Help with my aquamist hsf-4 system

bdh

Specialist
Dec 6, 2016
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Anyone on here understand the aquamist system? I have emailed Jeff at howerton & while he is great at shipping parts. I find he is not very interested in troubleshooting. Most of his reply's are very short or right out of the manual.
Anyways I was using my aquamist HSF-4 with nozzles in the charge pipe. I bought the fuel-it meth system & the only thing I changed was I teed into the 6mm supply line before the fav to supply the fuel-it system. After the fav i still have a small single nozzle to the charge pipe.
Problem is the system turns on normally, But under boost I have no flow bars? So I dont know if it is activating or not. Any ideas?
 

Chris@Motiv

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Nov 6, 2016
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Sav
Doesn't the fuel it system use conventional style fuel injectors? Are you trying to drive the 6 injectors with the HSF-4 or are you trying to drive 2 additional injectors (8 total) with the HSF4? The HSF uses HPFP, Boost, IDC and RPM to calculate flow. If none of those parameters are being met because of other additional fueling then it isn't going to activate or the flow may be so low that its not lighting up any of the bars at the factory range which all you'd have to do is adjust the scaling on the actual gauge.
 
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I think the issue may be related to the gasoline finds it way into the aquamist system. The FAV (inline valve) is sensitive to hydrocarbon contamination. Undo the 6mm hose on the inlet side of the FAV and do a TST test (1/2 Second), see if there are any fluid flow out of the hose.

Reinstate the hose.

FAV test:
Apply 12V across the two lower terminals of the FAV, you should hear a clicking sound. If it doesn't, it has a swollen valve seat.

To repair the valve:
1. Disassemble the valve tee, soak it in 100% methanol for 2-3 hours.
2. Leave on a warm surface (35-40C) for 24 hours. the gasoline will evaporate over this period and the valve should recover.

For the future, put an inline checkvalve (#806-249) after the FAV, it will minimise the contaminates fluid getting into the FAV.

Richard
 

doublespaces

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Oct 18, 2016
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I think the issue may be related to the gasoline finds it way into the aquamist system. The FAV (inline valve) is sensitive to hydrocarbon contamination. Undo the 6mm hose on the inlet side of the FAV and do a TST test (1/2 Second), see if there are any fluid flow out of the hose.

Reinstate the hose.

FAV test:
Apply 12V across the two lower terminals of the FAV, you should hear a clicking sound. If it doesn't, it has a swollen valve seat.

To repair the valve:
1. Disassemble the valve tee, soak it in 100% methanol for 2-3 hours.
2. Leave on a warm surface (35-40C) for 24 hours. the gasoline will evaporate over this period and the valve should recover.

For the future, put an inline checkvalve (#806-249) after the FAV, it will minimise the contaminates fluid getting into the FAV.

Richard

Thanks for chiming in! Hopefully this fixes OP's issues.
 

bdh

Specialist
Dec 6, 2016
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HI Richard Thanks for the help.
So first there is no gasoline in the system, only Methanol & water.
I just followed the manual & Did the priming & purging of the system.
Next I followed the manual for test spray pattern & sc settings. All worked as expected. Except with the gauge sc screw fully
clockwise, I could only show 2 bars with the 3rd bar flashing? I had full bars before. Should I adjust any of the trimmers.
Also I noticed in the manual that i need to cut & solder for a 3.5 bar map sensor? How critical is this?
 

bdh

Specialist
Dec 6, 2016
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1. 1 x .5 nozzle
2. 80% meth
3. 9 degrees Celsius
4. It worked before. I have not changed anything with the aquamist system except putting a tee in the 6mm supply line.
Also on page 21 of the manual it states to contact you for map sensors exceeding 3 bars?
I have a 3.5 bar sensor & my solder link is in the default absolute position. Should I change that?
I just did the activate system by gas pedal test with the thres turned fully counterclockwise & get no flow out my charge pipe nozzle. This was with the system jumper put back to the park position.

I am including a work of art showing what I have changed.
IMG_0659.JPG
 
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Good illustration.

1. Is the AIC in operation now?
If yes, it could be over-load small bore of the 6mm line. When this happens, the pressure will dropped drastically hence the drop in the HFS4 flow.

2. Can you run the engine without the AIC?
If so, disable the AIC and see if the HFS4 flow resumes.

3. More considerations:
If the AIC pumps lots of methanol into the engine, the factory IDC will reduce so the HFS4 injects even less.
 
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bdh

Specialist
Dec 6, 2016
55
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Richard
What I have found is when I do the tests on page 12 of the manual.
Priming & purging works correctly
Test spray pattern & set SC setting works correctly, except the flow bars can not be set pass 2 bars?
Active the system by gas pedal. Now the system jumper is put back to park position
Even with the Thres trimmer in the fully counterclockwise postion I have no spray & no LED lite?
I will try removing the tee
 

bdh

Specialist
Dec 6, 2016
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Richard I have disconnected anything that didnt come with the aquamist kit & reconnected it as it was.
I purged the system & set the SC on the gauge to 6 bars using the test jumper. I then went for a drive & everything on the gauge is normal, but the system still doesnt spray?
One other thing that is different that I never considered is I just installed a single turbo. So the wastegate is now external & controlled by a mac solenoid. I wonder if the aquamist board is no longer getting a wastegate signal from the dme.
any single turbo guys running an aquamist HSF-4?
I am including the wiring diagram that shows the the wiring for an n54.
IMG_0061.JPG
 

bdh

Specialist
Dec 6, 2016
55
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0
Ok Richard
I had an scheduled appointment with a body shop for a paint job today. Car will be gone for 7 days. I will get back into figuring
this out as soon as I get it back.
Really appreciate your help!
Barry
 

08_335i

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Nov 3, 2016
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I would assume if its activated off wastegate, and you just switched over to ST so now the system no longer sees the wastegate pressure, thats your issue.
 
You can exercise the same treatment to the new boost controller as before. Just splice the white and brown wire to the new boost control valve wires. Make sure it is the "pulsed" leg. Which boost controller are you using? If you have a wiring diagram I can modify the exist N54 drawing to N54-ST.
 

bdh

Specialist
Dec 6, 2016
55
12
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Richard
I am using a GFB electronic boost controller, which runs off boost from the wastegate. It doesnt get any signal from the DME.
But before I waste any of your time. Motiv has come out with a plug & play boost box that runs off the DME & MAY solve my problem? I ordered a unit & they supposedly will be shipped around the 19th? But on bummer boost forum it has been asked a couple off times if that is still the expected ship date, & the question has been ignored? So rather than you spending time on my wiring diagram & then I switch boost controllers. Lets wait & hope Motiv ships close to the date they stated?
 
GFB uses the same principle like all other boost controllers, pwm'ing a 3-way solenoid valve. HKS is the only exception to this, it uses a stepped motor and flaps to regulate boost. The latest generation boost controller uses servo, motorise linear actuator to open and shutting the wastegate flap. Similar to the newer M2xx or the late year of the N55. They come with a heavier price tag.

The new Motiv boost box is a welcoming addition on this community. I guess it work similar to JB, intercepting the signals to and from the DME. I have always admire Motive's product, always top quality and reliable. I an sure it won't disappoint.
 

bdh

Specialist
Dec 6, 2016
55
12
0
Richard
Steve at Fuel-it put me in touch with Brecken, who I believe you have had contact with?
He really understands the system & knew exactly what I was doing. Thanks Brecken!
I think I have the system up & running. First problem was after going thru the wiring, I found a bad connection on one of the injector signal wires. That is why I was no getting any bars when driving.
So I installed it as follows: Pump - Turbine flow sensor - meth inj fuel rail. Done No fav or nozzle in the charge pipe.
The hardest part was finding fittings that connect to the Turbine flow sensor. Anybody needs to know? They are #2 BSPP
I moved the following jumpers: #1 trigger from IDC to MPS #2 trigger from PMW to SSG & removed the #3 fav trigger & was done. I still do not know if the system is getting a waste gate signal to trigger the fail safes? Because I am single turbo using an external waste gate. But I am hoping that the boost box installation will supply this signal, because it plugs into the DME?
Thanks barry
 
The system comes with every fittings required for a complete install. I don't quite understand the issues you are experiencing.

Regardless of what wastegate you are using on the N54, they are a "solenoid" type. The HFS4 just cuts one of the two wires to the solenoid (MAC), preferable the "pulsed" wire upon a "failsafe" activation.

I cannot recall Breken as a name but I do recognise a screen name if he has used one.
 
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