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Effects of High Altitude on Vehicles

FrogdogFrogdog Member Posts: 3,030 ✭✭✭✭
edited March 2015 in General Discussion
Hey mountain-dwelling brethren, can anyone tell me if any modifications are necessary on a vehicle due to high altitude? Specifically, if relocating from coastal Texas to Colorado Springs, CO, would any changes (e.g. special coolant, etc.) be necessary before heading up there?

Note: Vehicles are fuel injected, if that matters.

Thanks!
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Comments

  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    Modern fuel injected vehicles should need no adjustment. Fuel ratios are automatically calculated based on exhaust and temperature parameters. You might want a coolant rated to a lower temperature, however.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
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  • fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    As long as your "O2" sensor is up to snuff,no prob..
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  • tsavo303tsavo303 Member Posts: 8,913 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just FYI
    http://www.wallaceracing.com/braking-hp.php
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  • FrogdogFrogdog Member Posts: 3,030 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by tsavo303
    Just FYI
    http://www.wallaceracing.com/braking-hp.php


    Guessing that means less braking power at altitude? Tried looking it up, but still don't really understand what BHP is.
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  • tsavo303tsavo303 Member Posts: 8,913 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    No affect of altitude on base horsepower
    You
    Lose a couple to four percent per thousand feet climbed
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  • ChrisInTempeChrisInTempe Member Posts: 15,562 ✭
    edited November -1
    Lived there about 1997-1998. My 1968 Jeepster Commando tuned up just fine and ran strong up highway 24 to Woodland Park. This photo was taken somewhere's along Rampart Range Road.

    jeep1_zpsd0886eff.jpg
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  • FrogdogFrogdog Member Posts: 3,030 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by ChrisInTempe
    Lived there about 1997-1998. My 1968 Jeepster Commando tuned up just fine and ran strong up highway 24 to Woodland Park. This photo was taken somewhere's along Rampart Range Road.



    That's a great looking vehicle. Would love to get ahold of one now.
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  • jltrentjltrent Member Posts: 9,344 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My Honda CR-V didn't run any different at the top of Pikes Peak as being at sea level.
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  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by DBV
    quote:Originally posted by tsavo303
    Just FYI
    http://www.wallaceracing.com/braking-hp.php


    Guessing that means less braking power at altitude? Tried looking it up, but still don't really understand what BHP is.
    https://www.google.com/#q=brake+horsepower+definition
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
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  • Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 40,233 ***** Forums Admin
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Mr. Perfect
    Modern fuel injected vehicles should need no adjustment. Fuel ratios are automatically calculated based on exhaust and temperature parameters. You might want a coolant rated to a lower temperature, however.
    Yep.
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  • FrogdogFrogdog Member Posts: 3,030 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Mr. Perfect

    https://www.google.com/#q=brake+horsepower+definition
    [/quote]

    Thanks! Now I'm tracking!
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  • FrancFFrancF Member Posts: 35,279 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Only thing I have ever had to mess with at high altitude (above 7,000 feet) was the Carb jets on my Dual sport MC.
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  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You will lose about 75 hp in a 450HP motor going from 100' above sea level to 6000' elevation.

    This assumes no major tuning changes, such as upping the turbo boost.


    And computer controlled engines WILL lose power too but maybe not as much as a carb car.

    The motor is getting a less dense charge of air {oxygen for the fuel},
    So even if the injectors change the ratio to match, you are still low on power.

    ADDED INFO....There are NO NHRA speed records set at Mile High Dragstrip. [;)][;)][;)][:(]
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  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,092 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    One of the reasons I bought a computer controled injected ATV. We ride from 1400 ft elevation to over 11,000 ft and carb. ATVs have hp problems, but not injected ATVs.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
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  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Have driven to the top of Mt. Evans CO. 14,240 ft. Power drops significantly. If you plan to do THAT drive, loosen gas tank cap before starting up. Regular gas in CO is a lower octane- lower air pressure lowers the compression ratio of engine. Otherwise, you should do fine. CO does have emission testing, but my 1985 F-150 with a carb passed just fine.
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  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,163 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My 01 Chevy 6.0 seemed somewhat "weak" when we first arrived in The Arkansas valley(gas stops only from MO to Salida CO) but after a few days and several start-up sequences, it self adjusted and became much more responsive. On the trip home(empty) it ran like a scalded ape. Was home a week and went back and same result-took at least a day to adjust but then was fine.
    Newer vehicles or those pulling less load might not show the lag time before "perking up".
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  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    index.php?main_page%3Dindex%26cPath%3D72&h=752&w=952&tbnid=OaK27QZt-KlwiM:&zoom=1&docid=kMJMbIRFwrabXM&ei=2h0TVezdMYGDNs-PgaAO&tbm=isch&ved=0CFYQMygaMBo
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  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    m

    the-carburetor---old_600x0w.jpg
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  • KAMsalesKAMsales Member Posts: 1,672 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 11b6r
    lower air pressure lowers the compression ratio of engine.

    It doesn't lower the compression ratio, it just reduces the density of the air so although the compression ratio and displacement of the engine remains the same, there is less oxygen molecules per cubic inch to use to burn fuel. Less fuel burned, less HP produced. Turbochargers and superchargers improve high-altitude performance by compressing more air into the intake, increasing the amount of oxygen available for combustion. Lower air pressure will reduce the compression pressure in the engine, but not the ratio itself.
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