water-injection ?

[Nt_loader]

Anyone have a water injection kit for their s/c ?

I am moving to AZ soon and I know the 120 degree weather is going to kill my performance.

I want to get something installed before I hit the HOT DESERT SUN :thumbup:

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

dood, didn't you read my Buttonwillow review?? :tsk: Pay attention or else I am going to give you a quiz next time. :read:

Got questions, ask me. :thumbup:

[Nt_loader]

Dammit, guess im going to search for this review and read it :banghead:

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Dammit, guess im going to search for this review and read it :banghead:
The thread is just a couple of lines below this thread you started. :D

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=160335

[Nt_loader]

Just got done reading it.

So how does the Aquamist Water Injection system actually work?

Is the water sprayed inside the piping or outside?

Is it a constant mist once you hit a specified level?

Can it be turned off and on using a switch or something?

Where is the water tank installed, how big is it?

About how much does it cost?

What is better, the water or nitrous cooling system?

Thanks

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Looks like you're quizing me this time... :P

1. WI system sprays water into the hot intake charged air. When I say "charged", I mean "compressed" not "ionic charged". Since WI has a larger latent heat of vaporization, it is a good *absorbant* of heat. Water has a latent heat of 2256kJ/kg, compared to gasoline with only 350kJ/kg. The number means the amount of energy (kJ) needed to vaporize unit kg of the said substance. So the idea is by injecting the right amount of water at the right boost, the temperature of the intake charged air will be reduced. This will prevent knocking and pre-detonation. Also, this allows the tuner to go for higher CR. WI has a long history since the the days of WWII supercharged fighter planes. Also, WI is more popular in turbo application due to the higher boost.

2 Water is sprayed inside the piping. Specifcally my nozzle is located after the intercooler.

3. Yes, constant flowrate. Specified level meaning boost threshold. Simple "if-then" operation. Again this is for 1s system.

4. Interestingly enough, I wired a swtich last week to accomplish that. ;) Simple job. I also have a LED to notify me when the spray is activated.

5. Water tank? Nah. Why carry the extra load? We (Zolti from Rennsport and myself) tap into the wiper tank. But of course, empty the blue washer liquid first. This tank has a volume of 5L. Good enough. Oh, the original wiper washing feature is still working.

6. $500~$600. I think the price for 1s system has gone up tremendously over the last few weeks. I got it cheap before the price change.

7. Refer to 1. WI sprays inside. Nitrous cooling sprays outside. Not that I condemn the latter. But right now, carrying a bottle of N2 for tracking isn't quite on my agenda yet. But if you're into drag racing, nitrous cooling is probably better. WI is for those long driving in the hot weather, or repetitive track lapping under 105F conditions.


=============

I went with the 1s system (the most basic kit) for the obvious reason of learning and understanding how each part works with each other. Upgrading will be an option in the future.

That being said, since we have a supercharged with intercooler application, adding WI means we have to fine-tune the WI system. Nothing is a slap-on, plug-N-go kind of system. Note that primary objective of a WI system is not to produce extra HP/torque, but to maintain a good output under heat soaked conditions. Key words: heat soaked. Not tuning the WI system can, and I repeat "can", hurt the net output.

So before you jump on it, let us finish the testing/tuning first. It will be worth it. :thumbup:

Just got done reading it.

So how does the Aquamist Water Injection system actually work?

Is the water sprayed inside the piping or outside?

Is it a constant mist once you hit a specified level?

Can it be turned off and on using a switch or something?

Where is the water tank installed, how big is it?

About how much does it cost?

What is better, the water or nitrous cooling system?

Thanks

[Nt_loader]

Thanks for the informative reply, I actually learned a few things.

I will not rush into the kit and wait until you have posted a final review and tuning advice for the WI install.

I dont want the kit for drag racing, I need it when I move to AZ. I immagine the 120 degree heat is going to kill my performance.

Thanks again

[AirBen]

when are you moving to AZ? I'm getting the asa sk1 soon.

[Nt_loader]

Im going in June to buy a house, so hopefully within a few months :thumbup:

[AirBen]

doh! I gotta speed up the process so you can install it for me :)

[Nt_loader]

EHH I can help you install it but I dont know about doing the entire thing myself. I am getting pressure from the wife to start packing and getting the big stuff out of the way :thumbdwn:

[erick-323i]

AA sells a Water/Alcohol injection kit for $950 bucks...damn, the price is a little steep but i guess the kit is very complete.

http://www.aatuning.com/Water-Alcohol_Injection/WA-system-E46.cfm

The webpage includes dynos, etc. would be worth looking into, at least to inform yourself about WI. I'm in constant 95-105F weather...sucks! :yikes: Except when you go to the beach :P

[Nt_loader]

I think im going with the Aquamist system and doing a 50 - 50 mix of water and methanol.

I can get the entire setup for about 500.00 no need to spend 950 on the AA system :thumbup:

[erick-323i]

Definitely would go for the Aquamist if It came as a kit; or at least if it supplied instructions on how to install it. Does it come available as a kit? I went to their webpage and it didnt look like it.

http://www.aquamist.co.uk/cp/sys1/sys1a.html

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

I did comtemplate getting a 5-gal Sunoco 99.9% methanol. But decide to put that off for a while. Do note that WI has better contributions to turbo applications than SC applications. We will try the most basic setup before adding anything.

In any case, will keep you posted about the WI system. Everything should fall in nicely since I have another track event in June and that you're moving to AZ then. :thumbup:


I think im going with the Aquamist system and doing a 50 - 50 mix of water and methanol.

I can get the entire setup for about 500.00 no need to spend 950 on the AA system :thumbup:

[xS3x]

great info vince! thanks :thumbup:

[BWMguy206]

Anyone here interested in a GB for an AA Tuning Water Injection kit for your AA, ASA, ESS SC kit?

MSRP is $750.00 for a complete kit. This does not use the Aquamist pump anymore. AA is now using more reliable pump.

Kit will include:

Remote trunk 2.0 gallon reservoir with inline filter and low pickup tube
Removable tank with BMW trunk mounted hardware
Starter bottle of alcohol
Specified fuel lines
AA Tuning high pressure pump
Aquamist nozzle with spiral cut grooves
Adjustable, calibrated pressure Hobbs switch
Electrical wiring, relay and all stainless connections
Light activated ON switch
CD instruction manual

Not sure what I can do in terms of price but I will speak to AA Tuning about it. This might be set for middle of next month.

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

I am guessing the AA WI kit maybe better suited for AA SC kit. WI systems need to be fine-tuned to individual SC system. Again, this is based on my current experience tuning my ASA setup with WI.

In any case, I am really curious what pump AA is using now. AFAIK, Aquamist race pump has been the leader in WI systems. Cosworth rally and STi use them exclusively WRC.

[BWMguy206]

Yeah.. I am well aware of the reputations of Aquamist. I even have one on my AA Turbo M3.

But from what I heard, a few of AA customers that got the water injection kit with the aquamist pump has had the fitting (outlet side of pump) break off. This has happened to two people that I know and this was on their Stage 3 turbo setup. The owners knew something was wrong when the pump was making a "WANNNG WANNNG" noise coming from the trunk.

Not sure if there are more stories but I know it happended to these two.

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Breaking off might be a faulty install on that side. I know the output adapter of the pump can be a little tricky.

Is your pump in the trunk as well?

[BWMguy206]

I'll try to get pictures of the defective unit later and post it.

My pump is in the engine bay. AA later then put it in the trunk.

[BWMguy206]

Here's the 1st picture of the pump with the defective fitting

http://www.motorsportpower.com/kaboom/images/DSCN1604.jpg

[BWMguy206]

Here's a more detailed close up picture. You can see the tubing somehow broke off when it was pressurized. This owner has an E36 M3 AA Stage 3 Turbo setup and is located in NY. This also happened to Dado of DTMPower.Net.

Again I dont know how common this is but apprently it has happened to AA a number of times thats why they made the switch to a different pump. I still have my aquamist pump that has logged about 30,000 miles and its fine so far.

http://www.motorsportpower.com/kaboom/images/DSCN1605.jpg

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Jon, appreciate the pictures. I wonder how much alcohol did the driver filled up the tank with. I bet you know that a misproportion of alcohol mixture can lead to pump failure too. Second possibility is a clogged outlet nozzle. This can happen when non-distilled water is used. Third possiblity is simply perhaps bad quality control. Last but not least, sort of related to the right alcohol mixture, is water being near freezing point. Then again I have little knowledge of how cold the trunk is during winter.

Mine is installed in the bay as well. I really can't justify running a tubing all the way from south pole. So far I have no problems with mine either. Tracked as well.;)

[BWMguy206]

Mr. Paddle Shift-

Just curious but are you going to Streets of Willow on the 31st? If not when is your next track date?

[31st330i]

has anyone seen these water injection kits?

http://www.alkycontrol.com/

I was looking at these when I had a supercharger on the 99 Miata. The operate in a different way than the aquamist. Water pressure is regulated based on boost pressure signal. A lot of popular DIY water injection recipes are based on all of the same parts (less the electronic control box that is sold only by the above site). I think all of the parts can be ordered from www.northerntool.com for probably less than $150 for a two stage kit.

Vince, I bet you wouldn't have to do much tuning if you go for the 2d kit. It's based on injector pulse. All you need to do is pick the right nozzle.

http://www.aquamist.co.uk/cp/806-009/806-009.html

Actually, I think you can pick the nozzle based on injector size and the percentage of wathr that you want to inject.

http://www.aquamist.co.uk/sl/plist/pic2/806-052/jetrate3.GIF

[fastestm3]

Turbonetics makes a water/alcohol injection. It works great in the south fla heat, and I am running my car hard alot!!Use rubbing alcohol.