Archive for September, 2007

Toyota phased out it’s iconic Celica in 2006.

The memory lives on though. Although many people did not have a good impression of the last mass produced Celica (the T230 1.8 VVT-i engine. YUCK!), there is one Celica a true boy racer will remember with tears in his eyes: The Celica GT4 S185.

To call this vehicle a sports couple is actually an understatement. The Celica GT4 ST185 was originally designed and produced to compete in the World Rally Championship and give european auto manufacturers a run for their money.

It went on to bag the WRC Driver’s Championship in 1992, and WRC Manufacturer’s and Driver’s Championships in 1993 and 1994. Not bad for a normal ’sports coupe’.

So what’s under the hood of this baby?

Well…it gets a little technical here. The Toyota 1998cc 3S-GTE engine is built in-line, 4-cylinder and utilizes a CT26 or CT20B Dual Entry turbocharger.

The Dual Over Head Cam (DOHC) 16 valve cylinder head is designed by Yamaha.

The pent-roof combustion chambers are complemented by a cross flow intake and exhaust layout. Spark plugs are located in the middle of the combustion chambers.

The engine churns out 204 Bhp@6000 rev/min, 275 NM@3200rev/min.

To all the drifting nuts out there (which should be 60% of my reader demographics), the GT4 has an all wheel drive system(AWD). It is fitted with a Central viscous coupler, Torsen rear differential. The Epicyclical center differential with 50-50 % F/R distribution.

HUH?? What was that?

Ok layman terms…

A Viscous Coupling works very similarly to a Limited Slip Differential (LSD).

A viscous coupler can be seen as a tube containing a pressurized viscous fluid in which discs are rotating. Half of the discs are attached to the incoming axle and the other half to the outgoing one to the tube’s walls.

The discs are pierced and the viscous fluid completely surrounds them. Minor speed differences are allowed between discs. Increased slip (i.e. rotational speed difference between discs) leads to a rapid increase in the viscosity of the fluid which, in turn, locks up the coupling.

During normal driving conditions, both sets of plates and the liquid ‘connecting’ them within the coupling are all rotating at the same speed. However; If one set of wheels loses traction, its set of plates will rotate faster than the other set.

In this case, the liquid within the viscous coupling transfers torque from the faster spinning plates to the slower spinning plates, ie torque is transferred to the set of wheels with more traction.

The fastest recorded speed of the GT4 S185 is 230Km/h, with a pickup of 7.9S in the 0-100Km/h test.

Before the WRXs and the EVOs came about, Toyota was already trashing the competition with the GT4 S185. Unfortunately, Toyota pulled out of the WRC to focus on F1…and ever since it stopped producing AWD/RWD cars…

Well you get the picture. The last celica didn’t sell well probably because it was a Front Wheel Drive and remember this:

The main plus point of RWD vehicles is with some of the mechanical parts removed from the front and installed at the rear, vehicle balance and handling are much improved.

Using the rear tires for acceleration traction takes the load off the front, so drivers accelerating out of a corner have much more lateral grip.

Looking at the kind of family vehicles Toyota produces now, I mourn the departure of a Toyota classic,  a rare one blessed with technology ahead of its time.

Recently, i made friends with a top class mechanic from Australia.

Craig Wilson has ten years experience repairing and maintaining all types of vehicles, 4 years of those as owner of his own workshop.

Today he has agreed to give you, dear reader, priceless advice on what to look for when choosing a cold air intake system.

Remember, this advice is PRICELESS and you’ll have to thank Craig for that!

Take it away, mate.

 The Cold Air Intake…what you need to know to get 110% out of it!

By Craig Wilson 

To understand how a cold air intake is beneficial to engine output we first have to understand the theory behind them. Basically the cooler the air the more dense it becomes and the more oxygen it carries.

A fuel/air mix that is rich in cool, dense air is burnt faster and cleaner which produces more power which in turn produces more fun for you!

Combine a cold air intake with a free-flowing air filter and the results can be even more surprising.

There are however several things to keep in mind when looking at intake mods for your car. The good ‘ol pod filter is a popular choice to replace your factory air filter and although they do have their benefits, my opinion is that without a heat shield or cold air duct they can rob you of some horsepower.

Let me explain that a bit before you go telling all your mates that this guy on the internet says that pod filters are crap!

The majority of factory air boxes have an intake that is positioned at or close to the front of the car. This allows the engine to breathe relatively cool air that is around the front of the car.

Ripping out the airbox and replacing it with a pod filter does two things. Yes it will increase your airflow above and beyond what the original air filter could allow but it also places the filter further back in the engine bay which, you guessed it, has higher air temperatures than at the front of the car.

Many people will argue that the temperature increase is minimal and the increased airflow is enough to keep them happy. The ultimate set-up in this case would be a pod filter that is separated from the rest of the engine bay in it’s own heat resistant box and fed air from a cold air intake.

Another common mistake that I see is people fitting the ‘mouth’ of the cold air intake low down on the car, say behind a vent in the front bar. This is great if you plan on never driving through any puddles or if like me you live in Australia and there is no rain anyway, but in the real world this needs to be taken into consideration when searching for the right intake for your car.

If too much water is sucked into the air intake that expensive engine can end up a pile of junk. Water is not able to be compressed and when the piston comes up on it’s compression stroke something has to give and it is usually a conrod or piston that cries ‘enough!’

Although the designers of modern vehicles are cottoning on to the benefits of cold air induction they still have a long way to go to match the performance that an aftermarket system can provide.

The designers of the aftermarket units know where to find the coolest air and with the use of ABS plastic they can design a system that is easy to fit.

With a little bit of ingenuity and planning it is possible to manufacture your own cold air intake from scratch, however there are plenty of companies offering excellent kits to suit just about any vehicle.

K&N has a good range of replacement, free-flowing filters and complete cold air intake systems that can be fitted by anyone with basic mechanical skills. Having had fitted many of these systems over the years I can honestly say that you will be surprised at the results from such a simple modification.

Cheers,

Craig

If you’re looking for that little boost (aka Turbo kit) to give your scooby more bite than bark, read on.

After doing some searching online, I discovered 2 tuning garages which provide turbocharger kits at reasonable, if not, fantastic prices. They are:

Turbochargerupgrade kits.com (Mcwell Ventures, Singapore)

Mcwell has been in the business for years and they carry a good range of products. For Turbocharger kits, they have 3 major brands:

1) Garrett - Made in USA, if you’ve never heard of this brand, i doubt you’re a real tuner

2) IHI- Ishikawajima Harima Industries. A Japanese company which also produces aviation engines and commercial vessels. Said nuff’.

3) ZAGE Turbosystems inc.- Made in Taiwan. Go figure.

I’m not biased against the Taiwanese. It’s just that American & Japanese technology tends to be slightly ahead of them.

Right, back to turbochargerupgradekits.com. Their selling point is obvious: The kits are cheap. Maybe not dirt cheap but seriously below market rate.

Their market caters more for JDM performance makes such as the Subarus, the Nissans, and the Mitsubishis. If you own a Holden, well, let’s just say you might not be able to find anything in the inventory except the Apexi speed meter.

A good thing about Mcwell is the fact they use UPS as their default shipping company, not some dodgy little firm.

Tweakit Performance, NSW Australia

Uh oh. I don’t know where to start. Hmmm.

Tweak it Performance is huge. Their inventory list is like an IKEA mart, with hundreds of products stocked up.

They have motor oil, engine gaskets, blow off valves, turbo kits, air filters (specifically K & N), exhaust manifolds and systems….and i’ve only covered a few items.

And yes, you can get Ford & Holden here. Yippee for the muscleheads.

What drew me to them was not so much the price, although it is extremely competitive (and a little more costly than Mcwell’s) , not the huge variety, but the service.

I emailed one of their Sales Managers, a Mr. Jeremy Levartovsky. He was professional, prompt and helpful, giving me additional advice and options. Service goes a long way in making a happy customer!

But i digress. Tweakit has a wide range of Garrett turbo kits. Yes, they are more expensive than Mcwell’s. Lets be honest. But the difference isn’t much (if calculated in USD) and in fact, Jeremy’s prompt service and helpful explantion of what i really needed (and what was unnecessary) made me think the shop from down under deserved my vote.

Your call? It depends. If you’re looking for price, Mcwell wins hands down. But if you need more variety, detailed service, and don’t mind forking out a little bit more for a niche product, then i’d have to say, go with Tweakit Performance mate!

Conflict in the Middle East, Earthquakes are hitting Indonesia, planes are crashing and the price of gas is still going sky high.

Some things never change. What we can do about the gas part, though, is still slightly within our hands.

While using my old man’s CRV, i was pissed off at being unable to find a good website for my local area (Singapore) which updates the pricing of gas/petrol around the country.

My North American friends have one in Gas Buddy. It’s really comprehensive, and a bit confusing for me to read. Looks like a tutorial on economics!

But recently i stumbled upon a Singaporean page which monitors gas pricing…

Yeap. No fancy names. Petrolwatch sets out exactly to fufill it’s basic purpose: Petrol (or gas) watch!

What i understand was Petrolwatch used to be free a while ago. Of course things change over time. The news section is still free.

But to recieve SMS alerts on updated petrol prices, SMS alerts on special discounts and promotions by petrol stations, Personal Petrol Logbook and other related freebies, one has to PAY. (yes, the dreaded 3 letter Singaporean vulgarity).

For the meticulous who dread such promotions and focus on their one aim: Save gas money, there’s the price guru to help you save those few cents.

For those who love a bit of fame (or need attention to hitch yourself a chick and end your misery) there’s always ‘spotlight on your ride‘. Yes, we’ve all seen this somewhere aka pimp my ride and cardomain.com, but hey, we can always have a singapore version, can’t we, mon ami*?

*Mon Ami is ’mate/friend/buddy’ in french. If you think i am too gwailo in my speech, I will use the Singapore slang for friend: XIAO EH!

For my Singapore xiao ehs who are unfamiliar with the evil gwailo trading portal called e-bay, there is a classified section in petrolwatch for you to sell your used fake momo pedal, your china made car, whatever.

There is also a blog section (with some guy’s creepy looking photo) and a forum. Errr…please post constructive stuff in the forum. Be nice!

Conclusion? It’s a Nice *Borat style thumbs up*. But Petrolwatch is a bit too fancy. They should just stick to updates on petrol. I’m rather old school though, some may like the additional information portals, classified ads, blind dates whatever thrown in.

Just help me to save petrol and the earth. That’s an Inconvenient Truth to throw in.

Imagine a car inspired by a serpent. You have the Mitsuoka Orochi.

This serpent isn’t coming towards your babe with an apple and asking her to eat it.

But what it does though, is captivate your imagination.

Most anime loving fanboys will drool over this vehicle though. It looks like something out of Akira!

Alright some proper information. Orochi is designed by Mitsuoka Motors, a company which custom makes retro-looking vehicles from older engines such as the 240SX.

Due to Mitsouka’s exclusivity as a classic automobile builder, not many units are seen on the road.

As for the Orochi, it is powered by a 3MZ - FE, 3311cc V6 DOHC EFI engine, the same engine chassis as the Lexus RX models.

Sad. You would think that with such a beautiful design, the engine could have been more preppy.  Mitsuoka have taken a very big risk, and it looks to be backfiring.

The main reason? Mitsuoka has priced the car at $89,000 USD. Most rich guys with very little time would rather buy a Porsche and yet have a service center and parts available.

Looking at the interior, it still looks very MX-5 or Celica-ish. Circular airconditioning vents, Lexus cockpit style tachometer. What’s new?

Quite sad actually. Mitsouka could have created an icon for this generation of sports cars, but they ended up producing something for a fanboy’s collection.

I’ll give this a pass and get a real Japanese sports car like the Skyline GTR.

Dear readers:

As of today Engine Start Button will be going through slight changes.

Firstly, i got a new job as a Business Development guy in a Japanese Petroleum firm. Yes, you may think there’s more cash to be made but in truth, well, I work the Japanese way.

I don’t have to spell it out. Basically it means less time for my blog posts, sadly. But that’s a fact of life.

Nevertheless, i will still post, but maybe not as frequently.

Secondly, a friend, a kind soul, informed me that engine start button’s alignment and overall site design was amatuerish.

I have to admit he’s right. But I hope you guys cut me some slack, because I’m a first time blogger. Engine Start Button is my first (and to date, only) blog.

For those who have read my postings and voraciously continue to read new ones, I have to say thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I am grateful that you appreciate my expertise, advice & tips.

I will continue to churn out delicious nuggets of automotive advice and news. But i ask a favor of you, the reader.

Your feedback is valuable, and I would love you to talk to me.

Of course comments like: ”Wtf you chink? My badass f**king turbo is gonna blow your balls off” will NOT be answered, thank you very much.

I am looking for constructive feedback. If you have to be negative, go ahead, but slice off the immaturity and throw it in the dustbin first.

Thank you once again, my dear reader, and i look forward to many good years of automotive information exchanges between you and me!

Regards,

Philip Emmanuel Chan

 

This futuristic Suzuki, called ‘Kizashi’ was unveiled at the Frankfurt 2007 Motorshow.

It looks like a mix between the batmobile and a Dodge Magnum. According to John Neff, no press release was given and people were left to do their own guessing. However, if this is the direction Suzuki is going its time to give them credit for their vehicles, instead of making light of their small cars, pocket rockets and off road vehicles.

I will move on to something more current: Their WRC vehicle. You’ve seen the Ignis Sport and the Swift Sport, which were originally JWRC vehicles. Suzuki has thrown in another domesticated looking sedan into their JWRC stable - the SX4.

This WRC version will now be the focus of further detailed development and testing to increase its competitive potential to the maximum before throwing it into the lion’s den of the JWRC.

Exact technical details of the new Suzuki SX4 WRC will be announced before its first competitive appearance.

The prototype car is rumoured to be equipped with a new 2.0 Litre turbo charged J20 engine. This engine provides torque of 637N.m at 3,000rpm and 320bhp at 4,000-4,500 rpm.

The new All Wheel Drive system developed for the WRC car includes mechanical differentials front and rear and an electronic differential located in the centre. Power is transmitted via a 5-speed sequential gearbox.

Just imagine if this chassis and model were to be converted into an ’SX4 Sport’ for the public to purchase!  Start rubbing your hands in glee folks, it happened with the Ignis and Swift…

This is the 1st vehicle that will be featured in a section of my blog purely on automotive imports that are out of production.

Back in the 90s, every guy wanted a Nissan skyline R32 or Honda Integra type R (DC2). They overlooked a performance car that Nissan produced which gained popularity as a Drift machine in Japan - The Nissan Cefiro A31.

Released in September 1988 to the Japanese Domestic Market, the A31 series included many hi-tech features, such as HICAS (Nissan’s rear wheel steering system), sonar controlled electronic damping, automatic headlights, and an automatic electric rear view mirror.

Cefiro engines were known as RB engines, came in a wide variation of sorts. The stock, untouched ones were:

• RB20E - single-cam (85 to 96 kW (115 to 130 ps) @ 5600 rpm, 167 to 181 N·m (17 to 18,5 kgf·m) @ 4400 rpm)
• RB20ET - single-cam turbocharged (107 kW (145 PS) @ 6000 rpm, 206 N·m (21.0 kgf·m) @ 3200 rpm)
• RB20DE - twin-cam (110 to 114 kW (150 to 155 PS) @ 6400 rpm, 181 to 186 N·m (18.5 to 19 kgf·m) @ 5600 (and later with a NEO-Head 4400 rpm)
• RB20DET - twin-cam turbocharged (158 kW (215 PS) @ 6400 rpm, 265 N·m (27.0 kgf·m) @ 3200 rpm)
• RB20P - single-cam (94 PS @5600 rpm and 142 N·m @2400 rpm)
• RB20DET-R - twin-cam turbocharged (210 ps @6400 rpm and 245 N·m @4800 rpm

Most of the Cefiros came in the RB20E engine, which was underpowered and disappointed lots of drifter wannabes. So what did they do? A RB25DET engine swap, which gives the car higher torque than the RB20DET engine, suited better for drifting.

Many of the Silvia (S13) and Skyline (R32) parts are interchangeable for the A31. That was a very juicy clue, right or not? *wink* And yes, Cefiro A31 is a rear wheel drive, for all the Initial D Touge wannabes.

For ideas on how to mod one, Jerome’s Cefiro should provide you with strong visual aid.

All good things have to come to an end. After production for the cefiro A31 ended in 1993, Nissan never came up with a sports sedan ever like the A31 (Infiniti not counted).

So we mourn the loss of a classic sports sedan. The lucky ones in Australia & Malaysia can still find this vehicle probably at a used car dealer.

The rest of us will simply hope Nissan comes up with another turbocharged-rear wheel beast disguised as a family car again.

I know you guys think that i’m gonna blog about some magnetic fuel device or voltage stabilizer to help you save gas.

Those things do help. But even with those devices attached, if you drive like a madman god help your fuel tank.

Here’s some basic advice from my fellow automotive expert, Mr. Mike Eggert.

Mike runs his own site at http://www.fuelfrugal.com

Gas Saving Tips - Pass the Pump or Pass the Buck

By Mike Eggert

Unless you have been living under a rock and don’t own a car, you have definitely noticed the rising cost of gasoline. Wild price fluctuations are a daily occurrence at the gas pumps.

We could debate the causes, or lack thereof, for an eternity. I have just as many opinions about the situation as the next person. But, unfortunately all the arguing over this topic won’t change a thing.

So, what can you do you ask? Well, there are many things that can be done to improve your fuel economy and improve your gas mileage. We’ll take a look at a few of the most obvious in a moment.

Aside from that, do all you can to reduce your dependency on gasoline today, and the difference will be noticed by everyone tomorrow. The only thing that can lower gas prices permanently is if there is a significant reduction in demand. Until then, expect more of the same high prices at the pump.

*Try to drive less, especially on very hot days or during peak traffic periods when you will end up sitting in traffic for longer periods of time.

*Try to riding the bus whenever possible. Or perhaps ride your bicycle, or walk to your destination. Your body will appreciate the exercise.

* Do as much of your shopping as possible by telephone, or on the Internet.

* If your job allows it, telecommute. Even one or two days a week will really add up.

* Don’t make unnecessary trips. Try to combine your errands into a single outing.

* Avoid letting your car idle for extended periods of time. Anything over 30 seconds is unnecessary.

* Instead of waiting in long drive through line at the bank or fast food restaurants, park your car and go in the lobby. You will get a bit of healthy exercise this way as well.

* Don’t accelerate more rapidly than necessary, and use your cruise control whenever you are on the highway.

* Read your owners manual, and follow the recommendations within it. No one knows better the potential for saving fuel in your vehicle than the manufacturer.

* Use motor oils that are labeled as energy conserving.

* Whenever it is possible try to limit the use of your air conditioner. An air conditioner creates a significant drag on your engine, impacting your fuel economy severely.

* Replace your spark plugs, and have regular tune-ups performed. Check your owner’s manual for recommendations.

* Check and replace your air filter regularly. A dirty air filter can have a large impact on your performance and fuel mileage.

* Have your front end alignment checked and adjusted if necessary. If your front wheels are out of alignment, it is akin to your car trying to make a left turn and a right turn at the same time, creating tremendous drag and rolling resistance on your vehicle.

*Check and adjust the air pressure in your tires to the recommended pressure rating. Again, this can cause unnecessary drag and resistance on your vehicle.

* Try to fill your gas tank during the cooler evening hours if it is possible. Filling your tank when it is hot increases the evaporation of the fuel in your tank. And be sure to replace your gas cap tightly for the same reason.

*If you service engine, or check engine light is on, have your vehicle checked by a certified automotive technician as soon as possible. Many malfunctions that can cause those warning lamps can also cause a drastic reduction in fuel economy.

Most of these tips are simply common sense, and honestly each one individually might not make that large of a difference in your fuel mileage, but added all together these tips can certainly make a noticeable difference in your fuel economy and help you save gas.

Don’t pass your bucks, pass the pump instead.

Geely China Dragon? Bah! Must be some squarish vehicle that copies another Toyota , Mitsubishi or Mercedes.

To me China cars were always an eyesore, pretty much like watching George Dubya talk.

But as i was looking at this Geely model, i did think: ‘ Actually it’s not bad an effort for a China made car! ‘

Hey, I am not defending the Chinese Auto makers just because my grandfather was from Guangzhou.

Remember the early days of Hyundai? Their early Excel models?

Right. Back to the China Dragon.

Notice that the front grille/ front portion of the vehicle is shaped like an animal of sorts. According to Lu Zhou, the vehicle design is inspired by ‘ Beijing Opera & the Monkey god’.

Only 1 problem with that. The name of the car is ‘China Dragon’. Whoa. The branding is already wrongfooted. If you’re gonna use ‘Dragon’ why use Beijing Opera or the Monkey god? I mean call it ‘ Geely Wu Kong (Monkey god’s name)’ or something like that.

I don’t want to be overly critical, but to call it China Dragon just to satisfy Gwailo stereotypes is wrong ! (Ever since Bruce Lee exploded on the scene, the white guys think anything dragon or tiger is a symbol of the chinese)

Well, at least Sun Wukong is being mass marketed to the Western world as well. Good to see 4 of him here. Maybe they should take a cue from the power rangers and market 4 different variations of him. Haha.

Back to the car. The rear shots reveal a chunky and clean styling. Of course, there are some hints of an Mercedes coupe rear, but Geely designers have been smart enough to improvise and make the necessary changes.

 

A puzzling photo is that of the CD without a brake Caliper. Perhaps this being a concept car, the designers didn’t bother to add in a brake caliper. They’d bloody better have one when it goes on sale though! There’s already a lot of bad publicity about China made products. We don’t need more.

As for the engine….I’m pretty disappointed as well. Wikipedia mentions that its engine is a 1.5 L ‘Toyota Motor Corporation design’. It produces 94 hp (70 kW) at 6000 rpm. After the failure of the last Celica (1.8 vvti) I was hoping Geely would have some sense and design a 2.0 or 2.4 L DOHC Turbo engine. Then again, Wikipedia may not be 100% accurate or up to date everytime.

Will I buy this car? Lets put it this way. You meet a girl who looks nice and she’s super attractive, but inside everything has all gone wrong (in terms of character etc). She has a lot to work on before becoming someone’s girlfriend!

Sad to say, my 1st choice for a budget coupe will still be the Hyundai Tiburon because of build quality and cost. But if China cars continue to improve in their styling, build quality and engine power, I may own a Dragon in my garage. But not now.