Firstly an introduction of lockup-mate so you know what it is.
lockup-mate is a torque converter clutch lockup kit that automatically turns on and off for ease of use. It reads the vehicle information it needs from the CANBus using the OBD2 connector.
Why have a lockup kit? They reduce automatic transmission temperatures (by eliminating heat caused by torque converter slippage), and consequently also improves your fuel economy.
This also helps avoid the dreaded limp mode if the transmission gets too hot when towing or the ECU has detected high torque converter slippage for too long.
So, how much fuel can it save? - keep reading for some amazing results.
Following on from the release of the Pajero NT+ lockup-mate, I've started on a version for the PB/PC Challenger.
I've had OJ's 2011 Challenger for a couple of weeks, and I now have a lockup kit working.
Not fully functional yet, but working well enough to use.
I thought I'd share some preliminary test results with you.
The testing didn't focus on monitoring transmission temperatures (because I know this works well), so instead I was comparing fuel economy.
I drove a 6.0 km circuit that basically went from 1 roundabout to another and back with undulating hills in between at 60kph. In these conditions is causes slip in the torque converter.
Doing this at midnight ensured no cars got in the way.
The aim was to try to drive each circuit exactly the same. The centre meter was used to measure fuel economy. It was reset at the start of each run and read again at the end.
RESULTS
Run 1 lockup-mate ON, using SPORT mode
9.6L/100km
Run 2 lockup-mate OFF, DRIVE mode
12.3 L/100km
wow..so I did it again, but this time used cruise control as much as possible to remove variability of my accelerator use.
Run 3 lockup-mate on using SPORT mode using cruise control
9.6 L/100km - same as before
Run 4 lockup-mate OFF, DRIVE mode using cruise control
12.0 L/100km
I then did did a run using SPORT mode with lockup-mate off, to see if I could do better than DRIVE mode.
11.5 L/100km
Essentially 12.3 vs 9.6 L/100km. Using DRIVE used 25-28% more fuel compared to using SPORT/lockup-mate.
Early days, but really encouraging to say the least.
Other observations using lockup-mate with the challenger.
OJ and I will continue to refine the challenger version of lockup-mate - so stay tuned.
lockup-mate is a torque converter clutch lockup kit that automatically turns on and off for ease of use. It reads the vehicle information it needs from the CANBus using the OBD2 connector.
Why have a lockup kit? They reduce automatic transmission temperatures (by eliminating heat caused by torque converter slippage), and consequently also improves your fuel economy.
This also helps avoid the dreaded limp mode if the transmission gets too hot when towing or the ECU has detected high torque converter slippage for too long.
So, how much fuel can it save? - keep reading for some amazing results.
Following on from the release of the Pajero NT+ lockup-mate, I've started on a version for the PB/PC Challenger.
I've had OJ's 2011 Challenger for a couple of weeks, and I now have a lockup kit working.
Not fully functional yet, but working well enough to use.
I thought I'd share some preliminary test results with you.
The testing didn't focus on monitoring transmission temperatures (because I know this works well), so instead I was comparing fuel economy.
I drove a 6.0 km circuit that basically went from 1 roundabout to another and back with undulating hills in between at 60kph. In these conditions is causes slip in the torque converter.
Doing this at midnight ensured no cars got in the way.
The aim was to try to drive each circuit exactly the same. The centre meter was used to measure fuel economy. It was reset at the start of each run and read again at the end.
RESULTS
Run 1 lockup-mate ON, using SPORT mode
9.6L/100km
Run 2 lockup-mate OFF, DRIVE mode
12.3 L/100km
wow..so I did it again, but this time used cruise control as much as possible to remove variability of my accelerator use.
Run 3 lockup-mate on using SPORT mode using cruise control
9.6 L/100km - same as before
Run 4 lockup-mate OFF, DRIVE mode using cruise control
12.0 L/100km
I then did did a run using SPORT mode with lockup-mate off, to see if I could do better than DRIVE mode.
11.5 L/100km
Essentially 12.3 vs 9.6 L/100km. Using DRIVE used 25-28% more fuel compared to using SPORT/lockup-mate.
Early days, but really encouraging to say the least.
Other observations using lockup-mate with the challenger.
- You don't get a harsh vibration at low RPM until around 900RPM - With lockup-mate ON, it will pull away in 2nd gear from just 1100RPM.
- Driving with the torque converter locked and using SPORT mode transforms the car - it's so much more responsive and feels like a manual.
- You can lockup in 1st gear though to 5th gear
- Changing gear with the TCC locked is not quite a smooth as in DRIVE mode, but still more than acceptable.
- Easier to install than for Pajero. AT ECU is more easily accessible and there’s only 1 wire to cut and connect to.
- It's great using it with the flappy paddles.
OJ and I will continue to refine the challenger version of lockup-mate - so stay tuned.
Comment