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Red bullet VVTI seloniod

Discussion in 'Prius c Accessories and Modifications' started by Max Taiwan, Apr 9, 2019.

  1. Royston.K

    Royston.K Member

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    Just to add on to discuss regarding throttle controller. The right one should change the throttle body opening %. By default AKA factory map. Normal opening is 33%. If your throttle controller is changing this opening % then you should feel more gain with Red Bullet as well.

    As such controller can change the speed of how the throttle body response as well as the % of it's opening. It's not really so much about pedal to the metal being similar. ;)
     
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  2. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

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    Guys I hope everyone is having a great early summer!
    A late update on my ECO mode run before we swapped out the Red Bullet and went for the OEM run.
    The ECO mode yielded the following results with Red Bullet installed.
    689km on 26.68l= 25.8km/l. I lost all the oomph and pep. I nursed the beginning then after 300km I just couldn't do it anymore. The power was low with the ECO but as a side note, I can sincerely tell you now that the OEM solenoid is worse on power in normal mode then the Red Bullet in ECO.

    So overall not too bad if you don't consider the power loss. I say "why sacrifice the power when you can have same fuel economy by not running ECO" so guys stick it in normal and turn off that ECO. I drove this round Red Bullet ECO for 95% in the city, not once was i doing more then 100km/h, and mostly doing sub 50km/h.
    And lastly guys and girls dont go back to OEM unless you are me! I'm doing it so you don't have to!

    The power is sluggish and the pep is dead with the OEM. The mpg isn't looking too good on the dash with the OEM solenoid also.
     
    #322 Max Taiwan, Jun 18, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 18, 2019
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  3. Greenteapri

    Greenteapri Active Member

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    @Max Taiwan
     
  4. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

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    Hi Greenteapri,

    I am sorry that we did not answer your question.
    There were revisions in the beginning, rest assured we have the most up to date Red Bullet with grade A quality check.

    The data for increase horse power and torque are on post # 301 on page 16. The dyno is taken from a Toyota Altis running the Red Bullet.
    It is not possible to dyno a stock Prius as the transmission is running on CVT and not a fixed ratio.

    We have drag data from TheChip! and also I did a few rolling starts for highway flat out merges earlier in the thread. you will feel the difference right away. The throttle response does not plateau anymore with the Red Bullet, you can feel when stepping on the gas will produce a significant response. I warn about throttle happy, but from my observation, most owners have very good self control!

    The fuel economy was documented very thoroughly through out the introduction by many members contributing.(Csuirp, Royston, wildgatsby and TheChip)
    We were able to resolve a mpg issue with the ECO mode switched on. The fix was to run your vehicle with the ECO switched off, it will give you access to the full potential of your VVTI.

    If you have further questions please dont hesitate to contact us,
     
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  5. CSuirp

    CSuirp Active Member

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    Great testing the ECO with the RB! Thanks for doing these tests Max! Glad you're back in your toy again. (y)
     
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  6. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    WARNING! Heavy AC users should not turn off ECO mode. I have seen the MPG fall hard with it off and improve greatly with it on. This is only for people who use AC in hotter climates.

    The Fix is ECO mode on with a throttler controller so you get it all!
     
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  7. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

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    Hi priusCpilot!

    Right on! The air condition actually kills anything under the sun with or without the Red Bullet. I would say if you are in stop and go traffic without the possibility for using much of the ICE to definitely switch on the ECO mode to decrease the electrical power consumption of the AC and blower. You wont lose performance by doing that because there will not be much or any use of the power band of the engine in those environment anyways. When you do clear the traffic and head out of town, knowing you will be on highway or at least suburbs running a good amount of ICE and Red Bullet power, you may turn the ECO off to utilize the power of the engine and it will in the meanwhile charge your battery for the AC to run.

    Try not to use your ICE as a electric generator for running the AC. Worst combo for mpg, because AC do not turn your wheels to make up the m in the pg!

    Thank you priusCpilot for the reminder! We had 44 degrees today. Couldn't even sweat! It just evapes right off!
     
    #327 Max Taiwan, Jun 19, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2019
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  8. CSuirp

    CSuirp Active Member

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    Great advice...makes sense to work the ECO mode when it's stop and go traffic with A/C on. Good tip!!
     
  9. wildgatsby

    wildgatsby Junior Member

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    I usually drive without my A.C. when I have no company to "maximize performance." Summers in AZ can be pretty hot - it was 101 degrees Fahrenheit when I was driving in traffic (It'll probably be like 15 degrees Fahrenheit hotter in a month). However, I noticed that the EV Mode has not been working this week. Today, I suspected that the battery may be overheating, so I turned on my A.C. on the way back home today - lo and behold, EV Mode was now available at stops and at low speeds; the battery was also being used up instead of being charged continuously.

    I think I'll have to try experimenting how ECO Mode affects my mpg with the way "Clementina" and I drive and with how set my A.C. (nowadays at recirculated auto 79 degrees Fahrenheit).
     
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  10. wildgatsby

    wildgatsby Junior Member

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    @Max Taiwan , where in the world were you for it to be 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit)?! I just don't know of too many places where it actually gets that hot. It will pass that temperature soon in Arizona in a matter of weeks..
     
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  11. CSuirp

    CSuirp Active Member

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    Wow...101F and rising? That's just not right. lol. Too bad our C's don't have a built in solar panel in the sunroof like the other Prius model does...would total help us for fan use and other small electronic needs. Technology behind solar panels has gotten to the point where they make clear panels to go behind glass...real nice concept. Anyway...that's for another thread. lol

    Yeah...I'll be putting into practice the ECO switch on those hot days during bumper to bumper traffic...thankfully I haven't had that issue yet.

    Stay cool Wild! (y)
     
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  12. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

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    Hi wild!

    Yes its really cooking here in Taiwan. One of my friend is in Dubai right now, he said he will die soon if he dosent get out of the sun. He stays in or sleeps until 6pm to go out.

    Its 34 degree here today, but the weather forecast says it will feel like 43 instead.
    I'll be having the AC on for sure. As you know I'm running the OEM, so it will be interesting to see what happens with economy. I really miss my Red Bullet. Another few hundred km to go!

    Don't worry about the fuel economy for now, stay cool instead!
     
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  13. TheChip

    TheChip Senior Member

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    In case anyone wants to see exactly what the red bullet is doing, here's the timing cover off show exactly what that oil pressure does.

     
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  14. wildgatsby

    wildgatsby Junior Member

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    @TheChip I think the link is broken.

    "J. the WildGastby"
    University of Arizona WildGats Scholastic Action Shooting Program Assistant Coach
    2018 S.A.S.P. Collegiate National Rifle Champion
    Level 1 N.R.A. Pistol Coach

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  15. gliderman

    gliderman Active Member

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    Video works fine for me.
     
  16. CSuirp

    CSuirp Active Member

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    Chip....great little video! Really helps picture what's going on inside and how the RB uses the oil like hydraulic pressure to move the actuator based on rpm's. At least that's what I got from it. lol. That timing chain slider guide is a bit concerning though...hopefully it won't come apart like the mechanic said it does in other cars. You would think that technology would simply use a steel rolling tensioner with a cut out in the roller for the chain to lay perfectly in...the steel tensioner would freely spin as the chain moves but still allowing tension on the chain...eliminating the current glider. Maybe the concept isn't as simply as I think or I'm missing something, but I'm just picturing it in my head and it seems somewhat of a logical design.
     
  17. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    The guide issues are with the German junkie cars that are designed for planned obsolescence.
     
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  18. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

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    Hi CSuirp and hi priusCpilot!

    I feel you guys about the chain. Bicycle chain!
    It looks totally like a bicycle chain by the way, the Germans knew how lengthening will sooner or later happen to the chain but it was considered a very long time given good care and maintenance.

    We have a VW 2.0 TSI called the EOS, the cam chain ages with use of the vehicle, every year we monitor the amount of stretch. It is now 10 years old with 100,00km on the clock, this makes it a real guppy in the VW world. We had to replace the cam chain tensioner, it was known to fail causing total engine death.
    Side note, i think there was info about engine under a specific horse power will not have enough pull to lengthen the chain in normal operating spectrum.

    As long as you change your oil on time, keeping the internal friction low and lubricated, you will be able to avoid excessive chain stretch in the long run, and also keeping the Red Bullet happy!

    Great video shared by TheChip!
     
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  19. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    And don't forget that in our cars, the engine isn't constantly running (like when sitting still) so we should be ok. I had 72 Datsun with an L8 engine in it and it had a plastic tensioner. Let me tell you that plastic is very tough. And the guides looks like the same ones I had in my Datsun. It absorbs the heat a lot better than a metal guide, and, I might add, will not make noise. A metal guide will make noise and generate more heat.
     
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  20. DivideByZer0

    DivideByZer0 Member

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    @Max Taiwan, I have a Gen 2 Prius and I'm very interested in trying out the Red Bullet! Just let me know what I need to do to buy one, also I'd be glad to do some sort of before and after test as to how it works on the Gen 2.
     
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