Elise Sport 160 only 150HP

[kiwikid]

Had my sport 160 dyno'd the other day and only came up with 150.2 PS SAE at the flywheel(118.62 ft lb).It has janspeed exhaust, verniers, ITG filter and 52mm throttle body, shouldn't I get more like 160 PS SAE or am I expecting too much.It runs very smoothly so no real issues with the way it runs just the lack f expected HP. There's no real experts in tuning K series around Auckland that I know of so, should I let someone fiddle with it or leave well alone?I'd like 160+ HP but don't want to stuff it up.Any advice appreciated. :confused

[bogie]

Sounds about right....most make 150-55bhp...also depends on rolling road variation to be honest - they arnt an exact science e.g. Ive seen between 278bhp and 305bhp on my Supercharged Honda S2 Elise...you could take it somewhere else and it will be 160bhp.......as long as it drives well I wouldnt worry

[Esprit]

Hmmmm.... I was suspicious that yours wasn't quite 160bhp... that's the only reason I can justify almost keeping up with you around Pukekohe!

I'm imagining yours is one of the later S160s that were only around the 150bhp mark.
Given that you've got the vernier pulleys, maybe when it was set-up it's been made smoother but gone too far and lost its sparkle? or maybe there's something that's causing it to be running on dodgy tune? If my engine was in your spec, my next move would probably be to get a pre-mapped Emerald ECU or to get your one re-tuned or re-chipped based on your list of mods. Although there are no real k-series tuning specialists around here, one motor should be able to be tuned and mapped like another (within reason) so maybe it's worth keeping an ear to the ground.

In the end, you may "only" have 150bhp, but you'll still be wiping the floor with me next weekend at Taupo... even with my dozen or so new ponies

[therossatron]

Being in NZ the hot air may be a contributing factor. Would an intercooler help much on a normally aspirated car? Perhaps?

[Esprit]

therossatron said:

Being in NZ the hot air may be a contributing factor. Would an intercooler help much on a normally aspirated car? Perhaps?

Nope, not at all... intercooolers only work on Turbos because compressing the air heats it significantly, giving a large temperature difference (delta-T) to allow the air to lose energy.... an intercooler in a N/A car would be a hindrance as the extra flow resistance would more than offset the miniscule cooling it may allow.

The air isn't that much hotter over here than in the UK.... mind you, we're in Auckland where it's often humid and that may have a slight effect.

[piooly]

Have a look on seloc website. There is a forum for sport 160 owners. Yours is probably like mine if its a later one. I had mine re-timed for power rather than smoothness. The Sport 160 runs a EFI ECU and there is no need to fit an Emerald ECU, the EFI one can be re-mapped. One owner did this to his by DVA power. The standard 160 map is terrible, actually the worst map I have ever seen. Its like Lotus didnt even bother to do it properly. He had his re-mapped and the head polished, same mods as you and was kicking out between 180 and 185 bhp ! I certainly am interested in getting mine re-mapped now, after seeing the difference in the graphs. Does you 160 bog down below 4,000 rpm?? if so get it remapped. As soon as I can afford to, mine is going straight in. Run well now, but should pull like a train once done.

[S Works]

Mine is totally unfettled apart from std airbox removed and recommended Lotus Sport Exhaust with de-cat.

It was RR'd at 158bhp last year by the previous owner and pulls like a freight train from 2.5k up. At 4k when the cam's kick in, it goes totally mental.

[shangani]

Several people have remarked that piooly's car is extremely rapid - no slower than a 111r. Personally I believe the way something goes is more important than the dyno figure. The same car on 3 rolling roads will produce 3 different results.

150bhp or 160bhp, the sport 160 is darn quick. Piooly's comment about the engine map is very valid - even the lotus boys at hethel conceded as much. Hence the difference in the car once they have gotten their hands on it.

[kiwikid]

piooly said:

I certainly am interested in getting mine re-mapped now, after seeing the difference in the graphs. Does you 160 bog down below 4,000 rpm?? if so get it remapped. .

Thanks for the interest guys.She develops full torque(118 ft/lb) at 3500 revs drops to 110ft/lb at 4500 then full torque again at 5200 then drops steadily away to 104ft/lb at 7200.
Would certainly like to look at remapping if possible, anybody got a contact adress /email for DVA Power. I'll check out the seloc forum tonight.

[shangani]

DVA Power:

phone on 01908 322652

[e-mail]

He also adds this note:

please 'phone at a reasonable hour since the business line is in my home'

[Esprit]

All I need now is some head work, some cams and verniers and and Emerald and I MIGHT be able to keep you in sight at the next trackday mark