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Compression at Elevation

BeeDoo

Well-known member
Premium Member
Is compression lower or the same at elevation? At 5500 feet, should it still be 125 or higher, or will it be a little less?
 
Compression doesn't drop, but the total true pressure you get will. Compression in a motor is a ratio, 14:1 or 10:1 or whatever. That doesn't change. But at altitude you start with a lower starting pressure so when you compress it, say 10:1 the final pressure is less.

sled_guy
 
as a general rule you can figure 0.5psi decrease with 1000ft elevation change (up)... the only problem is the varying temperature/humidity can increase and/or decrease that even more then the actual elevation change.

http://www.grow.arizona.edu/Grow--GrowResources.php?ResourceId=214

:beer;

You should have said .5psi of atmospheric pressure, dont want people more confused. It might sound like 125lbs of cranking compression and for every 1000 ft of altitude you loose 1/2 of 1 lb, example 122.5 cranking compressio (via a compression tester gauge) at 5000 feet of elevation, which isnt the case!

Compression doesn't drop, but the total true pressure you get will. Compression in a motor is a ratio, 14:1 or 10:1 or whatever. That doesn't change. But at altitude you start with a lower starting pressure so when you compress it, say 10:1 the final pressure is less.

sled_guy


Same thing SG, You are correct about the ratio's cause they are just that... ratio's, it sounds like BeeDoo is talking about cranking compression.
 
I have check this with a gauge myself. It was on a 700 Tripple yammy. I live at 900ft and ride at 10,000 ft. With small domes my compression was 175 at 900 ft and 110 at 10,000 ft. Same gauge used both times. Its huge! Eric
 
So, hmm interesting.

Using that calculator.

at 10,000 feet theres ~10 lbs/in^2
at 0 feet theres 14.7 lbs/in^2


Does that mean, if you would compress your intake air pressure to ~15 lbs/in^2 at 10k ft you'd have the same HP as if you were @ 0 feet?

Meaning, 5 lbs of boost @ 10k ft is equal to 0 lbs of boost @ 0 feet, in reference to HP?
Or is it not directly translated that way?
Assuming no deficiency in the 'compression' system.


Example: My 800 Rev has 150 HP @ 0 feet at WOT. My Rev has 110 HP @ 10k feet at WOT. My 800 Rev has 150 HP @ 10k feet at WOT with 5 lbs of boost.


Or am I wrong, and boost numbers are not the same as air pressure numbers?


Just got me thinking some. :P


On top of that, how do you calc "air pressure" on the fly or in real time... Considering you have barometer and temp variables available?
 
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