Ways that a dyno can lie...
Most of us have heard the phrase "The dyno doesn't lie". I don't believe it.
How about share some ways that a dyno can lie?
One example I heard of...a car came onto the dyno with a near empty tank of cheap gas, made a few "stock" runs with the car and then ran out of gas. The operator added an intake system and added better gas from the local gas station before dyno'ing the intake. The car showed a gain after...but was it due to the good gas or the installed intake system? I chalk this one up to dyno operator carelessness or the inconvenience of finding another bad station, or the carelessness of not checking the gas tank level before first starting the testing and filling it up at the beginning of testing. dunno.gif
How about share some ways that a dyno can lie?
One example I heard of...a car came onto the dyno with a near empty tank of cheap gas, made a few "stock" runs with the car and then ran out of gas. The operator added an intake system and added better gas from the local gas station before dyno'ing the intake. The car showed a gain after...but was it due to the good gas or the installed intake system? I chalk this one up to dyno operator carelessness or the inconvenience of finding another bad station, or the carelessness of not checking the gas tank level before first starting the testing and filling it up at the beginning of testing. dunno.gif
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Lacey, WA
Vehicle: Two Accents, Mini, Miata, Van, Outback, and a ZX-6
Different atmospheric conditions can cause major variations.
Incorrect gearing can cause incorrect readings.
Some brands of dyno machines read higher than others. Some way higher. (I had a variation of 32 horsepower on 2 different dynos in the Tib)
Incorrect gearing can cause incorrect readings.
Some brands of dyno machines read higher than others. Some way higher. (I had a variation of 32 horsepower on 2 different dynos in the Tib)
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,735
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From: Vegas, Baby, Vegas!!!
Vehicle: '14 Ford F-150
Dynos are tools. Like any other tool, it can be used correctly or incorrectly. If you are trying to make the dyno runs accurate, it's very easy to be consistent and have accurate results. If you're trying to deceive, that's also very easy to do. I can make a dyno say my Mustang makes 100 whp on one run and 3,000 whp on the next.


