Can I increase my engine torque?

[Littleblackflash]

I've had my van 6 years now and I don't think I'll sell it soon. As soon as I tried to tow my trailer with it, I felt it needed more torque. On motorway hills, I was down to 45mph top speed, and a hill start with the trailer was almost impossible. Within a month I had the van remapped from 102hp to 204hp (claimed), but I feel it's more like 150hp. The engine still isn't a torquey as my old T5 2.5.
I sold my enclose car trailer and brought a simple lighter flat bed. Now a change in race cars means I need an enclosed trailer again, but I'm worried the van won't be able to pull it. The new trailer will be 2000Kg MAM, so we'll within the limits of the T6 van, but will it be too slow.

Is there a way of increasing my engine torque?

My Van is a T6 Euro5 CAAB engine with 5Speed box. I've read somewhere that the remaps are limited torque with the 5speed box. Is this true?

 

[Texxaco]

Torque increase will come with power output increase. Speak with Chris @Dav-Tec for options available to you.

 

[Sasquatch]

The 5 speed box isn't "weak" as some claim. It's fine for its intended purpose on the lower powered variants.

However, the maximum torque the unit is rated for is only about 340NM, which isn't vast. Depending on the exact variant your old van had in the region of 400NM under its belt, so it's not surprising your van doesn't feel as grunty even with a remap.

A good remapper will limit it the torque in the lower gears to protect the transmission, and will be sensible elsewhere. Sadly you're not going to get 400NM of shove like your old van from your current steed as that's well beyond the box's ability to cope.

 

[4WheelsFromCanvas]

Torque increase will come with power output increase. Speak with Chris @Dav-Tec for options available to you.

As above. Chris @Dav-Tec remapped my 5 speed 102 and made it much better to drive. Climbing when loaded a much less stressful experience. Well within the limits not chasing bhp but we reckon we ended up 165/170. 102 to 204? Sounds unlikely. But speak to Chris and think you will get good advice and maybe a custom remap is the right approach.

 

[Littleblackflash]

It would be interesting to know how my torque I have now. Ideally I would like more torque in the lower gear for pulling away or accelerating off roundabouts.

I've one of my Elise's on the rolling road this month, I wonder if they'll test my van too?



My other options are to remove my swamper wheels and go back to 16" rims. It won't change the engine but will change the tractive effort.

 

[dubber36]

Torque increase will come with power output increase. Speak with Chris @Dav-Tec for options available to you.

To be pedantic, it's the other way round.

Torque is a measurable twisting force. When you multiply torque in pounds feet by the rpm, then divide by 5252 you get the horsepower figure at that particular rpm.

 

[Bav]

To be pedantic, it's the other way round.

Torque is a measurable twisting force. When you multiply torque in pounds feet by the rpm, then divide by 5252 you get the horsepower figure at that particular rpm.

Nowt wrong with pedantry!

 

[Salty Spuds]

Nowt wrong with pedantry!

Inappropriate use of the exclamation mark there.

 

[Bav]

Inappropriate use of the exclamation mark there.

Hmm... not sure about that. I used the mark for emphasis of an exclamatory statement. Seems fine to me.

 

[T6ARF]

It would be interesting to know how my torque I have now. Ideally I would like more torque in the lower gear for pulling away or accelerating off roundabouts.

I've one of my Elise's on the rolling road this month, I wonder if they'll test my van too?



My other options are to remove my swamper wheels and go back to 16" rims. It won't change the engine but will change the tractive effort.

If you’ve got swamper wheels and tyres on a factory 102 (I know you have a remap) then you will already be asking a lot of the gearing/torque. What size wheels and tyres are you running? The reason I ask is when I bought my van (factory 102) it was on 20” alloys with 275/40/20 tyres…. too big and the initial inertia when pulling off from a standstill was always a problem.

 

[Dav-Tec]

To be pedantic, it's the other way round.

Torque is a measurable twisting force. When you multiply torque in pounds feet by the rpm, then divide by 5252 you get the horsepower figure at that particular rpm.

7127 if your working in Nm just for future reference to anyone reading

 

[Dav-Tec]

As above. Chris @Dav-Tec remapped my 5 speed 102 and made it much better to drive. Climbing when loaded a much less stressful experience. Well within the limits not chasing bhp but we reckon we ended up 165/170. 102 to 204? Sounds unlikely. But speak to Chris and think you will get good advice and maybe a custom remap is the right approach.

204 sounds down right dangerous to be honest we'd never push that far

 

[dubber36]

Given that Revo quote 180-190PS from a tuned 150, 204 from a 102 smells of bullshit.

 

[Littleblackflash]

I'm sure the 204 hp claim is BS. It doesn't feel anything like 204hp and the actual number doesn't matter too much, it's more powerful than before and now tow my existing trailer.


A remap isn't the solution unless there is a difference in map on CAAB engine between 5 and 6speed boxes. To get more tractive effort / torque, I'm thinking of changing gear ratios, or increased Turbo/intercooler etc. Has anyone done something similar?

 

[DaveD]

My other options are to remove my swamper wheels and go back to 16" rims. It won't change the engine but will change the tractive effort.

You've already hit upon the most cost effective improvement.
The tyres you've got on look a fair bit bigger that OE, which has made your effective gearing taller.
Stick the 16's back on and update us!

 

[Littleblackflash]

Sure 16" tyres could be the answer, but I like the swamper wheels. It's a compromise and I'm looking out for another solution.

If there aren't any other solutions, that may be my only option.

 

[The Bear78]

...I sold my enclose car trailer and brought a simple lighter flat bed. Now a change in race cars means I need an enclosed trailer again, but I'm worried the van won't be able to pull it. The new trailer will be 2000Kg MAM, so we'll within the limits of the T6 van....

I know that the Elise(?) Is light but what did the old trailer weigh loaded up? You've only got a 2200kg towing limit!!

 

[dubber36]

I know that the Elise(?) Is light but what did the old trailer weigh loaded up? You've only got a 2200kg towing limit!!

I weighed a trailer a bit bigger than that with a Polo 6R on it and it was under 1800kg, so I'd guess he'd be OK.

 

[Littleblackflash]

This red is Elise is the heaviest of my 3 Elises, but is still only 940kg. The trailer has a MAM of 2000kg and max load of 1450kg so I'm fine.

My old trailer was a Brian James Sprint Shuttle which was an enclosed type trailer. The MAM was 2000kg but I down plated it to 1800kg to tow with my BMW 3 tourer. When loaded with an Elise, 2 sets of spare wheels, tools, jacks, camping kit etc it was just uder 1800kg.

 

[dErZ]

I've got my spare standard 17" steels with tyres on if you want to try them out to see if it helps. Im in Fetcham.