Air Fuel Ratio Meter
Sep/080
Air Fuel Ratio Meter
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 Autometer Fuel Air Ratio Meter  US $50.00
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 FAST Harness Air Fuel Ratio Meter Dyno 170461 US $39.50
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 Auto Meter 7178 C2 Air Fuel Ratio Wideband Gauge US $313.98
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 AUTOMETER ELITE SERIES WIDEBAND PRO AIR FUEL RATIO KIT US $289.95
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Why Did We Conduct This Test
We are all constantly bombarded with wild claims about supercharger kits - how much power they add and why one style of supercharger system is superior over the others. Most magazines shy away from head-to-head comparison tests because there is always one winner and lots of losers - not too good for the advertising side of their business. Jerry Magnuson founder of Magnuson Products wanted to put all of those wild advertising claims to rest, and to prove that his company's Magna Charger hybrid/roots style of supercharger is the ultimate "street" supercharger system available.
Our Background
Jerry Magnuson has been building supercharger systems for more than 40 years. His current Magna Charger systems have been adopted by some of the world's top supercar builders and tuners and can be found on Callaway's line of Corvettes and Camaros as well cars from Lingenfelter, MTI Racing, Hurst Performance Vehicles, and Hennessey. Noted engine builders such as Kenny Duttweiler of Duttweiler Performance has incorporated the Magna Charger supercharger system into his 760hp LS2 crate motor program and swears by the Magna Charger's reliability and lack of required maintenance. "You just install it and forget it," quips Duttweiler - who's had one of these crate motors in his daily driven GTO for more than 10,000 miles.
The Test
Due to the endless variables, most past supercharger shootouts have ended up comparing apples to oranges. To find out the real truth, the actual comparison test needed to be extremely controlled - same engine tested on the same day with the same ambient air temperature. The fuel would be 91-octane pump gas, all from the same source and batch. To truly evaluate the supercharger only, the same Magnuson equal-length-runner intake manifold with integral water-to-air intercooler was used. The peak boost target was 7.5psi@6500rpm, so pulleys and drive ratios were adjusted to reach that target for all systems. Each supercharger was finely tuned to a near-perfect 12:1 fuel/air ratio.
A totally mainstream engine was selected for the test - a GM LS-style 5.3 truck engine. It remained totally stock except for a Lingenfelter Performance Engineering GT2-3 cam with Corvette ZO6 valvesprings, both needed to extend the power cure through 6500rpm. Like mentioned previously, it used a Magna Charger intake manifold and intercooler plus Bosch "Green" fuel injectors and a 90mm LS2 throttle body.
The superchargers for the comparison included three Magna Charger models, a standard 112, a hybrid 112 and a hybrid 122. They also tested a Whipple Twin-Screw 2300 and a Procharger centrifugal model. The dyno test measured several parameters including supercharger discharge temperature, intercooler discharge temp, boost curves and of course horsepower and torque curves. By using the same manifold and intercooler for all tests, the changeover and back-to-back testing was accomplished in a single day. Also, Magnuson's location just off the ocean in Ventura California ensured that the ambient temperature varied just 15-degrees over the entire test.
The Results
The dyno confirmed what Jerry has been stating for years - "Run the smallest supercharger that will provide your target boost level. It will be more responsive (make boost sooner) and will require less horsepower to drive." In this test the Magna Charger MP112 outperformed every other supercharger with the most average horsepower and torque over the 1500-6500rpm powerband, and when you look at certain points along the power curve the differences are spectacular. For example at 1500rpm the Magna Charger 112 is producing 400 ft. lbs. of torque and the Procharger centrifugal supercharger is just 280 ft. lbs. That's similar to the difference between driving a small-block versus a big-block. The gap in performance actually increased at 3500rpm - Procharger's 380 ft. lbs. to the Magna Charger's 515 ft. lbs. In fact, the Procharger doesn't catch up until the 6500rpm cut off and we don't think anyone wants to rev a stock shortblock over 6500 do they?
The other superchargers faired much better but due to their respective size or capacity, they were at a disadvantage to the mighty little MP112. The Whipple 2300 screw is better suited for larger engines or higher rpm. At 1500rpm it gave up 50 ft. lbs. to the MP112 (350 ft. lbs. to 400 ft. lbs.) and only caught up and crossed over (making more power) at 5700rpm.
What to Take Away From This Test
A final analysis clearly shows that the most important factor for a street supercharger is the boost curve. When you hit the throttle at 1500rpm, what boost is your supercharger making? From an overall efficiency viewpoint, all of the superchargers are pretty close with similar discharge temps dumping into the manifold and past the intercooler. Horsepower at 7.5psi at 6500 is almost identical for all supercharger systems. The real difference is the amount of torque "under the curve" from 1500-6500rpm and the Magna Charger MP112 wins hands down. A Magna Charger-powered vehicle will be long gone by the time the screw or centrifugal supercharger's boost curves catch up.
One final note: all engines that run on pump gas are compression limited and when you add boost to an engine you are essentially adding compression. Regardless of supercharger style, there is a limit that if exceeded will destroy the engine. With 92-93-octane pump gas that limit seems to be around 7.5psi with an effective intercooler. So be wary of huge horsepower claims on pump gas - they're simply not sustainable within the detonation limits of most production engines.
Jon Barrett
Magna Charger
http://www.magnacharger.com
jbarrett@magnacharger.com
(805) 642-8833 x255
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GM Series Electric Air Fuel Ratio Gauge by Auto Meter $87.99 GM Series; Electric Air Fuel Ratio Gauge; 2-1/16 in.; Full Sweep; GM Red Bowtie; |
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Auto Meter Carbon Fiber Electric Air Fuel Ratio Gauge $93.99 Includes Data Logger Output,Easy Data Acquisition Installation,Smooth Pointer Movement,Air Fuel Ratio Gauge,1 Year Limited Warranty |
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Auto Meter Ultra-Lite Electric Air Fuel Ratio Gauge $87.99 Digital Air/Fuel Ratio gauge with LED digital display. Will work with most factory narrow-band O2 sensors. Will not work with wide-band O2 sensors. |
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Auto Meter Phantom 2-1/16 inch Air/Fuel Ratio Full Sweep Electric Gauge $79.95 The Auto Meter Phantom Air Fuel Ratio Gauge works with most OEM and aftermarket oxygen sensors, if sensor is needed. Phantom electric gauges feature an air core meter movement for accuracy. Item 5775. Be sure to check out our complete line of Phantom Series gauges or shop our Auto Meter Store |
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Auto Meter Z-Series Electric Air Fuel Ratio Gauge $88.99 Features Rugged Air Core Meter,Subtle All Black Design For A Factory Look,Precision Movement And Extreme Accuracy,1 Year Limited Warranty |
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Auto Meter Sport-Comp II Electric Air Fuel Ratio Gauge $87.99 Auto Meter Gauges provide Intense Through The Dial White LED Lighting,Brilliant LED Lit Pointer For Maximum Visibility,Reverse Lighting Effect,1 Year Limited Warranty |
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Auto Meter C2 Electric Air Fuel Ratio Gauge $87.99 Auto Meter Blue LED Lighting And Translucent White Dial,Provides Ultimate Style And Visibility,Futuristic Red Point Look,Precision Movement And Extreme Accuracy,1 Year Limited Warranty |
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Auto Meter Sport-Comp 2-1/16'' Air/Fuel Ratio Full Sweep Electric Gauge $84.95 The Auto Meter Sport-Comp 2-1/16'' Air/Fuel Ratio Full Sweep Electric Gauge works with most OEM and aftermarket oxygen sensors. The gauge mechanism is quality engineered for extremely long life and a full 270? sweep for maximum accuracy. Item 3375. Be sure to check out our complete line of Sport-Comp Series gauges or shop our Auto Meter Store |
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Auto Meter Ultra-Lite 2-1/16'' Full Sweep Electric Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge $78.95 The Auto Meter Ultra-Lite? Air Fuel Ratio Gauge works with most OEM and aftermarket oxygen sensors. The full pointer appearance matches the mechanical gauges and when routing electrical wires are preferred, Ultra-Lite? electric gauges are the perfect choice. The increased sweep of the Full Sweep Gauge makes quick glance viewing easy while the transducer is the most accurate sender available. Item 4375. Be sure to check out our complete line of Ultra-Lite gauges or shop our Auto Meter Store |
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GS; Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge $234.99 GS; Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge; 2-1/16 in.; Analog; 8-18; Full Sweep; |
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GS Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge $299.99 GS; Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge; Includes Bosch O2 Sensor; |
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Innovate Motorsports IN3836 Carrying Case for LM2 Digital AirFuel Ratio Meter $85.22 Carrying Case for LM2 Digital Air/Fuel Ratio Meter (Black). Foam insert fits LM2 for better protection. Innovate Motorsports Logo printed on Case. Room to store all cables needed for the kit. |
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Air to Fuel Ratio Gauge $71.99 Power Commander for BMW provides the same high-resolution tuning as other models, but with the ability to provide one-step adjustment of the fuel mixture in closed-loop, steady state cruising situations Replaces the less accurate narrow-band oxygen sensor with a Bosch 5 wire LSU4 wide-band sensor Outside of the closed loop area, other fuel adjustments are mapped on the dynomometer as with other Power Commanders An optional black or white faced real-time air/fuel ratio gauge is available separately |
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Edelbrock Performer Series Air/Fuel Ratio Monitor $186.99 Performer Series; Air/Fuel Ratio Monitor; |
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Auto Meter Cobalt Electric Air Fuel Ratio Gauge $87.99 Advanced Blue LED Lighting,Striking New Look,Safeguard Against Dangerous Conditions,1 Year Limited Warranty |
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Auto Meter Phantom II Electric Air Fuel Ratio Gauge $87.99 Intense Through The Dial White LED Lighting,Brilliant LED Lit Pointer For Maximum Visibility,Reverse Lighting Effect,1 Year Limited Warranty |
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Auto Meter Phantom Electric Air Fuel Ratio Gauge $85.99 Red Pointer For Quick Glance Monitoring,Safeguard Against Dangerous Conditions,Precision Movement And Extreme Accuracy,1 Year Limited Warranty |
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Auto Meter Sport-Comp Electric Air Fuel Ratio Gauge $85.99 Red Pointer For Quick Glance Monitoring,Rugged Reliable Performance,Precision Movement And Extreme Accuracy,1 Year Limited Warranty |
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Auto Meter Ultra-Lite II Electric Air Fuel Ratio Gauge $87.99 Intense Through The Dial White LED Lighting,Brilliant LED Lit Pointer For Maximum Visibility,Reverse Lighting Effect,1 Year Limited Warranty |
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Auto Meter NV Electric Air Fuel Ratio Gauge $87.99 Blue LED Lighting And Translucent White Dial,Provides Ultimate Style And Visibility,Futuristic Red Point Look,Precision Movement And Extreme Accuracy,1 Year Limited Warranty |
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Auto Meter Carbon Fiber 2-1/16'' Full Sweep Electric Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge $85.95 The Carbon Fiber Ultra-Lite electrical series includes a rugged air core meter movement. When routing electrical wiring is preferred, these gauges are the choice for you. Works with most OEM and after market oxygen sensors. Item 4775. Be sure to check out our complete line of Carbon Fiber Series gauges or shop our Auto Meter Store |
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Innovate Motorsports IN3837 LM2 BASIC Digital AirFuel Ratio Wideband Meter $431.02 These Innovate LM2 digital air/fuel ratio meter basic kits combine an air/fuel ratio meter and a fullfunction 32channel data logger to deliver a complete tuning workshop for less than the cost of one dyno day. Whether you have a piggyback fuel controller a race carburetor an aftermarket ECU ODBII tuning software or a flash/chip programmer Innovate s LM2s are the tools you need to dialin maximum horsepower. The Innovate LM2 digital air/fuel ratio meter basic kits digital signal processing technology provides data on exactly how rich or lean an engine is running at any load. Their selfcalibrating circuitry also compensates for changes in temperature altitude and sensor condition. They also feature two fully programmable linear analog outputs to connect to analog gauges dyno computers ECUs piggyback controllers and other devices with analog inputs. Analog output 1 comes factoryready for narrow band simulation; analog output 2 is configured as 0 V = 7.35 AFR and 5 V = 22.39 AFR. Includes the LM2 meter Bosch wideband oxygen sensor 8 ft sensor cable cigarettelighter power adapter USB cable for PC connection weldin bung and plug LogWorks software CD and quickstart guide. Patented Direct Digital wideband technology. Wideband O2compatible with all fuel types. OBDII scan tool reads/clears DTCs and logs up to 16 channels of CAN OBDII data (cable not included). Large highcontrast graphics LCD. 4 Fullydifferential analog inputs. 2 Configurable linear analog outputs. Positive lock connectors for all connections. Innovate MTS serial in and out. USB connection to your PC. |
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Analog Wideband Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge by AEM $199.99 Universal;Black face with red pointer;2-1/16" gauge housing Analog Wideband Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge by AEM |
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NV Wide Band Air Fuel Ratio Kit $299.99 NV; Wide Band Air Fuel Ratio Kit; 2-1/16 in.; Incl. Bosch Wideband O2 Sensor; |
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C2; Wide Band Air Fuel Ratio Kit $234.99 C2; Wide Band Air Fuel Ratio Kit; 2-1/16 in.; Analog; 8-18; Full Sweep; |
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