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| September 2, 2006 Newsletter |
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Nakusp Hot Springs Run - Saturday September 09 to ?
Back by popular demand, it will be the same format as last year. Meet at The Jammery for breakfast at 8:30 (or 9:30 if you don't want breakfast), then up to OUC Vernon where we will meet the North Okanagan members (about 10:00) and then out Highway 6 through the Monashee's. There will be a quick stop at the BC Hydro rest area just before Cherryville where you may donate your excess coffee. Bring your own lunch for a stop at the Fauquier/Needles Ferry rest stop, then we're on to Nakusp and up the Kuskanax Creek valley to the Hot Springs. Warm weather has been ordered, but in any case the springs are always a warm treat. The Hot Springs have just been refurbished and reopened. Bring a towel and a lock (for the locker) or you can bring your own clothes bag out to poolside. A bathing suit is also recommended. Info on the Hot Springs and Nakusp is available at www.nakusphotsprings.com
The Monashee section of the highway and the recently repaved road up to the Hot Springs are very Miata friendly.
After our soak, sun, whatever those that wish to go on to Kaslo, Nelson (more Miata friendly roads) or wherever, can do so, and those who wish to go home will now know the way. The arrangements for those that wish to stay out in the Kootenay's longer will be determined based on what the participants want. There is accommodation available in the chalets right at the springs ..... not fancy, but clean and well equipped (you need to bring your own food or drive down to Nakusp to eat); the url is www.nakusphotspringschalets.com
There is other accommodation available at the Hot Springs turnoff or in the village of Nakusp. Information on available accommodations can be found at www.nakusparrowlakes.com.
Please e-mail me at wphahn@shaw.ca if you are interested in coming on the run and let me know whether you will be at the Jammery breakfast and whether you would like to do the one day or two day (or more) run. And don't worry about me driving too slow for some of your tastes ..... I'll bring up the rear and let a more inspired member lead.
Zoom! Zoom!
Pete |
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Air mass sensor
The best way to extract power from the fuel our Miata engines burn is to take advantage of the maximum potential it has to offer.
With gasoline, that is done by mixing it with oxygen in the most volatile proportion. An efficient running engine is one that burns an accurately controlled mixture of 14.7 parts of air to every part of gasoline.
The Air Mass sensor provides the primary data to the engine controller so that it may begin its calculations to continually control fuel delivery and maintain that 14.7:1 ratio.
It measures the amount of air that enters the engine before it is mixed with gasoline and ignited in the cylinders. It does this by measuring the speed and volume of air that travels from the air filter to the intake manifold.
There are several technologies that provide the instantaneous reaction needed to deliver the data fast enough to the engine computer for smooth power output. The most common of these technologies uses a heated (at a constant temperature) wire or film placed in the intake air stream. As air passes through the sensor, the temperature drops according to air speed and volume.
The amount of adjustment required to maintain the constant temperature is interpreted into the amount of air by volume that is entering the engine. Once this primary data is provided to the engine controller, it uses it along with other data from less important sensors, to determine which part of the fuel map to implement for power.
The air mass sensor is also a thermometer of sorts; it measures the temperature of the air that enters the engine so that the density can be accounted for in the process. All this must happen within microseconds and be precise enough for spontaneous 14.7:1 fuel delivery.
When an engine runs rich or lean, it means the fuel mixture is out of the preferred ratio and bad economy is the end result. If you see your fuel mileage dropping beyond what it should be, then the air mass sensor may be at fault. Sluggish response time and inaccurate temperature readings will drastically affect the way fuel is delivered and so should be suspected when combined with an illuminated check engine lamp.
A routine maintenance visit to your repairer should include the cleaning of your intake system including the replacement of an air filter along with the vacuuming of all debris from the assembly. A note of caution to those who use performance air filters that use oil as a substrate filter; contamination of the air mass sensor can result if too much oil is used to soak the filter element. |
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