Discussion
This year the Engines are used for 2 races (unless your BAR
), and that got me wondering about the internals of the engines.
Previously were the engines "tuned" to the anticipated climate of the race they were to be used for? Or were they identical? If they were different what do they do now where an engine might have to be used in a hot humid country, and then a cold dry one...
Which also led me to think how do the FIA check the capacity of the engines?... Wings etc can be easily checked with a tape measure, but the internals of the engine? Cant exactly take them apart can they!
), and that got me wondering about the internals of the engines. Previously were the engines "tuned" to the anticipated climate of the race they were to be used for? Or were they identical? If they were different what do they do now where an engine might have to be used in a hot humid country, and then a cold dry one...
Which also led me to think how do the FIA check the capacity of the engines?... Wings etc can be easily checked with a tape measure, but the internals of the engine? Cant exactly take them apart can they!
Plus other engine related news
What with the new V8 engine rules coming into force next year we have already heard about Sauber using BMW power, Jordan are going to be using Ferrari engines and now Red Bull is in final negotiations to use Honda engines.
I like the idea of engine manufacturers supplying more than one team, it gives them a good baseline to compete against and if the customer team starts beating you, you know you have to improve. So what's the betting on a Minardi-Mercedes next year then?
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Wednesday 9th March 12:47
What with the new V8 engine rules coming into force next year we have already heard about Sauber using BMW power, Jordan are going to be using Ferrari engines and now Red Bull is in final negotiations to use Honda engines.
I like the idea of engine manufacturers supplying more than one team, it gives them a good baseline to compete against and if the customer team starts beating you, you know you have to improve. So what's the betting on a Minardi-Mercedes next year then?
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Wednesday 9th March 12:47
You're quite right but 2 engine related threads so close togther I thought I'd combine the two 
To put my post in context to yours, if they can run 4 engines next year (effectively) they will get double the data back for reliabuility setting. So very useful, hence the need for Mercedes to have a 2nd team to compete with Ferrari, BMW, Honda etc...
On the checking front, I think parts may be sealed and the seals checked during scrutineering by Charlie Whiting and his team, I'm sure they have measures, probes and devices to check everything. I hadn't thought of the heat issue though (running in cool conditions then maybe high altitude hot). Maybe the calendar has been organised to avoid this?
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Wednesday 9th March 12:53
To put my post in context to yours, if they can run 4 engines next year (effectively) they will get double the data back for reliabuility setting. So very useful, hence the need for Mercedes to have a 2nd team to compete with Ferrari, BMW, Honda etc...
On the checking front, I think parts may be sealed and the seals checked during scrutineering by Charlie Whiting and his team, I'm sure they have measures, probes and devices to check everything. I hadn't thought of the heat issue though (running in cool conditions then maybe high altitude hot). Maybe the calendar has been organised to avoid this?
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Wednesday 9th March 12:53
FourWheelDrift said:
I hadn't thought of the heat issue though (running in cool conditions then maybe high altitude hot). Maybe the calendar has been organised to avoid this?
I cant see Bernie going "Nah cant have those races next to each other. It'll be hard for the teams." More likely "Excellent that'll be a PITA!"
As I understand it, which might be totaly wrong, they are not allowed to strip the head/block/sump between races, and the ports are convered by an FIA seal so they can not be compression tested.
I can not realy think what in there you would need to change for differant climates, bearing in mind that the fuel flow/mixture and timing is computer controlled, and it is probably fairly easy to change the valve timing without an engine rebuild (assuming they do not do that electronically anyway as it could be pritty straightforward (road cars to it while running), what else would you want to do other than plug a laptop in for 5 minuites?
Also, I would be surprised if the FIA did not strip an engine now and again after a race. Although unusual, it isn't unknown in any other series. They also spend long enough analysing everything else on the car (ECU software etc).
Pete
>> Edited by pistol pete on Wednesday 9th March 16:19
I can not realy think what in there you would need to change for differant climates, bearing in mind that the fuel flow/mixture and timing is computer controlled, and it is probably fairly easy to change the valve timing without an engine rebuild (assuming they do not do that electronically anyway as it could be pritty straightforward (road cars to it while running), what else would you want to do other than plug a laptop in for 5 minuites?
Also, I would be surprised if the FIA did not strip an engine now and again after a race. Although unusual, it isn't unknown in any other series. They also spend long enough analysing everything else on the car (ECU software etc).
Pete
>> Edited by pistol pete on Wednesday 9th March 16:19
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