Quench
(Interim save, much more to come) |
|||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
Quench (or squish, or "squench") is sometimes referred to as "mechanical octane". It decreases the need for octane by promoting a more homogeneous air/fuel charge in the combustion chamber and it also helps promote flame travel. | Quench (or squish, or "squench") is sometimes referred to as "mechanical octane". It decreases the need for octane by promoting a more homogeneous air/fuel charge in the combustion chamber and it also helps promote flame travel. | ||
| + | ==What is quench?== | ||
| + | Quench is the name given to the turbulent mixing of the air/fuel mixture caused by the close proximity of the piston to the quench pad(s) of the cylinder head. As the piston approaches top dead center (TDC), the clearance between the crown of the piston and the quench pad of the cylinder head diminishes to about 0.040" (steel rods, aluminum rods require more distance). This squeezes or "squishes" the air/fuel mixture from the area where the piston and head are closest, to the area where the combustion chamber is located. This action creates turbulence to achieve a more homogeneous mixing of the air/fuel mixture. A quench distance of ~0.040" will allow a high performance engine to run without detonation using less octane than would otherwise be needed. Of course this is providing that all the other important areas are also covered, like the static and dynamic compression ratios, correct air/fuel ratio, correct plug heat range, good ring and valve guide seal, etc. | ||
<br style="clear: both" /> | <br style="clear: both" /> | ||
| + | ==How to arrive at the target quench figure== | ||
| + | One way to arrive at a ~0.040" quench distance is to cut the block decks to zero piston deck height and to use a head gasket that compresses to around 0.040". This allows a quench (or squish, or "squench") measurement of 0.040". | ||
==Parts stack height== | ==Parts stack height== | ||
Your Privacy Choices