Turbo Alchemy - Garage Tech

Why should you care? We're glad you asked. To get the maximum benefit out of any turbo or supercharger, it's necessary to inject the precise amount of water/ methanol into the intake without drowning the fire; ensuring that air/fuel ratios are on target is just as important. When done right, this results in each of the good things we mentioned earlier. Get the air/fuel ratio too lean and bad things happen-very bad things, very quickly.

FJO introduced their first water/methanol injection system with air/fuel ratio monitoring years ago. When it came time to freshen up the existing controller, FJO decided to give customers even more. Since the majority of these kits are used on turbocharged vehicles, what better gift than to include a fully integrated boost controller? The second-generation FJO water/methanol injection system includes one of the most advanced boost control systems available. And they put it all into one box-simple, because now the boost control and water/methanol system work together, seamlessly. Add the wideband and users now have performance and safety.

FJO's second-generation controller features dual 256-cell boost control maps with both normal and performance modes as well as a 256-cell water/methanol map. The kit also includes an ultra-fine misting nozzle (less than 50-micron droplet size), and all corrosion-resistant stainless steel fittings. Added benefits include over-boost protection, automatic lean condition boost cut, automatic water/methanol injection failure boost cut and automatic pump control. And like we said, the system even integrates with FJO's wideband monitor and comes with graphical monitoring and logging software.

Since the spark plug box-sized controller is a sealed unit, it can be installed almost anywhere. Connect the harness to signals for a tachometer, throttle position sensor, ignition power and solenoids. Then connect the MAP sensor hose, and the installation is done. Weather-tight locking connectors make sure that connections don't come apart or corrode. The most difficult part seems to be installing the solenoid-nozzle assembly, which requires welding on the supplied bung to the intake manifold or piping. The solenoid screws in and is supported by the fitting and plugs into the supplied harness. When using the boost controller, the optional valve will also need to be installed. Everything, including each fitting and cable, is included in the kit, reducing installation time.

Installing the pump is fairly simple since it's a self-regulated returnless unit. In other words, there's just one line joining the tank to the pump to the nozzle with no return lines. Of course, the necessary tubing is included with the kit as well. The pump can be installed in a convenient location since it's self-priming. This means worrying about where the pump is in relation to the tank isn't an issue. The pressure sensor can also be added for increased safety. This allows the boost-cut feature to kick in should water/methanol pressure drop. As shown, all junctions are stainless steel, commercial-grade compression fittings that are easy to install. This is the last place to expect problems.

Then there's the tank. Interestingly enough, the only thing the FJO kit doesn't include is a tank, but then again, most cars already have one. It's called the windshield washer reservoir, which we generally end up using anyways. Of course, generic tanks can also be used, however, make sure it's easily accessible for filling and fluid level checks.

Setting up the PC-based software and using its editing tools is easy. Here both normal and performance boost modes can be set. Each mode allows users to configure a separate table that can be selected with a single switch. Now the driver can tone down boost without having to use a laptop. The guys at FJO must have read our minds.