Warning - All Those Who Use An Aeromotive FP Regulator
Install and pressure test. If a sizable leak is evident at the shaft, the only fix is replacement. This situation is very annoying and unacceptable given the pricetag of this part.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Miami fl.
Evolving Member
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: England
Some of you may have followed my HTA3582R Twinscroll Project depicted here:
Ted B.'s HTA Twinscroll Project
There were only two issues preventing me from finishing my tuning and testing - a leaky TB shaft on my expensive Hypertune 75mm TB, and a fuel issue.
Mark Shead (Mark S) in the UK made a comment to the effect that he's had issues with Aeromotive fuel pressure regulators holding pressure at high boost. I know Mark just doesn't toss useless things out there, so I filed that in my mind. Coincidentally, at 27-28 psi with E85, I was well over 100% IDC at 6500rpm with FIC 1250s. I decided to connect a FP gauge to the rail and look at the gauge through the windshield as I drove the car.
Sure enough, the setup wouldn't hold more than 55 psi. Under boost, the FP would shoot quickly toward 70psi, then fall right back and settle around 55psi. I know that shouldn't be the case with those injectors and the dual in-tank Walbros with disabled pressure relief valves. I also noticed that the FP would drop to zero as soon as the key went to 'off', and that type of behavior indicates a leak. This is no good.
Walker (Drifto) is someone who is meticulous like myself, and I let him have a go at isolating the problem while I was away on travels. After making thorough checks of everything in the tank, he decided to disassemble the Aeromotive FP regulator. This is what he found:
This regulator uses a ball and seat arrangement to regulate pressure. As anyone can see, poor quality control on Aeromotive's part explains why the seat is irregular and mildly eccentric. It doesn't look like much to the inexperienced eye, but this is enough to create a serious pressure leak at the seat.
Walker exercised careful precision in reworking Aeromotive's sloppiness. The end result looks like this:
The end result? The fuel pressure is right where it should be. Walker then disassembled his own Aero regulator, and cleaned up that one as well. It seems it's hit or miss as far as what one gets from Aeromotive where this is concerned, but everyone who uses one of their regulators should be aware of it. Knowing what to look for and knowing how it must be addressed could save you in unnecessary headaches and wasted time.
Thanks again to:
Walker Morgan - www.mpfab.com
Mark Shead - www.madevelopments.com
Ted B.'s HTA Twinscroll Project
There were only two issues preventing me from finishing my tuning and testing - a leaky TB shaft on my expensive Hypertune 75mm TB, and a fuel issue.
Mark Shead (Mark S) in the UK made a comment to the effect that he's had issues with Aeromotive fuel pressure regulators holding pressure at high boost. I know Mark just doesn't toss useless things out there, so I filed that in my mind. Coincidentally, at 27-28 psi with E85, I was well over 100% IDC at 6500rpm with FIC 1250s. I decided to connect a FP gauge to the rail and look at the gauge through the windshield as I drove the car.
Sure enough, the setup wouldn't hold more than 55 psi. Under boost, the FP would shoot quickly toward 70psi, then fall right back and settle around 55psi. I know that shouldn't be the case with those injectors and the dual in-tank Walbros with disabled pressure relief valves. I also noticed that the FP would drop to zero as soon as the key went to 'off', and that type of behavior indicates a leak. This is no good.
Walker (Drifto) is someone who is meticulous like myself, and I let him have a go at isolating the problem while I was away on travels. After making thorough checks of everything in the tank, he decided to disassemble the Aeromotive FP regulator. This is what he found:
This regulator uses a ball and seat arrangement to regulate pressure. As anyone can see, poor quality control on Aeromotive's part explains why the seat is irregular and mildly eccentric. It doesn't look like much to the inexperienced eye, but this is enough to create a serious pressure leak at the seat.
Walker exercised careful precision in reworking Aeromotive's sloppiness. The end result looks like this:
The end result? The fuel pressure is right where it should be. Walker then disassembled his own Aero regulator, and cleaned up that one as well. It seems it's hit or miss as far as what one gets from Aeromotive where this is concerned, but everyone who uses one of their regulators should be aware of it. Knowing what to look for and knowing how it must be addressed could save you in unnecessary headaches and wasted time.
Thanks again to:
Walker Morgan - www.mpfab.com
Mark Shead - www.madevelopments.com
Ted glad to be of help
.Mark
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Well it wasn't a one off fluke for Ted since there is multiple people in this thread alone who have had the problem.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Bay Area, Ca
This is very very interesting Ted and i'm very happy you had posted this on here. We to are currently running the Aeromotive FPR and I think we were maxing out my 1600cc's at i believe only 29-30psi on E85 as well hmmm I think we might have the same issue when the car was being dyno'd i too witnessed the spike in presure and would drop around to 55ish as well I will defenetly look into this and call the shop tommorow and re-post on the data we get during the week.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 874
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From: Australia
i ran into the same problem but with an sx regulator.car would lean out big time after 8000 rpm.would not hold fuel pressure after you turned the car off.i just replaced it.maybe i can repair it now.good to know,thanks for the info
If I can top 600whp, I'm satisfied.
thanks for this post. i too have the "compact model" and hang it off of my perrin fuel rail. the size/fitment is perfect for my application.
the regulator gauge drops to 0 instantly. i tried reseating the center gasket, checking ALL of my fuel connections/going viton all aound/etc.
snooping around on the internet, i found that someone talked to aeomotive and they said it was normal to drop/bleed off quickly for an aftermarket FPR. this is wrong according to your findings/fix.
this sucks. do you think i can hog the seat out with a good drill bit and steady hand/or will it never seal again?. i'm leaning towards the fact that my problem was your problem.
the regulator gauge drops to 0 instantly. i tried reseating the center gasket, checking ALL of my fuel connections/going viton all aound/etc.
snooping around on the internet, i found that someone talked to aeomotive and they said it was normal to drop/bleed off quickly for an aftermarket FPR. this is wrong according to your findings/fix.
this sucks. do you think i can hog the seat out with a good drill bit and steady hand/or will it never seal again?. i'm leaning towards the fact that my problem was your problem.
Last edited by evoredy; Mar 3, 2009 at 09:43 PM.
If the FP gauge drops to zero instantly, this is NOT normal, and is indicative of a leak in the system. Saying this is normal is akin to saying that a tire with a nail in it is normal.
A seat must be cut such that the ball drops snugly into it and makes a good seal. I didn't watch Walker do it, but you see how it should be cut. It looks to me like it can be done carefully by hand, with the nose of an appropriately sized bit.
A seat must be cut such that the ball drops snugly into it and makes a good seal. I didn't watch Walker do it, but you see how it should be cut. It looks to me like it can be done carefully by hand, with the nose of an appropriately sized bit.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Davidson, NC
Looking at the first picture it seems very odd to me that they would go back and machine the seat after anodizing when all other machine work is clearly completed before the anodizing process. I wonder what their reasoning for that is.
