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172 engine details / info etc



  Z4 Roadster
Hey all

Just wondering if there are any documents / sites etc which have information etc on the 172 / 182 engine.

I'm just interested to learn a bit more about these engines - i.e. how the variable cam timing etc works.

I have searched around, but not really come up with anything on them.


Cheers!! :)
 
  Z4 Roadster
don't need to know anything in particular, was just interested in learning about vvt systems really - don't know much about 'em.

Is the Renault version similar to others? I guess there might be stuff out there on other brands...
 
  Lionel Richie
no the renault version is uber basic compared to the likes of v-tec from honda

its basically only there for emissions and its activated at 1600rpm IIRC

(and before you say it, it has nothing to do with the "kick" at 5500rpm!)
 
the vvt system in the 172/182 range is there simply to allow the renault engineers to run a wilder camshaft without any of the problems you would associate with larger overlap cams on a plenum with a classic speed density system.

The vvt system is a simple 1 step phasing operation which advances the inlet cam only by 16 degrees. In its resting (depahsed) status it sits with the valve events netting a zero overlap status. This gives a strong map signal and constant manifold vacuum at idle and low throttle angle, which makes smooth mapping at lower rpm and throttle angle easier, along with better emissions and economy.

As soon as you increase manifold pressure to 800mb+ and go above 1450rpm, the ecu will advance the cam. Its such a low rpm threshold because the cams are not that wild, but wild enough to cause problems at idle.

The kick at 5000rpm is simple the 'on cam' phenomenon where all operating parameters favourably meet and you get a sudden increase in volumetric efficiency.
 
  Z4 Roadster
cool - thanks ben. So the cams in the 172s etc are fairly aggressive - enough to cause poor idle etc?
The vvt essentially acts as a system to allow the engine to behave as a 'normal' engine at low revs, but breathe properly etc when revving to give the power that the cams have been designed for!

Cheers mate :)
 
  Megane225FF
I was just reading Ben's explanation over on clio trophy...
here it is...

By no means is the 5k kick the result of any mechanical/electronic chance withing the engine system, whether that be mapping paremeters or valve timing.

I think to fully understand, a base understanding of the operating system of the vvt is needed. The vvt system employed on the clio is what we refer to as cam phasing, this is where the whole camshaft (inlet or exhaust or both) is advanced/retarded. This can be in a single step as it is in the clio (single stage 16 degree advance on the inlet), or variable. The camshaft is hollow and is used as a galley to feed the front pulley (called a phaser) with oil pressure, this pressure simply acts on vanes inside to rotate it in a desired direction, and returned under mechanical pressure. The cam does not always carry oil pressure, but a vvt switch is used, and is basically a plunder activated by 12 (grounded by the ecu (a lowside switch)) which allows the passing of oil from the lifter galley to an area of the cam bearings with holes that can feed the inside of the cam, which then passes through to the nose of the cam and into the pulley (phaser).

Variable setups (like the new 197) will use the same base components as what is used today, but instead of the vvt plunger being used as a switch, the same plunger has the ability to open and bypass oil to either side of the vanes in the phaser. By using a PWM signal, you can gain full control of the phaser to advance the cam in a near infinately variable curve vs rpm vs manifold pressure vs throttle angle etc.

Honda's Vtec system is a cam 'changing' system where the actual cam profile is changed in its entirety (hence the 3 lobes per cylinder), the actual 'timing' of the primary lobe remains the same at all times. And now with I-Vtec and VVTL-i the benefits of both phasing and changing is being used at the same time to build some monster VE (volumetric efficiency) curves.

Anyway, in the clio the cam sits in its dephased state until the required parameters are met. This is above 1450rpm and 800mb manifold pressure. When it is required though, the cam is phased and the cam timing effectively advances 16 degrees, at 6800rpm it is dephased again and power drops off like a stone. No official reason, but my thoughts are that they do it so you guys shift up once there is a loss of acceleration. The reason for that is because the stock pistons just fall apart with prolongned high rpm use.

The 5k kick is the result of a few natural phenomenons within the engine. At 5000-ish rpm VE suddenly reaches a higher %'age and the resultant torque increase gives you that wahey feeling. VE increases due to the cam comming 'on'. This term has nothing to do with VVT and is quite an old term, whereby the reference is to the rpm region that particualr engine/cam combo requires to process the valve timing events efficiently.

VE refers to volumetric efficiency, or the %'age of the cylinder that you can fill with fresh charge. For a 2ltr, thats 500cc per cylinder. If you can only fill that cylinder with 430cc's at peak efficiency (normally at peak torque point) thats 86% VE. The higher the VE on any engine, the higher the torque output at that specific RPM, and all engine tuning revolves around increasing or rather sustaining a good VE for as long as possible, and upto as high an rpm as possible.

Anyway, back on track. The clio with its advanced cam timing (phased) operates with an overlap value that is larger than when it is dephased (infact it has no overlap when depahsed). This overlap is part of cam design basics, and larger overlap periods are used to help generate higher VE's via scavenging and inertia ramming. At 5000 rpm the natural effects of the port velocity and pulse tuning al reach a level where they start to actively enhance the torque production with the valve timing it is running. Put in a wilder cam and it will push the 'kick' higher up if nothing else changes, but lower rpm efficiency will loose out, and peak power will be pushed up the rpm scale, along with a higher peak bhp figure. To an extent, there will be a point where you can go wilder on the cam and just loose out everywhere as the engine system as a whole does not work with the cam profile you are running.

Not very clear sorry, basis is that the 5k kick is the result of natural phenomenons within the engine, primarily port velocities and pulse tuning harmonics.
 
  RenaultSport clio 172 mk2
I think BenR should be put forward for the Noble Prize for Velocity Mechanics or somethin like that... Closely followed by Fred ofcourse!
 
  Z4 Roadster
I know, I'd second that!!!

Didn't quite understand it all, but still nice to get some background info :)
 


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