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  #1  
Old 07-15-2013, 12:24 PM
Doktor Bert's Avatar
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Cockpit Adjustable ALDA:

Been working on this using an overdrive control cable for the old 55-56-57 Chevrolet 3-speed units.

This cable rotates and locks from the driver's seat.

I have noticed some real fuel economy gains by turning the ALDA down (less fuel) as far as it will go, although this impacts off-boost power.

Just brainstorming this right now....

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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership
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  #2  
Old 07-15-2013, 12:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doktor Bert View Post
I have noticed some real fuel economy gains by turning the ALDA down (less fuel) as far as it will go, although this impacts off-boost power.

Just brainstorming this right now....
Why bother?

If you simply drive it more conservatively, with the use of 1/2 pedal and shift points at 2000 rpm (with an automatic), you achieve exactly the same result.

In fact, under your scenario, you'll be mashing the pedal to the floor looking for power which will delay your shifts well up to 3K (with an automatic). That won't bode well for your fuel economy.

I've got the SD dialed up to the max, yet I rarely use it. It averages about 29 mpg (20/80 city, highway) without a/c.
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  #3  
Old 07-15-2013, 12:42 PM
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My ALDA at full CCW produces a ton of smoke and with the 2.47:1 axle, you are always in the throttle. The car feels stronger with the ALDA in 5 turns from full CCW, because of less off-boost performance, the on-boost performance feels stronger...

Are you suggesting completely removing the ALDA?????
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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership
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  #4  
Old 07-15-2013, 12:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doktor Bert View Post
My ALDA at full CCW produces a ton of smoke and with the 2.47:1 axle, you are always in the throttle. The car feels stronger with the ALDA in 5 turns from full CCW, because of less off-boost performance, the on-boost performance feels stronger...

Are you suggesting completely removing the ALDA?????

If it produces a ton of smoke, it's adjusted too far out. That will definitely kill your fuel economy while giving negligible power increase.

With less off boost performance, you'll always feel the turbo "kick in". This isn't desirable. When properly adjusted, you'll simply notice the vehicle accelerating at the same rate............no dramatic increase in acceleration when the boost comes on.

If you understand how to drive the vehicle and what the rack does, you don't need an ALDA. That being said, keeping it and adjusting it properly to achieve the best combination of performance/fuel economy isn't a bad thing either.

The point is the fact that a driver adjustable ALDA is never a requirement. Once it is adjusted just below the point of smoke, you've achieved all the benefits that it can offer.
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  #5  
Old 07-15-2013, 12:58 PM
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Use an electric vacuum valve to bleed off boost going to the ALDA...

-J
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  #6  
Old 07-15-2013, 01:02 PM
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Stock calibration ended up being 3 turns in from CCW. That's pretty clean. 3 turns out is a lot of smoke, but stronger off-boost power and, like you say, at 5 turns in from full CCW, you can really feel the turbo 'kick-in' which I agree isn't desireable.

Do you recall about where your ALDA is set????

I haven't checked mileage yet but at 5 turns in, the difference even at half a tank is substantial!!!!!
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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership
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  #7  
Old 07-15-2013, 01:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by compu_85 View Post
Use an electric vacuum valve to bleed off boost going to the ALDA...

-J
Not a bad idea, just like the boost controllers we used to install on 2JZ Toyotas...
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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership
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  #8  
Old 07-15-2013, 01:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by compu_85 View Post
Use an electric vacuum valve to bleed off boost going to the ALDA...

-J
Exactly. If you had a three way valve, you could select vacuum, boost or open air to bias the alda in either direction.
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  #9  
Old 07-15-2013, 01:14 PM
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A far more useful tool would be a diesel rated wide band O2 sensor and display. Remove the ALDA and keep the number above 18afr, no smoke. Bosch LSU 4.9 is specifically designed to deal with diesel exhaust.
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  #10  
Old 07-15-2013, 01:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doktor Bert View Post
Stock calibration ended up being 3 turns in from CCW. That's pretty clean. 3 turns out is a lot of smoke, but stronger off-boost power and, like you say, at 5 turns in from full CCW, you can really feel the turbo 'kick-in' which I agree isn't desireable.

Do you recall about where your ALDA is set????

I haven't checked mileage yet but at 5 turns in, the difference even at half a tank is substantial!!!!!

Mine does not want to go outward any further. When I adjusted it, I only got about two turns. Haven't chased it as to why as the off idle performance is decent.

Anytime you're making smoke, you're wasting fuel for sure.

But, if you maintain the same acceleration rate, the work done is the same, and it won't matter whether the ALDA is set all the way in or right at the smoke limit. The fuel economy will be the same.

Note, clearly, however, that the more fuel that you have available, the more likely it will be that you USE that available fuel. This is what makes comparisons very difficult. If you do not have the fuel, you cannot use the fuel. If you have the fuel and do not use the fuel, then it's a fair comparison to when you do not have the fuel.
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  #11  
Old 07-15-2013, 01:25 PM
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Right now, at 5 turns in from full CCW (the ALDA has 8 full turns from CW to CCW) the smoke is minimal, but off-boost power is down. I might go back out to the stock setting of 3 turns in from full CCW, but first, to check fuel consumption on this tank of diesel....

My old You Tube video shows a thick cloud of black as I stab the throttle off-boost that diminishes as the rpm comes up.
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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership
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  #12  
Old 07-15-2013, 01:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doktor Bert View Post
I might go back out to the stock setting of 3 turns in from full CCW, but first, to check fuel consumption on this tank of diesel....
If you revert to the stock setting of 3 turns, and you get better off idle performance, will you use that performance, or will you modulate your right foot to get only the performance that you need?

This is the problem with comparing fuel economy between the various ALDA settings. If you drive with your foot mashed, you will, of course, get better fuel economy with each incremental reduction in the ALDA setting.

The only fair comparison (and this is admittedly difficult) is to drive the vehicle exactly the same way, with identical acceleration, under different ALDA settings. I seriously doubt that most people can do it. If the power is available off idle, they are going to use it.
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  #13  
Old 07-15-2013, 02:02 PM
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I'm working dilligently to get a consistent results from this tankful.

Power @ 60 mph is equal to what is was before but with less visible smoke...everything happens at 60 mph with the 2.47:1 axle. Kickdown @ 60 mph feels like a 3.8 SL...
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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership
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  #14  
Old 07-15-2013, 02:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doktor Bert View Post
I'm working dilligently to get a consistent results from this tankful.

Power @ 60 mph is equal to what is was before but with less visible smoke...everything happens at 60 mph with the 2.47:1 axle. Kickdown @ 60 mph feels like a 3.8 SL...
That's exactly what you are looking for............the point where the smoke is almost, but not quite gone. You can then modulate the pedal to achieve whatever fuel economy you want. If you need maximum performance, you just take it.
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  #15  
Old 07-15-2013, 02:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Carlton View Post
That's exactly what you are looking for............the point where the smoke is almost, but not quite gone. You can then modulate the pedal to achieve whatever fuel economy you want. If you need maximum performance, you just take it.
I'm a little off down low as you can really feel the boost kick in now...

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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership
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