Aquamist Questions from a current SMC user

[scheides]

I emailed Richard@Aquamist with this, but I thought I'd put it up here as well, see what you guys have to say about some of my questions about the Aquamist kits out there:

I've had my SMC alky kit on my Evo for about a year now, and I'm sick of having to be delicate with the car around 3000rpms due to the slow response time of the pump. I'm looking at swapping it out for an Aquamist system. Abner (SlowCar) first posted his HFS-1 (prototype?) system about a week after I put in my SMC kit and it's had my head spinning for the last year and I think it's finally time to begin the process of making the switch.

I'm also interested in the Aquamist kit due to the external failsafe triggers that can be used, I plan on helping with tephra's development of the failsafe-triggered map switching feature in the stock evo ecu and making sure it works with Aquamist's kit. I'm already using the GM BCS to control boost so I think this is just another reason that your kit is a good fit for me.

Anyways, on to the questions. I've been doing a LOT of reading on the HFS-5 and HFS-1 systems the last few days and I think I have narrowed down a few questions.

First, the accumulator that comes with the HFS-5 is used to smooth out the pulses coming out the end of the nozzle, is this correct? How much can that piece be had for, and is it worthwhile to put one on an HFS-1? Are there alternatives to this?

Does the kit come with all of the hose and wire needed to wire it, or does that need to be sourced by myself (like the tank)?

In all of the installs I see people running the fuel line through the inside of the car. Is this really a good idea? My SMC kit came with SSbraided line that I've run underneath the car following the stock fuel lines. Would this be a better idea and can it be done with the Aquamist kit? Specifically, can the hose that I see used in all of these installs be safely used underneath the car like that?

[dudical26]

Originally Posted by scheides

I emailed Richard@Aquamist with this, but I thought I'd put it up here as well, see what you guys have to say about some of my questions about the Aquamist kits out there:

I've had my SMC alky kit on my Evo for about a year now, and I'm sick of having to be delicate with the car around 3000rpms due to the slow response time of the pump. I'm looking at swapping it out for an Aquamist system. Abner (SlowCar) first posted his HFS-1 (prototype?) system about a week after I put in my SMC kit and it's had my head spinning for the last year and I think it's finally time to begin the process of making the switch.

I'm also interested in the Aquamist kit due to the external failsafe triggers that can be used, I plan on helping with tephra's development of the failsafe-triggered map switching feature in the stock evo ecu and making sure it works with Aquamist's kit. I'm already using the GM BCS to control boost so I think this is just another reason that your kit is a good fit for me.

Anyways, on to the questions. I've been doing a LOT of reading on the HFS-5 and HFS-1 systems the last few days and I think I have narrowed down a few questions.

First, the accumulator that comes with the HFS-5 is used to smooth out the pulses coming out the end of the nozzle, is this correct? How much can that piece be had for, and is it worthwhile to put one on an HFS-1? Are there alternatives to this?

I think it is needed on the HFS-5 since the HSV turns on and off many times per second and it is very important that the line pressure is constant for this type of activity. With the HFS-1 I don't think you really need the accumulator since the system does not turn on and off like the HFS-5. Just so you know, there will already be 125psi of pressure in the lines running up to the valve in the HFS-1 so its not like you will have no line pressure without the accumulator.

Does the kit come with all of the hose and wire needed to wire it, or does that need to be sourced by myself (like the tank)?

It comes with everything but the tank and solenoid.

In all of the installs I see people running the fuel line through the inside of the car. Is this really a good idea? My SMC kit came with SSbraided line that I've run underneath the car following the stock fuel lines. Would this be a better idea and can it be done with the Aquamist kit? Specifically, can the hose that I see used in all of these installs be safely used underneath the car like that?

The line that comes with the Aquamist kit is very strong. Don't let the fact that it is clear make you think it is not strong. I believe that Richard has stress tested it under various conditions and it would be safe to run under the car.
With that being said I ran mine inside my car and I don't see any reason why you would not want to do this. The lines run right along side your windshield washer lines.

I figure if mitsubishi ran the wiper lines inside the car (which carry meth and water) then I should do the same thing.

...

[scheides]

Originally Posted by dudical26

It comes with everything but the tank and solenoid.

You mean the MAC solenoid? That's cool, I don't need that as I am running a GM BCS.

Interesting point on the washer fluid lines, that makes some sense.

Also I understand now what the accumulator is for, that makes sense as well.

Anyone else have any comments?

[aqmist]

So theres no confusion........once the injection point/trigger point has been reached in the Aquamist systems the pump is full on.......reader may think the pumps work like those within kits from other kit makers where the pump speed is ramped up and down on/off. The pump in the Aquamist kits (same pump in all HFS-X series kits) is on and working full on when the system is activated = the pump has provisions internally to dump unneeded pressure (way over simplified) and does not work against a demand switch, its 125psi on whether the trigger point using IDC is 50% or 85% OR if MAP based its 1 bar or 3 bar........125psi on, not up down or on off.

Because of the way pumps work theres harmonics so to speak as a result of the pumping action of the pump and an accumulator can smooth this out. The effect of an installed accumulator does effect the quality of the line pressure after it. It can be used on the HFS-1 kit......however the HFS-1 kit does not have it as a default component in order to keep the initial kit cost's down. IMO By not having the accumulator like in the HFS-5 the HFS-1 kit does not suffer a weakness of design.....its a $$ thing.

A HFS-1 buyer can ADD to the HFS-1 kit addtional items such as the accumulator in order to improve the kit OR otherwise enhance it to better suit the buyers wishes or needs but there is a point where a HFS-1 kit buyer might be better off buying into a HFS-5 kit (accumulator already included) rather then add to the HFS-1 kit purchase.....but only the buyer can best determine this.

[aqmist]

Stainless lines can be used with the Aquamist system from the pump outlet to the flow sensor. The thing to note is that Aquamist uses BSP fittings and not the typical NPT threads. Theres some adapters that would need to be sourced from McMasterCarr so as to convert things but if its what you want its been done and is supported.

[scheides]

Yup I understand that HFS-1 is 100% on when its on and off when its off, very quickly both.

How does the pump maintain pressure in the line w/o wearing itself out? Does it get hot when it is not pumping fluid for a long amount of time, but keeping the line pressurized?

[aqmist]

Pump wearing out:
The pump is a beast in comparison to the pumps most often used in other kits. Theres a thread around here some place where Richard posted up technical specs with images of the typical Shurflo pumps used in W/A kits.

Does it get hot:
anything that has moving parts will generate heat, but HOT is relative. So my answer is that the pump will work flawlessly and without hick-ups for a long time if its used within its specs. As for the way that the HFS-X kits are designed with how it uses the pump, we are 100% sure it works perfectly fine and we do not risk the integrity of the pump by abusing its control or capabilities via how the Aquamist HFS-X kits work.

The Shurflo pump Aquamist uses is rated for 150ps by Shurflo and we have not tweaked/adjusted it for more pressure OR try to make it run outside of its capabilities = it will live a real long time if not abused via improper installation or by using fluids that its not designed for (water and pure methanol no additives in the methanol, VP M1 is what we recommend). We advertise that the kits with this pump work at 125psi and if bench tested thats what will be seen.

[scheides]

There is so much information about this kit, someone needs to write an insanely in-depth review of it.....or Aquamist needs all of this info on its www site

Thanks for answering all of my questions!

[scheides]

Another question. I am using 100% Denatured Alcohol on my SMC kit. Is it ok to keep doing this with the Aquamist stuff?

Methanol is hard to come by where I live, denatured alky is soooo easy.....

[chrismnj]

does any body knows what size of a gauge aquamist use ?

[chrismnj]

bump
bump

[SlowCar]

52mm
52mm

[scheides]

bump for my last alky question....

[chrismnj]

thank you

[SlowCar]

denatured alcohol will be ok if its free of polar solvents

examples are acetone, mek mik methylene chloride

check the msds.......