Stroker Posted August 28, 2013 Report Posted August 28, 2013 Is an exhaust spitting flame a good or bad sign? I have observed this in highly tuned vehicles, especially race cars. I understand this is unburnt fuel being dumped into the exhaust when changing gear or after you chop the throttle. Is there any way this can intentionally be done? I think this is cool. Quote
tmckeen Posted August 29, 2013 Report Posted August 29, 2013 I've heard stories from the "muscle car" era that all you needed was a switch on the dash and a extra spark plug in the tail pipe to turn your car into a flame thrower, not sure how much truth there is in that however Quote
Stroker Posted August 29, 2013 Author Report Posted August 29, 2013 The spark plug etc is true, there are kits available i think. More to the point, full exhaust systems by Arrow, Akrapovic etc seem to have this effect. Quote
rchase Posted October 24, 2013 Report Posted October 24, 2013 My R6 track bike is named "spitfire" because of this. I have a TI exhaust including the header and it's tuned for 110 octane fuel. My guess on this would be the pipe and the tuning as well as well as the fuel. Here's spitfire doing it's thing. Sorry for the poor video quality. The flames actually are a lot larger and brighter in person. My guess on the fuel is based on the fact that I recently drained out some really rancid 110 out of spitfire and replaced it with pump premium with an octane boost so it would run. It still shoots fire but just not as much. My bike sat for a few years when the racer that owned it retired from the sport. Some TI porn. Quote
Stroker Posted November 1, 2013 Author Report Posted November 1, 2013 Thanks for the vid and pic.I wonder if a higher capacity engine spits more flame? Rally cars do it a lot... Quote
tmckeen Posted November 2, 2013 Report Posted November 2, 2013 I believe according to some race commentary I've heard the spitting flame is excess unburnt fuel burning off in the exhaust. So it would stand to reason, bigger engine = more fuel = more flames Quote
Stroker Posted November 2, 2013 Author Report Posted November 2, 2013 Correct, flame usually occurs after roll off and the unburnt fuel is dumped into the exhaust. Quote
rchase Posted November 5, 2013 Report Posted November 5, 2013 F1 engines spit out a lot of fire and this guy has the best job in the world! And of course another favorite. 20K rpm V10. Quote
mugget Posted January 9, 2014 Report Posted January 9, 2014 One other thing that may effect or cause exhaust flames is the particular engine management system or other electronics. Either the ECU and/or traction/wheelie control etc., I believe that some systems stop fuel at the injectors, while others let the fuel keep running and just cut the spark. Quote
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