engine instrumentation product query

[zopapp]

Hi All,

I am an electronics engineer and would like to build a product that may be of interest to you. I own a T25 with an air cooled T4 engine which I have rebuilt recently. During the tune-up (and also the debug before the rebuild) it would have been very nice if I could have monitored various engine parameters. This gave me an idea of building such a device. Here is what I have in mind briefly.

Various sensors attached (preferably non-intrusively) to the engine (like: tacho, ignition timing, head temperature, AFR, throttle position, oil temperature, oil pressure) sending their signals into a host unit in the engine bay that in turn relays the info wireless to your smartphone. Data is then logged and stored and may be displayed live on the dash.

Application of such a device could span over engine health monitoring, engine performance comparison between vehicles alike, tune-up validation etc..

I’d appreciate if you could give me any feedback on the idea for me to start off on the right track. I am also keen to talk to people who find the idea appealing, so please let me know.

Many Thanks,
Zoltan

[old DKP driver]

I’m picturing an older person that has just woken up after sleeping for 25
Years. CanBus technology is what we have been using for the last 25 years
Notice the word (bus)
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V.W.owner since 1967

[alman72]

interested in what you come up with.
Dude, where's my bus?!
(Zoltan reference)

[my59]

Head temp at all 4 cylinders displayed simultaneously.
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[Glenn]

I would look what's generally monitored on a piston airplane engine.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[a-marshal]

There are a couple threads about doing this with an Arduino, I've been running a simple version (CHT on 1 & 3 plus oil temp) for a couple years now.

I'm sure there would be a market for a more robust version... especially if it would talk to my phone.
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-Ob. vehicle info....
1973 Westy w/ '74 1.8 liter / PDSI (type3?) carbs / 009 distributor / pertronix

[timvw7476]

I drive a '76 with carbs & points & solid lifters so I can stay far away from that.
But I have to check clearances every 4-5k to know it's still alright.
Cheap. But one hour of labor is involved. Every 4-5k.
No downvote, some people LOVE extra gauges.

[zopapp]

Thanks all the feedback guys. Much appreciated.
Will let u know if someting shapes up from this.

Cheers,
Zoltan

[mikedjames]

I have a sensor box with an STM32 ARM MCU in it - collects pressures and temperatures and voltages in the engine bay, daisy chained with a PLX Devices AFR sensor box.

These use the PLX Devices data bus format which is based on 3.3 volt level serial data (not CAN bus). When I get to updating it I will use CAN bus instead, because it is designed to work in a car, and the STM32 MCUs have CAN interfaces on them.

So there is a single 2 core cable coming from the engine bay.


My smartphone is running satnav and mp3 playback, there is no screen space for gauges.

On the dashboard I have separate OLED screens on another small STM32 ARM MCU (STM32F103, boards available for a couple of dollars/pounds/euros) . This does have a Bluetooth module connected to it, but I have never bothered writing an app to display the data.

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Ancient vehicles and vessels

1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.

1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy

[kerian159]

This is a thread I started a while back and have updated with an Arduino based setup that actually works. Currently it gives you all four CHT, Oil PSI, Oil Temp, and Battery Voltage. Plans for the future include and are not limited to Tire PSI, RPM gauge, and AFM Ratio monitor (that's all that's coming to my brain at the moment) but for now i'm just trying to get it installed into the vehicle.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683325&highlight=
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1976 Type II Westy P22

"Growing older, but not up!"