Want to Improve FC? Get your ECU Tuned!! And Don't Drag Gear

[Nmnhnlm]

IMHO, if you really want to get good FC, the best way is to get your ECU tuned and don't drag your gears!

 

Cause Factory ECU is never tuned for 1 specific car and always on the safe side. You should get the ECU tuned to match local condition and your driving style. Most of the people tuned for more power but actually it can be done for FC as well.

 

1. Reduce your fuel enrichment time under warm up. Our engines always run rich when its cold to make it warm up the engine faster. This time period can actually be reduced.

 

2. Throttle enrichment. When you step on the throttle, the ECU will spray more fuel than necessary so you get better acceleration. If you are better light on the throttle, can actually set ECU to reduce amt of fuel injected. Get less power but you don't need it under light throttle conditions. This is also why its better to travel at the same speed than accelerate and brake and accelerate again. Throttle enrichment......

 

3. Highway cruising. Can actually set the engine to run lean when cruising. But make sure its well tuned else there may pinging.

 

4. For manual cars, don't drag your gears! If no power, shift down. Running at higher RPM is actually better. I realise when I go up slope on 4th gear, the engine runs rich because of heavy engine load and low RPM. Once I shift down to 3rd, the engine turns to stoichiometric ratio. This can be set in ECU as well.

 

This is what I have observed. IMHO, all the moddings except for CAI (Not open pod, just ducting to draw cooler air outside engine bay) hardly benefits anything in terms of FC. Its ECU tuning that really makes a difference.

[Albeniz]

Any workshop to recommend for such tuning jobs (particularly for better FC).

How much would a typical tuning session cost?

 

[Zangetsu77]

Any workshop to recommend for such tuning jobs (particularly for better FC).

How much would a typical tuning session cost?

 

Depends on your ECU (and hence your car). I would presume it's easier for a non-performance JDM car ECU. Running leaner means you can produce more HP, but bear in mind that driving style makes more difference.

[Friendstar]

IMHO, if you really want to get good FC, the best way is to get your ECU tuned and don't drag your gears!

 

Cause Factory ECU is never tuned for 1 specific car and always on the safe side. You should get the ECU tuned to match local condition and your driving style. Most of the people tuned for more power but actually it can be done for FC as well.

 

1. Reduce your fuel enrichment time under warm up. Our engines always run rich when its cold to make it warm up the engine faster. This time period can actually be reduced.

 

2. Throttle enrichment. When you step on the throttle, the ECU will spray more fuel than necessary so you get better acceleration. If you are better light on the throttle, can actually set ECU to reduce amt of fuel injected. Get less power but you don't need it under light throttle conditions. This is also why its better to travel at the same speed than accelerate and brake and accelerate again. Throttle enrichment......

 

3. Highway cruising. Can actually set the engine to run lean when cruising. But make sure its well tuned else there may pinging.

 

4. For manual cars, don't drag your gears! If no power, shift down. Running at higher RPM is actually better. I realise when I go up slope on 4th gear, the engine runs rich because of heavy engine load and low RPM. Once I shift down to 3rd, the engine turns to stoichiometric ratio. This can be set in ECU as well.

 

This is what I have observed. IMHO, all the moddings except for CAI (Not open pod, just ducting to draw cooler air outside engine bay) hardly benefits anything in terms of FC. Its ECU tuning that really makes a difference.

 

 

with all these trial and error, just one time kanna stranded in expressway will burn away all the fuel u saved.

[Happily1986]

with all these trial and error, just one time kanna stranded in expressway will burn away all the fuel u saved.

you sound like you have got a bitter lesson in this.

 

care to share?

[Nmnhnlm]

with all these trial and error, just one time kanna stranded in expressway will burn away all the fuel u saved.

 

Whos your Tuner? What ECU you using?

[Kiadaw]

My tips.

 

1) If your manual says can pump 95, don't pump 98 lah, waste money only. But if you like to boost profit of petrol companies, please carry on.

2) Less cheeseburgers & fried chicken & cha qiao tiao. I know I need to cut...Hehe

3) Keep things you don't need to used often back home or in garage. Keep your chainsaw & shovel unless you are going off road & last check, there have not been snow in Singapore since...recorded history. Keep your detailing kits at home & keep only quick cleaning kit in case of air raid. I will however, also keep a small box of handy tools like screwdrivers, torch lights & cable ties.

4) Control your right foot.

5) Off air con (or heater, if you enjoy in car suana session) 5 mins before your destination.

6) Pump your tire regularly, about once every 2-3 weeks.

7) Plan your trip probably. It can save you on distance travel as well as unwanted "Flashing" sound in you IU.

8) Car pool when going for lunch.

9) Be courteous to other drivers, give way & relax when driving. No, it does not improve FC, but it make driving less stressful

 

Cheers

Edited May 9, 2010 by Kiadaw

[Krado]

you sound like you have got a bitter lesson in this.

 

care to share?

 

I think he means spending all that amount of money for ECU tuning... which saves petrol, will be moot when you're stuck in a traffic jam.

[Ken4555]

I think he means spending all that amount of money for ECU tuning... which saves petrol, will be moot when you're stuck in a traffic jam.

 

he said stranded... means breakdown in expressway lah...

 

 

[Nmnhnlm]

My tips.

 

1) If your manual says can pump 95, don't pump 98 lah, waste money only. But if you like to boost profit of petrol companies, please carry on.

2) Less cheeseburgers & fried chicken & cha qiao tiao. I know I need to cut...Hehe

3) Keep things you don't need to used often back home or in garage. Keep your chainsaw & shovel unless you are going off road & last check, there have not been snow in Singapore since...recorded history. Keep your detailing kits at home & keep only quick cleaning kit in case of air raid. I will however, also keep a small box of handy tools like screwdrivers, torch lights & cable ties.

4) Control your right foot.

5) Off air con (or heater, if you enjoy in car suana session) 5 mins before your destination.

6) Pump your tire regularly, about once every 2-3 weeks.

7) Plan your trip probably. It can save you on distance travel as well as unwanted "Flashing" sound in you IU.

8) Car pool when going for lunch.

9) Be courteous to other drivers, give way & relax when driving. No, it does not improve FC, but it make driving less stressful

 

Cheers

 

Actually, you can simply tune the ECU to take advantage of 98 petrol. Having high RON means its more resistant to knocking. Hence you can run leaner than 95 and advance ignition timing further. The problem with most stock ECU is that its simply not set to take advantage of 98 petrol (must remember stock settings need to be catered to many countries and different conditions etc).

 

As mentioned earlier, controlling right foot is subjective due to throttle enrichment.

 

[Vidz]

4. For manual cars, don't drag your gears! If no power, shift down. Running at higher RPM is actually better. I realise when I go up slope on 4th gear, the engine runs rich because of heavy engine load and low RPM. Once I shift down to 3rd, the engine turns to stoichiometric ratio. This can be set in ECU as well.

 

good info... thanks

[Turbonetics]

i thought only the manufacturers have the program to tune ecu.

usually ecu are reflash.

another way is to get a standalone to replace the stock ecu.

[Nmnhnlm]

i thought only the manufacturers have the program to tune ecu.

usually ecu are reflash.

another way is to get a standalone to replace the stock ecu.

 

Many workshops can do ECU reflash for you though.

 

You can either reflash, get standalone ECU or piggyback.

 

I would say best is piggyback cause it does not alter your stock ECU and process is completely reversible so it does not void warranty.

[Rachaellee]

our stock cars are always gear running on rich juz incase we need to carry heavy loads...

 

wouldn't running lean will cause problems if we suddenly need to carry heavy loads like our Parent in laws????

[Nmnhnlm]

our stock cars are always gear running on rich juz incase we need to carry heavy loads...

 

wouldn't running lean will cause problems if we suddenly need to carry heavy loads like our Parent in laws????

 

No, your ECU will tune the petrol according to the load. If you are under heavy load, ECU will automatically run rich to give you power.

 

Most if not all ECUs will have a load vs RPM table and set the A/F ratio. I am using standalone ECU thus I can see and edit this table. However, its pretty standard stuff so stock ECU do have it as well.

[Mikepitt]

After getting a remapped, my FC suffered. Its just too addictive with the gain enjoying my ride more since and never look back.

[Nmnhnlm]

After getting a remapped, my FC suffered. Its just too addictive with the gain enjoying my ride more since and never look back.

 

Lol... thats the biggest problem. Most people tune for more power rather than better FC. Difficult to have best of both worlds.

[Weiming]

Proper tuning of ECU to match your driving style will improve FC but will cost lah and improvement is not going to be mind boggling huge :)

 

This path is only for those who like to toy with their ride and planning on keeping it long term or the ride is >10yrs old (older tech that can benefit from modern input) else not worth it.