See why the racing world needs a Kinsler Tough Pump!
Why did Kinsler Make the Tough Pump :
Kinsler Fuel Injection has been selling and servicing injection systems for over 50 years. We have had joint relationships with many companies through the years, sometimes the philosophy of companies just don’t stay in alignment.
The year was 2006, we were the largest distributor for another company’s fuel pump, but we started to have quantity control problems and customers where having reliability issues. It became apparent this product was not up to the standards that our customers needed or desired. Our decision was to take 100% total control and produce the correct pump that the customers required. The next two years were spent in development of the Kinsler Tough Pump and in 2009 it was introduced to the market.
How does the Tough Pump improve the performance of both the engine and the fuel system? There are several reasons that are obvious and some not, so let’s dive into the facts.
The Design :
Let’s start with a little bit of history on changes and improvements through the years of the fuel pump for mechanical constant flow fuel injection. The first internal gerotor design pump worked descent, but has poor pressure load abilities and had a fair reliability rating. The next generation pump was the gear to gear; it has better pressure load capabilities and has a good reliability rating.
However, fuel systems advanced into higher pressures, the pump being used started to show that it wasn’t up to the task, both in its performance and realibity.
We saw a need for improvements, so we reviewed every kind and type of failure that we had seen in the other designs and systematically engineered out these flaws.
Using machining techniques to improve the tolerances, added the patented pressure balance plate system, used higher quality materials and coatings, and changed the general design construction.
We improved the pressure capabilities, reduced cavitation issues, and improved the reliability. The Tough Pump has improvements that have extended its life and consistence which in hand helps improves the life and performance of the engine.
Understanding a Fuel Pumps Output :
When flowed on a flow bench you see the mean average flow, but on a fast transducer or an oscilloscope, you will see the peaks and valleys of the pumps teeth, the Tough Pump has more teeth so the mean average is the same as earlier pumps but with smaller rising and falling pressure pulses. Smoother output helps to keep the bypass valves operating in a stable state, which helps keep the fuel system more consistent.
Ability to Maintain Output Under Higher Pressure Loads :
Having a pump that can handle the pressure loads allows us to increase the system fuel pressure to help atomize fuel at low rpm by running smaller nozzles. This gives us the means to change the system so we can have a different dynamic flow curve.
Having the ability to handle these higher pressure systems allows the fuel system to be leaner at lower RPM and supply the correct fuel volume at the higher rpm/pressure. A weak pumps needs to run a richer (smaller) main jet, this makes the system richer at lower rpm/pressure.
We have seen some misinformation when other people flow fuel pumps. One: they test the pump at higher rpm which doesn’t allow enough time for the internal leakage paths in the pump to show up, making a pump that has weak output appear to be OK.
Two: they run the pump against a fixed orifice, then back it down in rpm and take a flow reading. This makes for confusing data; it also makes it difficult to relate one pump to other.
Kinsler’s goal is to make the data as useful as possible, allowing you to compare any make or model of pump to another.
Three: not showing you the flow at dedicated pressures and rpm points — you can be misled into thinking a pump is good.
———————-
To make the test so you can compare the data – holding a steady rpm and increasing the pressure load you can see the loss of output.
Another example if you needed a pump that flows 4.8 gpm at 4000 rpm with a 100 psi load and saw this flow on the bench you would call it good… BUT wait, you know a good pump should have an almost straight line output versus rpm, so you slow the pump down to 2000 rpm, an low and behold it should be 2.4 gpm, but it is moving 3.2 gpm> what gives, the pump is really inefficient.
It is bigger than what you think it is and under a working load comes down to the targeted flow. This will cause the fuel system to be very rich at low rpm, which if you lean the main jet, it will not have enough fuel at the higher rpm.
Using a pump that has lower efficiency at high rpm….wouldn’t that be like having a high speed bypass??
YES, in concept that idea would be great, but in reality it isn’t a good idea. Why NOT?? You would be tuning for the leakage of that pump, the problem is that it is more difficult to produce a pump that all had the same leakage at the same rpm & pressure loads versus producing a pump that maintains all the proper tolerances and clearances
Our goal was to manufacture a pump that would allow the customer to interchange any of our pumps and keep the fuel system tune-up that he has dialed in.
Fuel Pump’s Ability to Handle Higher Temperatures:
Thermal expansion – we have spent lots of time on the design and by using high grade materials to help combat expansion, but the Laws of Physics’ apply: different materials expand at different rates, so we designed the pressure balance plate system to handle growth in one direction and countless hours of testing & designs on a super stable housing and cover arrangement. This gave us an architecture that moves 75% less than other makes. What that means to you… with the other pumps you leave the pits with one tune-up and return with another, it doesn’t work in your favor.
FYI, the heat is not from the fuel which we originally thought. After testing in a sprint car, it is actually transferred from the power steering pump. This has gotten worse due to the higher pressure power steering/wing system – pressure creates heat.
Summary :
The Tough Pump does NOT cost you more in real dollars; it actually saves you money, because you don’t have to service our pump as often BUT also saves the life of the engine.
You also get added performance because it helps you maintain the fuel system tune-up that you thought you were running.
Call a Kinsler Technician and get the correct pump for your application.
