Possible Fuel Starvation On Hard Cornering?

[macaroni 17 1 Cars]

On a recent trackday at Brands Hatch, when my car was below half a tank of fuel, and just coming out of Clearways (long, fast right-hander), the car stuttered and coughed until I backed off a bit. Once it cleared, it pulled well and was fine around the rest of the track. Each time, coming out of Clearways it coughed.

 

I didn't get a chance to put more fuel in, but I suspect, and hope, that it was just fuel moving away from the pickup on the long, hard right-hander.

 

Could this be the case, or am I talking gobbledegook?

 

Cheers,

 

Antony

[hengti 2]

mine would do the same with less than half a tankful. i think it's a fairly well known trait. have some fitted swirl pots, etc?

[Anthony 1,003]

Long right hander and less than half a tank would suggest fuel starvation to me

[macaroni 17 1 Cars]

Thanks for the replies. So, if true, whilst good news in that there is nowt wrong with the car, it does mean I'll have to always do trackdays with between a half and full tank of fuel. This would spoil my, already, non-optimum power/weight ratio. Not to mention a trip to the local fuel station halfway through the day!

 

What's swirl pot?

[hengti 2]

a swirl pot's just a tiny alloy tank that you fit inline (in the engine bay) that helps prevent fuel surge. i've no experience and don't know how practical they are on 205s; just kept more than half a tank in mine

[MerlinGTI 3]

swirl pot fitted 'inline'. Fuel goes in the top of the pot and goes out the bottom, giving a small amount of fuel in reserve to feed the engine should the pump be starved.

 

There will be loads on eGay nice and cheap im sure

 

EDIT: beaten to it

Edited September 6, 2009 by MerlinGTI

[pee vee 1]

I had this problem too.

Its because the fuel pump is on the right hand side of the tank,

so the fuel moves away from it round right handers.

 

 

my solution worked faultlessly round silverstone at the weekend

 

Swirlpot and pump...pictured before it was all piped and wired up lol

 

[rapidcossie 0]

swirl pot on mine made a massive diference on Knockhill where I would get surge on 2 corners with less than half a tank.

 

I only run 1/4 tank for each session now for weight and the swirl pot means I have no issues.

 

Also helps when trying to catch slides on such corners,meaning the power is always there.

Edited September 6, 2009 by rapidcossie

[macaroni 17 1 Cars]

Cool, I'm fully versed on swirl pots now.

 

Thanks chaps.

 

Antony

[macaroni 17 1 Cars]

Still a bit confused about these things. Is it essential to use them with a 2nd pump, or would I still get a benefit if just fitted inline, like MerlinGTI and hengti suggets above?

[Liquid_106 97 1 Cars]

Still a bit confused about these things. Is it essential to use them with a 2nd pump, or would I still get a benefit if just fitted inline, like MerlinGTI and hengti suggets above?

99% sure you need a 2nd pump - only experienced a swirl pot with a throttle bodies set-up. A low pressue facet pump fed the swirl pot and then a cossie pump drew from the pot and fed the fuel rail.

 

Can't think how it would work with just one pump, as the problem is caused when the pick-up for the in-tank pump is starved of petrol and so the pressure drops in the system, having just a swirl pot 'in line' wouldn't stop this.

 

With a second (high pressure) pump after the pot, it always has a head/reservoir of petrol and so you never experience starvation - unless you run out of petrol

[macaroni 17 1 Cars]

OK cheers. Its more bother than I want to go to just to remedy a starvation problem on one corner of a track I only visit once or twice a year. I'll just keep it topped up!