Top Fuel Warmup - Brainerd, MN

[TheRMSAndre1]

Try putting that engine on your Civic.:D

[licmy3balls]

this NEVER gets old. i fail to see how one could be excited about football when you have shit like this to watch.

[CSXer]

CH3NO2....Mmmmm....,

[whitetrashchevyluvr]

That is NOT a Chevy!!!!!!!!!

[nitr0junki3]

after grubby whacked the throttle the first time, what was the crew chief looking back at the rear of the engine/rear end are before grubs hit the throttle the second time? thanks guys, big nitro fan here in NC, waitin anxiously for the charlotte and richmond events coming soon!!

[michaliscon]

an top fueler engine produces lots of power that no dyno in the world can measure it so they built special dynos and they make over 2000 HPs which is DOUBLE the veyron hehehe

[tfxbillet]

@michaliscon they actually do produce a dyno that is capable of handling this much horsepower. the problem is an 8,000 to 9,500 nitro burning engine will expire in ten seconds (at full throttle) therefore not lasting long enough to collect the data they need

[fool4Jesus52]

Anyone seeing and hearing this for the first time will never know what a concusion these monsters make, even with just a blip of the throtle. You need to go see these bombs in action. It truly is an event. In one second they hit 100 MPH in the length of a tractor-trailer.

[govols100]

not much prettier noise than a hot engine at full throttle. not a much prettier smell than burning nitro either.

[91slownotch]

Less than a week from today, that beautiful sound will be heard in person in Brainerd, MN

[phreak7521]

Now that's a dream job.

[Krisspychiken]

what are they actually doing when it explodes? just punching the accelerator? or just backfiring

[luckyleaf6]

I'm not a top fuel expert and correct me if I'm wrong, but what they are doing is a process in the engine warmup called seating the clutch. The driver releases the clutch (similar to a manual transmission on a passenger vehicle)which applies pressure to the clutch system on the back of the motor. Then they whack the throttle open for a few tenth's of a second a few times to tighten together or "seat" the clutch plates in the bell housing (that bulbed shape thing behind the engine)

[ThrotleMonkey]

You are correct. The driver is pulling the brake handle to place a load on the clutch. Then you see the crewcheif open up the flow of fuel to the second fuel pump. Hence the muffled sound in the engine. (You will see this just before the car launches on the starting line.) Then with the brake on and then wack the throtle That seats or flattens the clutch disks and floaters against them selves and flywheel for optimum surface contact. Much like lapping valves in.

[Polybun]

Its not so much fo a whack on the throttle as a small crack. The clutch is usually broken in with just 8-15% throttle. So the "explosion" is only a small percentage of what its going to do when it goes wide open.

They do go full rich on the fuel pump, but this is to prevent any chance of the engine going lean. Going lean would result in major damage, even for a few tenths of a second, and possibly a huge explosion.

[sanfranciscobay]

@luckyleaf6

Here's an explanation from a driver. Type this into the youtube search box

Ron Capps walk through of a Top Fuel Dragster warmup LitbyNoonProductions

[jmoney321123]

and when they rev it it scares the crap out of you every time

[tehshadow23]

@Krisspychiken dunno

[charlitunaman2002]

I love the way they hit the throttle and it stalls the camera for about a frame!

[heliman10]

"47" is when fuel pressure from the second fuel pump is added to the the engine further fattening the fuel mixture

[monsterjam2004]

i been to a lot of drag races and at 47 thats when they switch it over to just fuel then after that they switch it to nitro methane

[harley333man]

As the exhaust plainly shows, this car was started on fuel (nitromethane). You can see the guy adjusting the valves on the fuel pumps as the car is started. At 47 seconds, he returns to the same control, and opens the valves on the fuel pumps fully.

[VayLoc310]

Yeah, cuz the exhaust started running rich, spittin' nitromethane all over the camera lens haha, that's what I'm talkin' about, PURE, unadulterated horsepower!

[Polybun]

It isn't started on nitro at all. It is started on pure methanol, then quickly switched to methanol/nitro mix. Then before clutch break in car is switched to 100% rich. It is then shut down by switching it back over to methanol.

BTW most breakins are not done with "race" levels of nitromethane. Normally you drop back to 60-70% nitro, of only to save money. The shit is $30 a gallon, and break in alone consumes about 7 gallons of fuel mix.

[harley333man]

I hadn't spotted the bottle feeding the throttle butterflies; we use an air hole at the bottom of the injector for the starting fuel. We use petrol rather than methanol to start, methanol from a barrel via a pipe to the injector for checking timing etc, then go to 90% nitro for the rest of the warm up, then back to methanol to shut down. Are they draining the tank and main fuel line to swap back to 90%, if they're only using 60-70 for the warmup? BTW, 90% nitro is £50 a gallon in the UK!

[ThrotleMonkey]

Fattest pig I everseen!

[bready123]

at 47 he is just setting the throttle to idle as you can hear the revs drop. the fuel pump is set at full at all times other wise there would b danger of over leaning the engine.

[luckyleaf6]

Although I cannot say for sure exactly what happens at :47 I am certain that these cars do the burnout on one fuel pump,fuel cars have two, therefore I am cetrain that the fuel is not set to full all the time. My conclusion was based on the fact that you get a similar effect when the second fuel pump turns on after the burnout procedure just prior to lighting the second bulb at the start. Also you can see the Jon pull a lever where the fuel pump is located. Can anyone back me?

[harley333man]

They used to have two fuel pumps/two controls. Usual set up now is one control/two pumps. Warming up and burning out they set fuel pressure to around 50 PSI. On the run it's around 600PSI. At 0:47 he's setting the pump valve full open, as for the launch and run. The idle RPM drops with full fuel pressure, as the fuel/air mix changes. Some people I know are now using 120 gallon pumps, measured at 8000 RPM. Some of that is always sent back to the tank, and the return flow is altered on the run.

[luckyleaf6]

Thanks for clearing that up.

[300Z31]

@harley333man Yup, you can tell when they make the switch because those fuel cars get awfully quiet. It's kind of neat really. Great explanation.

[Polybun]

Your exactly right. Burn out is done with only one pump active and usually there is a mechanical block on the throttle to keep it from going fully open. Normally no more than 30% throttle. The throttle lock prevents the chances of blower explosion, which use to be a common thing to have happen during burn out from the late 80's on back.

[harley333man]

How have you got your pumps set up? The only ones I've seen or used are built as two pumps back to back, with one control; both fuel lines feeding the barrel valve and by-passes to prevent the fuel overheating as the pumps run. Are you bleeding all of the feed from the "inactive" pump straight back to the tank?

Our butterflies are set with a throttle stop so the bottom of the open butterfly is just about in line with the front of the injector - nowhere near 30%.

[Polybun]

Well, the throttle setting was a guess. We only run about 20% nitro in our car, as its an old flat head ford. All vintage front engine dragster stuff. The same reason we don't have problems with pumps, they just aren't that big!

The point is, Burnout isn't done wide open like some here claim, neither is break in. The result would be leaving the super charger lying on the ground, maybe launching it into the grand stands.

[harley333man]

Nitro in a front engine flat head ford. Eeeeek!!!!

I'll stick with the billet aluminium block in the rear if that's OK.

We're only burning about 70 gallons a minute, the extra capacity in the pump is to avoid cavitation, and is bled back to the tank.

There are some very odd ideas about how things work on here, and some equally strange ideas among those who should know!

[Polybun]

Well... The heads are billet is that good enough? lol.

That said some work goes into the block. Cross bolted mains, 426 hemi style, Some epoxying of the main saddle area, filling the water jacket. Its still only 1500hp or so.

[Polybun]

No the revs drop because the engine is switching from pure methanol to methanol/nitro mix. Methanol has more energy per gallong than nitro so the engine idles faster on the more potent fuel. HOwever, nitro carries its own oxygen supply, and burs faster, thus it makes more power when the engine is wide open.

Mostly at idle the nitro never ignites, it just flys out unburnt. You idle way rich just to get enough mehtanol in the engine to keep it going.

[DirtridinElCamino]

y do soo many people hate you in your channel. you seem like a really nice a knowledgeable guy

[Polybun]

Because I am unforgiving to those that are clearly stupid. Not just ignorant, but dumb as hell.

[salemcripple]

I feel ya. Same here.

[pittdready]

Lol, you pinhead. The drop is from the second fuel pump being turned on and loading the motor. THE RATIO IN THE TANK IS THE SAME JUST MORE OF IT BEING ADDED YOU FUCKING IMBECILE!

[Polybun]

Incorrect.

[pittdready]

You're a moron! I crewed for 2 years, I should know what I'm talking about.

[SkAtEOrDie67]

what does he do at like :47? he switches something over?

[luckyleaf6]

at :47. Jon, I think it is, turns the fuel pump to full. I am not sure of the exact numbers, I've read that at full pumping they push between 50 and 70 gallons per minute. So much fuel that it blows out of the engine unburned at idle and muffles the sound. Very cool!

[SkAtEOrDie67]

AHH ok, thanks that makes alot of sense now that you explained it. Very awesome video, really makes you respect these awesome machines! 5 stars.

[enemyracing]

i thought there about to flip the as with the guy right by the headers lol it would blow his damn pants of lol it happen to

[cmoncalian]

ahhhh the smell of nitromethane in the morning

[babalu95]

Best porn on the internet.

[SkAtEOrDie67]

LOL! 

AGREED

[derkcheese3]

I WAS THERE!!

[scatpack440]

I get goosebumps reliving these warmups, NOTHING ON EARTH compares! WHAP!

[Polybun]

Oh that's not true. Anything that makes that kind of power does the same thing. Stand on the foot plate of a large 4-8-4 northern steam loco. They make right around 5000-6000hp as well, and they let you know it.

[yzfr1liter]

gotta love that shock wave that the fuel motors generate when they goose the throttle! fuel warmups..... my vote for motorsports most awesome rush.

[slspacek]

Just attended the race in Richmond. Nothing beats warm ups.Are you guys aware nhra is going back to 90% next season.

[nhraihra]

The reason they have 8000 HP is because of the technology and precision CNC machining.The blowers take much less power to run then they did 10 years ago.Back in '95 i stood next to a warmup when the nitro% was unregulated and they had about 5000 HP and when they shut it off it felt like I broke a rib or two.The last couple of years I sit about 2 or 3 rows up directly on the starting line and I can watch about 10 races in a row without plugging my ears.

[luckyleaf6]

yes I agree that they are not as loud as they once were since the 90 and 85% rules. Didn't they impose those rules because back in the 100% days they kept blowing up... and the oildowns took too long to clean up. I'm not sure which I'd rather have.. more oildowns or more nitro (louder runs). I would have to hear them one after the other to decide I guess. Miss the popping or "cackle" during staging as well.

[fantasyamateurs]

The NHRA seem to think 90% will allow the motors to make parts last longer therefore making the sport cheaper for the teams. I reckon the teams will push the motors just as hard and go for bigger horsepower and lower ET's. Time will tell but get ready for some big oildowns and maybe even dust off those ear defenders.. Awesome warm-up video by the way!

[schnaq]

That was crazy! Every time it revved up the camera focus went a little weird. I love Fuel cars.

[cpetit3]

how was the feeling when Grubby whacked the throttle?

[luckyleaf6]

Even cooler this year. The Kalitta cars push the throttle down further and longer then all other cars. This year it seemed like they held the throttle down for about a half second. Make sure your ears are covered or you will go deaf!

[skoczzy]

That whole team is awesome. Doug Kalitta has a penchant for going sideways during the burnouts. Definitely my pick for the Top Fuel champ in '08.

[lizzyluau187]

this is amazing....i love that smell...that sound...nothing beats 8000 hp! ive gotta get my nitro fix......love it!