Fixing Mazda B6ZE Vibrations With Fluidampr

We have been wanting to test Fluidampr’s harmonic balancer that was released a few years back for Mazda’s popular B series engines for a while now and we are finally getting the opportunity.  The damper was designed for use in the popular Spec Miata class where it’s superior vibration damping could help with the engine’s durability in racing conditions.  The pulley also has a 10% underdrive to slow down the water pump, preventing cavitation and improving the track cooling.  The underdrive also saves a small bit of parasitic power loss from the alternator and power steering.

Our subject car is a 1993 NA Miata that is track-day driven but stock in the engine, similar to a Spec Miata.

What makes a Fluidampr better is its superior vibration attenuation features. Fluidampr works by having its mass-tuned inertia ring free-floating in a housing filled with viscous silicone fluid.  In a conventional damper, the inertia ring is bonded to the damper hub using rubber that limits movement.  In a Fluidampr, the free-floating ring can damp out vibrations over a much wider range.  Also, the higher the amplitude of the torsional vibration, the more the floating ring dampens it out.  This makes it amplitude-sensitive. Viscous silicone maintains viscosity tolerance across a wide temperature range.  Approximately -40° F to 300° F.  This provides very consistent and predictable damping properties. The mass of the internal ring and the viscous damping of the fluid work together to attenuate vibrations.  For these reasons, a Fluidampr works better than conventional harmonic dampers.

The Fluidamper has a laser-welded hollow housing that bolts to the crankshaft containing the inertia ring floating in the viscous silicone fluid.  All Fluidampr’s are SFI certified to be explosion resistant at high rpm.

Our MX5 NA Miata was completely stock in the engine compartment.

The first step was to remove the snorkel tube that goes from the airbox to the throttle body in the front of the engine.  These two hose clamps were loostened.