster and outer rings.  It has always been a very efficient carburetor, being very sensitive to engine load/speed changes.

The booster design and multiple areas provided by the rings and venture also do an excellent job of atomizing the incoming air/fuel mixture.  Unlike Holley's, AFB's and other carburetors with a relative large primary bore area and small boosters, the Q-jet is much more efficient for light engine loads, which is where most applications spend most of their time.

The q-jet also makes an excellent Marine unit, with the jets on the bottom of the bowl, center hung float, and centrally located fuel bowl, they do well with "rough" conditions and relative steep angles.

Hope this helps some......Cliff

Offline Schurkey

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Re: Fuel consumption - what is happening here...
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2013, 09:15:36 PM »
Marine application so this means substantial load on the engine.
Vacuum gauge reading?

Running at cruise rpm (2400 to 2800) up on plane in a following sea...fuel consumption steady (using fuel flow meter) and then the boat starts up the back of a big wave. The rpm will drop 100 to 200 rpm and the fuel consumption actually rises....once you pop over the big wave's crest, rpm levels back off at the original setting as does the fuel consumption.
Same throttle angle, lower RPM = less manifold vacuum.  Power valve opens, or metering rods lift; either way mixture richens.  Depending on amount of reduction in vacuum and RPM, timing may retard, too.  Most marine applications don't use a vacuum advance, and 200 rpm shouldn't make a big change in centrifugal advance...but it might be worth looking into.
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Offline makomark

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Re: Fuel consumption - what is happening here...
« Reply #3 on: November 23, 2013, 09:08:49 AM »
thanks for feedback...

No vacuum gauge hooked up when we started to notice the phenomena. Based on prior testing, the vacuum doesn't drop enough to change the power piston - my baseline chart shows vacuum, on a flat ocean, as in the 8" Hg area - the power piston springs start to move the piston at 6" Hg.

Concur with the basic idea of what is happening...with several variables changing at once, it makes for a problem with intrigue to say the least...

Further ideas and comment appreciated...   :)