Traction Control ! Bad For Your Engine ?

SME Merch! www.stevemorrisengines.com
To Become a Channel Member - / stevemorrisracing

[@coldmoonlight6361]

I thought critically once. It hurt my brain and I got yelled at.

[@peejay1981]

As a control systems engineer this shows an important point most people miss - Don't try and control a physical system faster than it can respond! It usually doesn't end well. I would be interested to know what would happen if the traction control input could be rate limited - ie. instead of oscillating wildly between 27 and 9, do it "slowly" over 0.3 seconds or something.

[@markellis796]

Well explained Steve, and in layman's terms that actually makes sense, this channel just gets better and better.

[@Cliff_Anderson]

Great stuff...not to mention the torsional vibrations through the drivetrain as the engine is speeding up and slowing down on a super fine level from moment to moment...

[@sirtaylor2569]

Hello Steve I'm not a racer. I'm not a huge car guy. Heck I haven't even owned a car the past 5 years. But your content still speaks to me and I enjoy it so much! Keep doing what you're doing with youtube, your personality, knowledge and passion to teach attracts people from all sorts of fields. much love from switzerland

[@mr-js9is]

Same here. I love learning new things and this man is full of knowledge and mighty fine at explaining it! 👌🏽

[@johnnienitro6812]

OMG......

[@Truth-And-Freedom]

Give me some of that nazi gold !

[@ssnerd583]

I started out tuning on MegaSquirt and Hondata and UTEC and several others, back in the day...bloody hell but was a long ride learning how to street tune, a ride through a good few motors...... and not having to pull EPROM's and build a flashing jig was an EPIC advancement(for MOST tuning, anyway)...anyway.....I have known some pretty great tuners over the years, and I can tell you this from my experience over the last 30ish years. I have seen some maps and driven some cars that were supposed to be 'tuned' by 'somebody who is supposed to know what they were doing' who OBVIOUSLY didnt....seeing Steve pull apart this tune to SHOW why it could have been done better is a joy to watch!!!! I used to call these wonky timing issues created by guys who really didnt KNOW... 'timing cliffs'....and then 'lets watch this tune fall off the cliff!!!' and then the magic smoke ensues and.....yeah.... When Steve speaks, LISTEN TO EVERY WORD. You WILL profit. Steve, you get me wanting to dust off the old TOUGHBOOK laptop and cables and start data logging again....lol i wonder if it would all still work... 0_o

[@WACKOJACKO6648]

Your description makes a ton of sense. Getting fuel pushed into the rings when it pulls it back and then giving it full load is a great way to detonate in your ring lands.

[@chrisobrien9334]

That’s one Smart Mofo right there. Luv the intricate detail on the amount of times the engine actually does cycles. Thanks mate. Keep this coming. I’m running a FT system and can learn so much from it. 🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@garytull7730]

Very interesting. Would love to see a pic of the piston damage caused by this.

[@stacy6014]

If its the one on the opening pic, its fucked up. I just noticed it when I was going to click on the video. Steve would have to confirm that its the same one. Joe

[@Hot_Mess]

Thanks for putting this information out! I'm just getting back into the serious racing scene after being gone for about 20 years. As it said "back in the day" we ran carbs and didn't have these fancy electronics and traction control back then was the heaviness of your right foot which the engine could keep up with. These fast electronics are capable of switching 200 times per second and making those massive swings is going to lead to carnage. I'm betting it's more than just a couple of pistons. I wouldn't be surprised if the bearings didn't suffer due to harmonics as well. My theory is to leave the traction control loose to prevent MAJOR wheel slippage in the first 3 seconds of the run (on a mid 5 second car 1/8 mile) but allow a little wheel speed. Engines are expensive, WAY more than any 10 purses you could potentially win!

[@briananderson5284]

Thanks again Professor Morris, another great lesson today !!!

[@williameisenman5538]

you are definitely, one smart man, Mr. Steve Morris. Hopefully, the customer will wise up and listen to you.

[@wythetrumpet6419]

I have a 2009 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0 Liter V8 with a Magnuson Supercharger, Headers, Cam and other performance options. It was Dyno Tuned and it is a Beast! I was told by the shop that did the mods to absolutely Never Run Traction Control if I tracked the car or planned to run the car hard. They told me, simply put, the opposing forces could destroy the engine. If you run a high performance car please take this wise advice. 👍

[@deesunshine9507]

Makes sense. You use the same timing fluctuations to create heat at low rpm to help build boost quicker (hotter exhaust). If the timing is doing this same type of fluctuation at high rpm. It's going to keep building excess heat, as your egt's show. Man, that's cool to see you break down and then extrapolate the root cause/s of the failure/s using blended data streams. You can literally see it without having to model it. IE: You know your cr@p. Always entertaining! Thank You

[@gato69evo]

Now imagine, on the 2 step it's making like 10/15 pounds... and suddenly it's making 35...45...with the same kind of timing fluctuation... crazy.

[@johnbob8465]

Steve I am so fascinated with your knowledge, keep it up I am turning 65 in November and being a retired mechanic after 48 years I totally understand your thought process in figuring out these issues, and yes I forget a lot of stuff keep your brain alive as I am relaxing a lot more now and enjoying life here in Arizona..

[@Crazyhorseracing461]

Thanks Steve for really going through and explaining this to us👍👍👍

[@davidreed6070]

That was a very good lesson, Steve, thank you.

[@rodgersrcaviation2785]

Steve I could work for you and have a ton of fun learning and wrenching on these super nice rides. 25 yr auto tech shop owner here! I absolutely envy your ability to teach! Your explanations make total sense and the way you convey them is fantastic! I also admire that what appears to be your desk is still in the shop and not a closed off from the world office space. Keep ‘em coming. Maybe we will meet some day

[@winstonwright3613]

AWESOME VIDEO Steve! I've never heard this concept (which has been touched on by others) explained so perfectly before. EVERYone tuning an engine for quartermile should understand this.

[@deanpaidas8089]

Steve I’m learning so much from your channel. Even though lm 68 years old and drive a 60s muscle car I’m learning something new on every episode. BTW I only live 15 minutes from Rosslers shop and it’s great to hear a local guy being mentioned on your channel. Keep teaching!

[@bubbadw60]

Watching this helped me understand my engine failure more in depth. I do appreciate that! It also will help me set up a better tune, and understand the mechanical limitations of my setup. Great info!

[@gregscott9170]

Thanks Steve! Love the analytical approach to problems.

[@marcjordan29]

Comes down to the. "what makes it live" steve mantra.. True wisdom. Make it last to come in first.

[@jestablitz3804]

That was RAD, i love when you explain data like that. Very educational. Keep doin what your doin !

[@joebjr8053]

All i can say, is FREAKIN AWESOME, great job explaining the exact happenings inside the cylinder walls. Another fantastic informational video. Thanks Steve

[@jordantrujillo293]

That is some great information. And put in a way that I never thought of, thank you for sharing to make us all better racers, tuners, or enthusiasts!

[@lowbudgetbob1155]

I have a Gen3 Hemi with an EFI Source Goldbox and use Tuner Studio to program everything. I'm a dummy when it comes to the technical stuff and have had help from someone who's learning me on how to use it. I find all this technical stuff that you show very informing. I'll never use traction control but when you explain things like you do I can understand them and it makes sense enough I can apply some of it to what I'm doing.

[@kenwillis8487]

He’s not saying don’t use traction control, he’s saying don’t use it incorrectly! This car was using the traction control to make the entire pass! Even Steve uses traction control!

[@wobblysauce]

This has big swings of timing, it is like fuel correction a little is fine but a lot is bad.

[@ssnerd583]

make MANY fine adjustments, KNOW which map is which!!!.....keep all your datalogs!!! KNOCK is BAD....dont let it do that.... and if you cant afford to toast the motor.....STOP....until you can afford to toast the motor. Especially if its FI

[@dalelc43]

Your learning someone is teaching you. 🙄🙄

[@lt1nut]

@@dalelc43 You're not using your apostrophe. (My smartazz couldn't resist anD my meds haven't kicked in yet.)🙃😉

[@beeeennnnnnn]

Steve back with some knowledge bombs!

[@smythiegato]

This is amazing stuff Steve. Thanks for sharing

[@br549rdr]

Thank you so much for this. You teach were I can understand 💪

[@Jeffsa12]

While the TC is pulling 1/2 the power out, it's putting 2X normal heat into the pistons and combustion chambers for a total of what, ~8 seconds (staging+run) before letting the engine put out max HP the last 1/2 second. It's too hot and late at that point to expect max power output, detonation/meltdown is inevitable. Look up 2618 aluminum properties at 500-600 degrees F. It'll need unobtanium internals to withstand that torture test.

[@danmyers9372]

Flipping the light switch on and off as fast as you can is hard on stuff! Guess that is why dad yelled at us when we did that as kids. 😉

[@Heinrich_STG44]

I love these tech videos. I'm a racing fan not a driver (YET!) and I still love learning about these issues.

[@Liammcgowan]

it's the changes to timing causing flux on valve return time which is causing induction pressure flux which then resonates into rich/lean per length of intake. the turbulence evens itself out by way of the amount of surface area available. imagine a garden hose with low water pressure, if you hold it vertically over a container with water in it, at the correct distance for the pressure and flow rate it will run silently with almost no surface ripples. too far away and the resistance of the turbulent air disrupts the density of the water coming out of the hose which then equalizes against the surface tension of the water, making noise and turbulence.. same kind of thing but in this example its making most cylinders far too rich and the other 2 far too lean. (path of least resistance gets the induction.) tell him to take longer to build the boost or adjust his boost controller to be more agressive with less timing pull?

[@Liammcgowan]

also, the thermal conduction to the temperature sensors at fluxing density and pressure (due to rich / lean / vapour, low pressure / no vapour, high pressure) that last part where the temperatures spike is more likely just the temperature sensor being able to function properly when the flux stops. the cylinders were accumulating temperature the whole time. short time high energy proportions are quadratic afaik.. the likelyhood of the temperature reading measuring accurately such a peak is low because the amount of extra energy at the already leaned out cylinders required would be huge. like, a stick or three of dynamite extra energy spread over that last 0.2 seconds.

[@Liammcgowan]

108 sticks of dynamite in 1 gallon of methanol. for reference.

[@danmyers9372]

They really can’t take any longer to build boost. 6 seconds is already really pushing it. Remember he has about 7 seconds to get into the beams once his opponent lights his bulbs (assuming they aren’t using “courtesy”staging). And smart opponents will take note of a very slow spooling turbo car and can take advantage of it when staging. Retarding the timing like what Steve showed (and was not concerned about) to build boost prior to staging is not the problem. The engine is at much lower rpm’s and not under any load. It’s the almost on/off timing during the run that is creating the problem.

[@stormyyoung6344]

Thanks for teaching today Steve

[@jimlaing8580]

Brilliant! I like the way you dumb it down for us. It makes perfect sense when explained correctly. Thank you.

[@peterfusco2596]

Really enlightening Steve lot of knowledge in your field

[@briansterken6269]

Great video! I'd like to see more like this, maybe a series on reading data logs and what to change to correct the issue.

[@vehdynam]

That was very interesting and informative; plus it makes sense the way you describe it. Very much appreciated, thanks Steve.

[@johndoran3274]

Best tech content for tuning I’ve seen so far. I’m surprised that poor engine held out as long as it did.

[@kentlypeterman2414]

Great lesson ! Thanks for sharing .

[@robertdemers8508]

Steve, you are one smart SOB. Very entertaining and informative. Thanks.

[@AB-80X]

This was really a nice “This just needed to be said” style video. Good work racing brother

[@charliehupp5385]

Thanks Steve very very much for showing us some things us professionals would never know.. Good luck

[@shellandhuzz8783]

Love the explanation Steve and all makes perfect sense

[@marcmalek5956]

Great way to enlighten us on how this works. Love the videos. Keep up the great work and increasing your knowledge and ours.

[@terrybeyer4239]

Thank you Steve! God bless your family at home and at work...

[@beckyumphrey2626]

Excellent technical information. Thank you.

[@thomaslamb1534]

I learn so much from this channel! Thanks Steve

[@CS_247]

I just love watching this guy talk sense. Clever man.

[@davidresar8256]

Excellent video! Thank you for sharing!

[@gato69evo]

So F...cool explanation. Its funny because as a cleetus, PFI, KSR and Steve viewer, when I've seen the title/intro I was already, guessing what was probably the problem. Its n9ce to see content, enjoy it and even learning from it! Thanks Steve !

[@Map71Vette]

I've always said this with electronic controls and nannies on cars. You can make a car fast with electronic wizardry, but it's a lot better to design it to be "mechanically" fast to start with. Traction and stability control are amazing things, but they are no replacement for a car designed to go fast without them.

[@OCtheG]

Couldn’t agree more. Feels like you need to custom build these days to get the vehicle you actually want.

[@captainobvious9188]

I’m all for electronic controls, I’ve ran electronic controls for years and it just has to be tuned properly like everything else. However, it’s going to amplify characteristics of whatever your base mechanical traits are to begin with. I hate electronic aids as a band-aid, they work wonderfully to put a razor edge on an already fine sword though.

[@Map71Vette]

@@captainobvious9188 Yeah, I would agree with that. Fuel injection is a wonderful thing and lets you turn a lot of dials and play with a lot of things that are difficult or impossible to do with a typical carb for insurance. But agreed you need to tune them right to start with. It would be like throwing a generic tune in a car and letting O2 feedback do all the work. Yes, it might function, but it's always going to be reactive and trying to "fix" things, not run directly to begin with.

[@chrisbradley3224]

This is just a flawed control system. A lot of tuners / mechanics / software devs etc. never had a control systems engineering course and this is what you get. If you want a system where you can let it do the work for you and ride it right on the edge perfectly you need far higher sampling rate and effective system bandwidth than most ICE automotive traction control systems can offer. Tesla is a good example, you can stand on the pedal and they just give you everything the surface and tires can give. The wonders of a stable control system with high enough bandwidth.

[@isaachollmann4145]

Super educational! Appreciate the break down! And teaching us this critical information.

[@Profabdesigns]

Saving my engine parts 1 day at a time, with Dr. Steve!! Dang I have learned a lot from you brother! I know you have learned a lot in your walk as well. I truly enjoyed this video, thank you Sir. Now if I only had a hot rod with enough power for traction control… wha wha wha.

[@Sardawg1790]

Great info as always, keep it coming!

[@stevenraymer6682]

Gosh you are the smartest man on the earth thank you Steve for some well learned content

[@rubysmine592]

Hey Steve, this is the first video of yours I've seen but I have to say I really do enjoy this style of video, would love to see more maybe a series where you look at peoples datalogs from tuned cars that gone boom. Really interesting having the final moments of the engines life explained and how it maybe could have been avoided

[@JoshStLouis314]

Wow, that was really well explained. Thanks Steve.

[@bdjm8595]

Again, a super interesting episode, thanks so much for putting this together!!

[@604cuinkillah]

Steve Morris' Engine guy humble opinion=GOLD

[@FranklinRoads]

I am not a racer but I love your channel and all the info you put out. Thank you!

[@christopherbarrett8710]

As always great information! Thanks Steve

[@amypowers5340]

Great tech “math” videos. Love the info and learning. Thanks

[@shawnsingletary1050]

I love this one... I have none of the goodies that can do this, but it is great information to learn basics with.

[@bigblockjess617]

Another awesome video steve. Not 1 video you have done is the same as the last. Keep up the amazing work man

[@JohnRoberts71]

Good morning Mr Morris. Ready to learn. Great content thanks for sharing

[@OPFOR109]

Great video. Makes sense. Same deal with cleetus running around all day banging the antilag button in his new supra until it blew up lol.

[@davidreed6070]

Yeah , those guys break parts and laugh about it. I guess that's just their deal

[@ssoffshore5111]

@@davidreed6070 They have the money to piss away, plus that same crap makes them even more money making content...

[@davidreed6070]

@@ssoffshore5111 absolutely. I watch it to.

[@BoostLakust]

So cool and most guys would never make a video like this to explain what actually happened. Once again KING OF BAD ASS HORSEPOWER!!

[@Jazz3006]

Hey Steve, While I generally agree with the premise of delayed ignition causing higher cylinder temps, it should drop combustion temps because your pressures are lower. Another note is that the waviness you are seeing in the manifold pressure is likely the swings in the efficiency of the engine changing the rate at which the engine can pull in air, which sends pulses through the intake because the impeller has enough inertia that it wants to stay at a constant speed. Otherwise, it's nice to see an explanation in laymans terms on this kind of stuff!

[@BigRob345]

Learn something new everyday! Interesting stuff Steve

[@dr0zdo]

Thank you for sharing that!

[@demotors070161]

Super video. Great explanation of this aspect of tuning!

[@KEIFabrication]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing this!

[@sbcbuilder4279]

Thank you Professor Steve for this invaluable math lesson.

[@gearhead06]

Amazing man as always, so happy to see others enjoy what I enjoy from this channel. Best drag and drive channel around", ty as always Steve.

[@keithpardini9065]

Brother Steve, you're a frickin' genius!

[@erichoshaw5967]

Steve! That was an awesome video i always learn a lot from them this was especially helpfull for me. Thanks

[@davehaas6830]

Great stuff Steve and well explained!!

[@colbysheppard3682]

Dang it! I learned something! Thanks Steve!

[@kidkv]

Thanks for the tip, Steve 😊

[@benrossbach6501]

Absolutely love and appreciate your time and knowledge.

[@Khorsathedark]

I learned something that I didn't know yesterday. Awesome.

[@JR15A2]

This was a very interesting and insightful video!

[@Altanabstick]

Incredibly helpful. I always wondered why racers didn't just use traction control and always adjusted boost. Now I know. Thanks!

[@padders1068]

Steve, thanks for yet another masterclass! 🙂

[@nhra7110]

Great lesson there!

[@lukk4273]

Oh this is a good one. Think you mentioned this when the spark plug blew out. Ive been learning about traction control strategies and was wondering if running excessive timing retard and dropping cylinders could cause engine issues. Everyone raves about the Davies technology setup. Thanks fir sharing.

[@og190]

Thats good stuff there love lerning from your knowledge. Makes me wish i was still racing keep it coming steve.

[@TheFreezy306]

Awesome info thank you very much for posting info like this

[@ChambersRacing9862]

We love you Steve !!!

[@xxdabroxx]

Audio quality on point Steve. Great explanation.

[@tommccarthy7227]

Great information and knowledge!

[@RCinginSC]

Super interesting breakdown. Well done 👍

[@lawnmowerman25]

Good explanation! Thanks for the info.

[@glenbrannon7224]

Awesome run , it looks so good going down the track !😊

[@BMF_Garage]

Very good explanation! Thanks 🤘🏻

[@timpeacock9583]

Great job explaining that .

[@UncleManuel]

This was another insightful episode of CSI: Morris (Car Stuff Investigation). 😁😎🤟

[@ryangreen7918]

I feel like I'm an apprentice watching Steve, I've learnt so much

[@teagreen2220]

Never been a fan of electronic traction control on any car or truck. It is the first thing I remove from programming. Great videos!