Hello,
Im new to the water meth scene and looking to purchase a kit for my 06 IX. I have full boltons with cams on a stock turbo and looking to pretty much max out the 16g...
I also am currently building a HTA35r 90' GSX that will also run on meth.

My question is how good is the pump and overall system of the AEM kit as I can get it for cost through my job. I know its a you get what you pay for, but I want to know the difference between lets say the Aquamist HFS-1 and the AEM Kit.

If I choose the AEM kit I would also purchase the boost solenoid as a failsafe to go with it.

As for the pump, how reliable is it and could I run 100% meth through it without worrying about it failing.

Im sorry for the n00bish questions as Im just trying to understand the pumps alittle more, as Im also very mechanically inclined, but I just dont have the time right now to search for the difference in pumps...

Thank you so much and I truely appreciate it!
Dan

 

Theres about 3 guys i know around here running the aem meth kit pushing 400+whp on the stock turbo. No problems at all. im not 100% sure wut type of pump it is. i know u can use the snow performance failsale which makes this kit awsome.

 

And which Failsafe is that? Is it a boost solenoid failsafe?

Also, Would you be able to wire in the Flowgauge from Aquamist or is that a strict Aquamist kit use?

Thanks,
Dan

 

In my opinion the AEM is a good quality kit and excellent value for money. You will not have to buy a failsafe if you tune with Ecuflash. All you have to do is download the Tephra V5 ROM for your car and buy the Jack_of_Trades map switching cable. This combination allows you to run a non water/meth tune and with a flick of a switch turn on the AEM and change to your water/meth tune. With a small alteration to the Jack_of_Trades cable using a 5 pin relay (he can give you a wiring diagram) the AEM failsafe can be made to instantly switch to your non water/meth tune if it detects a problem.

 

The tephra mod v5 also has no-lift-to-shift if Im remember correctly?Is it a free download?

Also, how much is the jack-of-trades cable, how and where do I purchase it, and does it come with a in depth diagram/instructions on how to go about tuning with this cable...

Thank you so much for you patience and information!

Dan

PS, do you think the AEM Pump can handle 100% meth?

 

Here's the V5 link https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=332778 It also tells you how to get the cable. The cable simply switches to alternative maps (fuel, timing, boost) so there is no special tuning instructions required. You tune the alternative maps for your water/meth injection in the same way as you normally would.

I don't know if the AEM pump handles 100% meth, I use 50/50. Give AEM a call and ask. They are very helpful.

I just noticed you are Mellon tuned. I'm sure he will be very familiar with V5 and will have have no problem tuning alt. maps for water/meth injection. Just get the Jack_of_Trades cable and ask Jamie (Jack_of_Trades) for the wiring diagram he did for me. Install the cable and the AEM kit and leave Mellon to tune it for you.

 

Im sorry for all the questions, but thank you for your honesty John.

Now the cable, how does it work to switch maps? I thought on the stock ECU you would have to reflash it in order switch to an alternative map...

I was previously Mellon Tuned, as he is a great tuner, but I was just running out of time and luck tuning on the street( had my license suspended for 31 days... )

Thanks for all your help!

Dan

 

V5 gives you the ability to switch maps on the fly with the stock ECU. The cable has a switch on it and is wired into the ECU through a vacant pin in the ECU loom. It is only a half hour job, if that, to wire in the cable. Flick the switch and you instantly change maps. With a slight modification to the cable flicking the switch can also arm the AEM and act as your failsafe. Of course, beforehand, you have to download the V5 ROM, copy your maps over, and flash it to your car. Have a good read of the V5 thread, there is good information there.

 

From what I can tell the pump AEM sells does have the EPDM valve so it would hold up to 100% as that is the same unit we currently sell.

Note the AEM is not a complete fail safe. It only reads the fluid level switch from the tank and possibly current draw from the pump.

 

The HFS-xx kit uses a 150W water pump motor compared to the AEM kit with a 60W motor ( I think). The aquamist pump uses internal by-pass valves to regulate pressure instead of a "on demand" switch. The difference is very smooth water pressure throughout the injection cycle.

Aquamist uses direct flow monitoring on their failsafe circuitry. As from June, failsafe output can interface with the ECU directly without extra cables or components. The kit also come with a 52mm gauge, displaying flow in real time.

 

The AEM pump has EPDM valves and a Santoprene diaphram. Both materials are fully compatible with 100% alcohol.

The reason AEM limits the system to a max of 50/50 water/meth is that above 50% meth the mixture becomes flammable and the safety requirements for high pressure flammable mixtures in the engine bay are dramatically different than for non flammable liquids. The pump itself could handle 100% methanol all day long as will most all of the properly specified pumps.

As to the failsafes, it does use the low level switch as running low on fluid is the most common failure! Thats also why we don't include tanks smaller than 1 gallon. It also watches for abnormally low current draw and abnormally high current draw and sets the failsafe in both those cases as well.

 

I would be wary of the AEM methanol injection kit.

We have run across what appears to be the first case of hydrolocking from methanol siphoning in the AEM kit.

I don't remember a checkvalve or solenoid in the kit.

The problem starts with difficulty starting after the car sits. Meth can siphon into the UICP and end up in the FMIC.

If a large amount of meth gets sucked into the engine at startup, fluid CANNOT be compressed by the piston, it has nowhere to go and can bend a rod.

Check valves and or solenoids would be a smart addition to any lacking kit.

 

Since when did fluid siphon uphill?

nevermind...

 

So would you say the AEM kit would be a decent kit? I already have it next to me and looks pretty decent. Im also going to run a mac valve or maybe the labonte system if Labonte themselves would get back to me on their kit compared to lets say a DDS3....

Also, I really dont plan on running anywhere close to 100%meth since im on stock turbo and dont feel like going through isc's and throttle body seals...

Dan