ECU Chip Tune - How To Increase Horsepower
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- Опубликовано: 9 апр 2013
- How chip tuning works (engine re-flash). What is an ecu chip tune? What is an engine reflash? How much horsepower will a chip tune provide for a car? What parameters of the engine does the ECU alter so that the car creates more power? This video is the first part of two videos, explaining different ways an ECU can make your car faster.
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0:38 "obiddydoo" gonna use that from now on
bwahaha
You are the "LinusTechTips" of CARS. I love you!
And he is not annoying one bit! How amazing grown ups can be..
Linustechtips is the worst youtube channel ever.
@@user-fl2ug7sr3t your english thr beddest tho :)
@@danielk3893 Can't you read I spelled it with a "A" and not a "E". I think my English is better than you, even tho my first language is not English.
@@user-fl2ug7sr3t ironic people criticize your English using a bunch of junk english
Glad you find them helpful, you're welcome!
BMW: keep safety in mind, put a top speed of 155mph...
Ulysse Guillet 156 is dangerous!
and 155 is totally safe!
It is not actually safety these german manufacturers have in mind when limit top speed at 155 mph. The main reason is to reduce cost. A car that can run over that speed will require different brakes, tyres, suspension, aerodynamics and so on. If the engineers let these cars run free, some might cross the 200 mph barrier and then, everything will have to be reengineered and it may compromise the whole Project and make it inviable.
its been proven many times that the speed limiter doesnt really work. they did it on fifth gear.
Ulysse Guillet lol according to BMV manufacturers. Well said lol.
Thanks, glad to hear it. I hope to have an STI soon enough and I'll come tune at your shop!
Wanted to jump in on this here... Regarding the A/F ratios... Manufacturers don't tune their vehicle lean. In cruise? Maybe in the 90's (e.g. Civic HX). Nowadays, lean burn won't pass emissions testing. That's the purpose of the narrowband O2 sensor - it tells the ECU whether to increase or decrease fuel delivery in order to precisely hit stoichiometric AFR's. When running lean under load, you'll experience knock as well. The 12.5:1 is also for naturally aspirated cars; Forced induction cars are typically tuned to around 11.5:1 or so.
My point is that a flash tune doesn't richen your AFR's... it leans them out. Factory tuned ECU's are usually around 10.5:1 to prevent pre-ignition from higher cylinder temps (and because the fuel burns faster when the AFR is leaner, causing it to completely combust prior to the piston reaching the top of its stroke). However, just like with an AFR that's too lean, an AFR that is too rich will also rob power.
This is why when you retune a car, it typically says to use premium gas. Higher octane fuels have more stable burn characteristics, and also burn slower.
Thank you!
You should have mentioned boost pressure increase for turbo engines (where ECU remapping makes most sense by far).
Yes indeed!
Engineering Explained can this work on a oem turbo ?
Thanks! EGR is on the to-do list. I'll get to it one day haha
14.7 is stoichiometric (ideal), I have a video "air fuel ratios" if you'd like to know where that number comes from. 11.3 could be the case for many turbod cars, but it's certainly a rich mixture - for maximum power though this is fine.
Interesting topic. I do hope to get a video up on lubricating systems eventually, something my channel definitely lacks. I have one on cooling systems though.
Love my car, definitely going to keep it for a long time. That said, I'll probably add another car to my garage in a year or so! :)
Maybe a model 3
wish you still had the subaru :(
Measured by mass, thanks, looking forward to the skyline ride!
I am a big fan of your videos being an engineer myself. I like this one because of the pragmatic approach of even if it is illegal should not prevent people getting the full(er) picture of what's there in terms of software limits in their cars. I think what should be a bit more included (even though it was for a half sentence) is the trade-off one makes with tampering their ECU parameters. So I do not know how well they do around where you live but garages in London who claim to know this kind of stuff and flash your car for you actually don't get this all that well in the end. I have seen some codes for my BMW engine that some of those guys have done(not to my car, someone else's but the same engine regardless). I have checked some parameters they were tweaking and some are merely taking limits off and pushing air-fuel to some constant instead of an adaptive number etc. I think what those poor guys whose car will get half of its lifetime taken by this don't realise is exactly this kind of trade-off. There are 2 reasons an engine is tuned the way it was in the factory:
- longevity/fuel-economy/efficiency
- because they had a more expensive model with the performance option using ALMOST the same components
In my BMW there is a mix of the 2: There are smaller components in the lower models than in mine in terms of CAT, EGR, and cooling but it is the same engine block, electronics and ECU just different injector nozzles and software parameters. So what crazy people do is slap in the injectors of the more performant model, load in its software and then enjoying the next 50k miles because after that your engine will be wasted along with the turbocharger. Is it worth it really? Well math says it is not. Buy the performance model if you need more performance. A BMW is used sensibly and general care can go up to a staggering 300k miles without you having to touch the engine. By that time you will have replaced 3-4 sets of suspension components underneath it in this lovely country of speedbumps and potholes :)
Sensibly I would only recommend tuning the ECU as the engine ages and timing code might be needing adjustment. As the components wear timing might become a tiny bit off. But then again the original BMW software is pretty good with their sensors of camshaft, the lambda, and the air-flow sensor to detect and adjust automatically. It comes down to a lot of knowledge and understanding the original approach of the manufacturer to tuning to sensibly override the factory settings. Most of that information is proprietary and it may never have been documented even. I believe while you may easily change these(a cable for usb to OBD2 is 5-6 dollars on ebay) I would think twice before just trusting John Doe's garage to tamper with mine. I'd rather trust a manufacturer's judgement(who puts an engine on a test pad and runs it for ridiculous hours after a code change and then disassembles if to have a look at the components when they develop the model) than that of some random guy who self-learned how to read and write some of these values. I think people should buy and pay for the brand and model they trust to have a good configuration on the get-go.
DISCLAIMER: I hereby acknowledge that there may be people at random garages who understand the full gravity of tampering with ecu settings but they are incredibly rare.
Depends on your car, but they're not diagnostic scanners. Different companies call them different names; fairly popular one is Cobb's accessport, also Hondata, etc.. depends on your car like I said.
It's by mass, so it operates under the assumption that oxygen and nitrogen densities are as described in this video, which are at atmospheric. But you can change the pressure without altering the ratio, if the percentages of the gases remains the same.
1. Yep, mostly with older cars.
2. I'm referring to vehicles which are specifically governed (electronically limited) to a specific speed. For example, many BMW's are limited to 155 mph I believe.
Depends on how conservative the timing and A/F ratio is. Yes, you could improve it.
Sounds good, thanks!
Absolutely, applies almost everywhere.
Yes indeed! I believe it's not so much of a chemical reaction (could be wrong) but simply the toothpaste is a mild abrasive that removes little scratches that cause to be cloudy. But then again the yellow coloring may be something else.
A tune can also make an automatic transmission up shift at a higher RPM and shift faster/more aggressively.
so it’ll make the drive more fun then
Glad we've confirmed. Thankss
For now, I have a video called "traction circle" which may interest you. I do need to get more detailed into tires eventually.
Well you could attempt to tune for better fuel economy rather than greater power. You would try to maximize BSFC (brake specific fuel consumption) so that you make the most power for your drop of fuel.
With 10% ethanol the mixture will be different. Ethanol's ideal ratio is about 9:1, so a 90% mix will have a slightly lower air/fuel ratio.
Yes, lowering the A/F ratio will result in more smoke. Modern emissions equipment can basically eliminate this on diesels, but it can be restrictive so some people remove it. They care less for Earth, and more for loud noises and fast speeds. I applaud those who are opposite. I myself struggle with the dilemma of wanting an amazingly quick car that's also efficient. For the time being, the Integra meets the "effecient" part.
Not necessarily. There are instances when a leaner mix (than ideal for the circumstances) is used in order to meet emissions standards.
Finally you've covered this! Been thinking about it tho. Thanks @engineeringexplained !!
i grew up around imports and muscle and im finally going to be a freshman in college majoring in mechanical engineering and graduate school in automotive engineering. i dig these vids for info and they keep giving me inspiration to keep on studying
A minute into this i realized this has nothing to do with chiptune music.
Haha im here for the ECU.. but im big fan of Chiptune ;) Love Dunderpatrullen and Lukas Erikson
What’s up bro??? U trolling on RUclips now?
Same here, except I was thinking Lay's Sour Cream and Onion.
Lol
Well yes, if we keep the throttle position the same, richer may run a bit cooler. But since you'll run rich typically at WOT, there would be an increased temp.
Another great video man... Keep em' coming!! If you haven't yet PLEASE do a video about suspensions with an emphasis on the addition of sway bars, specifically how they can potentially dramatically effect the handling of front/all/rear wheel drive cars from the factory set up.
I'm not big into motorcycles, but the engines would definitely have engine management systems, which you could likely tweak for different results.
It is different for diesel, and diesel has a much larger range for which it can burn, something like 10:1 to 70:1. I don't remember the exact numbers.
I have a playlist on suspensions, and a video on sway bars as well (anti-roll bars). Just look for the playlist on my channel page.
No, I'm talking about the fuel ratio. The compression ratio of diesel engines is typically much higher than that of gasoline engines.
Of course!
My next video will be on timing! :)
Everyone has to start somewhere. Find a design related engineering job, and work at it for a few years. After you've built a little resume, you can start applying and networking and try to work your way into something automotive. Best of luck!
Haven't built a car, nor a motor. That's in the plans but money is the issue. I plan on getting a new vehicle and then turning my integra into a project car. I've done some simple things (distributor cap, thermostat replacement) and toyed around at some junkyards, but nothing major.
Ahh, interesting. Thanks!
My apologies, thanks for pointing this out. It's now included.
Thanks for the quick answer! I have to say that I LOVE your channel. It's really amazing how easily you can explain all kind of stuff other people try to explain to (without succes). Could you add some video explaining how EGR valve works and whats the benefit/consequence of removing it? (I have read something about it and some people recommend to remove it, others not) When you have time of course, thanks for all your videos, keep it up!
Another great video man, keep it up!!
Yep
Dude, there is a special place in heaven for people like you. You are so knowlegeable and are so willing to share that knowlege. Thank you for taking the time and effort to put together these informative and coherent presentations. I really enjoy watching and learning. Thank you!
Correct, they are limited for safety (but capable of going faster). Sorry for the misunderstanding!
I have heard this sometimes (esp. when upgrading to a standalone engine management system with more detailed fuel tables and more ways of calculating airflow). With a more detailed fuel table the motor will be more efficient more of the time. Also with these set ups you can sometimes eliminate eliminate efficiency robbing components such as the old vane meter (flappy door MAF) sensor.
If an engine is producing more power, from increased pressure and temperature, it will experience increased stresses. Increased stressed will realistically result in reduced longevity of the engine, as a result of fatigue over time. I suppose theoretically, if all of the components were properly lubricated, at proper temperatures, and no yield stresses were exceed, and fatigue failure wasn't an issue (which it would be) it wouldn't matter.
For the most part yes. And it's safer to avoid knock.
Welldone man. Your videos open myths
Very good Channel, dude. I like the way you diagram your explanations! Just adding something here, you said that BMW/Mercedes limit their cars to 155mph per regulation reasons. Well, the powertrain can be able to power the car to 200 mph, but to sell a car that goes 200 they would need to design 200mph brakes, 200mph suspension, 200 mph tires and wheels, and so on. Limiting to 155mph makes all components to designed to 155mph, being then cheaper and simpler, therefore not related to regulation.
My oh my what a wonderful day...
I'm about to get my gsr tuned soon .love all you informative videos and thanks for explaining about tuning. :)
Thanks mate very helpful
Very good and basic explanation. I reflashed my BMW 335i with a Cobb tune and increased a 100whp. I replaced the stock FMIC, intake, and charge pipe and haven't had any problems. The only thing that worries me a little is keeping the brakes stock.
So, if you tune your ECU for more power, your fuel efficiency will go down and vice versa?
Cause I've a seen a lot of these ads lately where they say if you tune your ecu you'll get like 20 bhp+ and 10mpg+ etc... and I am just wondering, if this was the case, why wouldn't factory cars come pre tuned at these settings? This is false advertising, am I right?
You're not going to get dramatically better gas mileage, correct. But as is apparent with the latest VW scandal, engine tuning can allow for more power and more efficiency, for example by running on less EGR (granted, it's illegal and shouldn't be done).
Engineering Explained Thanks mate, got a better idea of ECU tuning, I like your videos cause you explain very well with facts of how things work. Especially the functioning of the turbo charger.
+Ketho Seyie You can always make a car more efficient off load and have more power on load. Manufacturers typically run cars at stoich (14.7) afr for best emissions. Running your car at a afr of near 16 will drastically improve gas mileage. Manufacturers don't do this because this produces more hydrocarbons and that is bad for the environment. Keep in mind that you need to adjust timing and injection timing to make the leaner mixture create power without pre ingition or detonation.
+Ketho Seyie Your ECU can be flashed to deliver more fuel at higher RPMs and deliver less fuel at lower RPMs at cruising speeds. This is usually done on stock powertrain. This does help achieve more power top end and save fuel when you're not mashing on the accelerator. So, in essence, yes there are tuners that can give you better gas efficiency and more power just not at the same time. For example, I have a 2010 Camaro I bought a handheld tuner from Diablosport. There is a tune that gives me better gas mileage at cruising speeds and more HP when I'm "balls to the wall". I achieved between 27-29 mpg on the highway with that tune (my car has the LS3 and 6-speed manual). There was a slight power difference at higher RPMs. Before I upgraded to Long Tube headers, high flow cats, and Axle back exhaust I was getting around 21mph combined. After the upgrade I get around 17-18mpg combined. In retrospect, adding power equates to less mpg. However you can maximize the efficiency and mpg with a conservative tune when you add performance upgrades instead of adding more fuel and that all depends on what your Fuel/Air ratio is when it is tuned. Professional tuners prefer to run a performance engine slightly richer to eliminate the chances of detonation. The reason behind that is the rich fuel/air mixture reduces the combustion temperature. With the reduced combustion temperature your fuel/air mixture is less likely to detonate outside of the combustion chamber which is critical especially in modern day port injected vehicles. A leaner fuel/air mixture yields a higher combustion temperature which would cause fuel to ignite to early and cause damage to your engine. Other factors do apply such as octane rating and ignition timing which also can cause early detonation, engine knock and/or pinging.
+Jason Rochester 16:1 cuts down on hydrocarbons and increased NOx.
Not really; but I wouldn't say it was my degree that taught me everything either, it just gives you the ability to better understand the physics involved.
If I saw this guy randomly on the streets, I'd say he know jack shit about cars, and wouldn't listen to a word he has to say. But GOD DAMN, this guy knows his shit. prime example of not judging a book by its cover
Love the vids keep up the good works its helping me tons
Dude I love you and I'm not gay! I just have a passion for cars and it's my hobby to tune and work on my 05 STi. After books and forums you're providing me with the most knowledge and understanding and you've refueled my passion. If I make a business out of my hobby I'll think of you and hook you up! You're awesome and I mean it.
Great simplified explanation as always!
PS: the richer mixture is not "better" for the catalytic converter, it just provides more power (it might be good for the combustion chamber: piston, cylinder etc..) as it decreases the heat a bit). Even factory programs allow a rich mixture when you're flooring the pedal, to increase power, the mixture would have a ratio of .85 to .9
Yikes, glad you enjoyed it!
Dude.. first thing I think of when about to watch this was tom from Facebook haha
Myspace bro
I don't think anyone's going to watch this video and then reprogram their ECU. It's to understand what is done, and how it affects horsepower. It's not "here's how you make your car go fast."
Hello, sorry for my comment and review done for you, because I was wrong, he realized that he had not told WHAT to do with his explanation, was to be another video I saw. And quite the contrary, I have to congratulate you for the explanation, because you are very intelligent saw your other videos, and all your explanations are good and intellectuals, really congratulation!!
I learned something! 12.5:1 is the best AFR for power. Thanks for another educating video man!
This is by far the best "car porn" i can find on the internet. Mmmmmm talking air to fuel ratios gets me going...Great stuff my man!
Can you also do a video of what might be the effects of chip tuning of different types of engines such as naturally aspirated petrol or a turbocharged diesel? Also what are the risks of it such as engine failures etc. Thanks a lot btw
Usually this is a case by case type question, as some engines are overbuilt and some are not. Reading up on forums and seeing the success others have had with individual engines is probably the best way to start. Thanks for the suggestion!
Love all you videos!
It would be great if in your next video you include timing vs AFR comparison, meaning is it better to have richer + more timing or leaner with less timing (while close to max power AFR of 12.5)
I guess there's only so much detail you can provide in 5 minutes, but one important thing to note for people interested in chip tuning and watching this video is that you can still maintain lean AF ratios for fuel economy under idle/cruising scenarios but enrich the mixture to 12.5:1 for instance only when you want the power.
Just because manufacturers are seeking good fuel economy doesn't mean they don't run their high load maps very rich. In fact, they will often configure their exhaust gas temperature regulation model that can result in a 12:1 or sometimes even richer running condition, under high load scenarios for engine protection. So in these cases you can make more power by leaning out the fuel map or temperature modelling compared to stock to make more power.
Lastly, not all cars respond best or make peak power at 12.5:1. Some may prefer lower than this, but several modern direct injection engines (ie. Volkswagen FSI) exhibit better mixture/atomisation and therefore do not require an overly rich mixture to make peak power.
Damn, I was considering a stage 1 ecu flash to get a little more power/torque but as I understand the trade off is more potential damage to engine and greater burn on fuel. I think I will just stick to stock, as my engine had used already a lot of milage and the price of fuel sucks.Thanks for the video.
You can also change shift points and shift firmness on automatic cars. Also, the rear axle ratio for your speedometer can be adjusted.
Interesting thought, perhaps once I make a mistake ;)
This is good job, I would like to say thanx just keep going I'm sure we need more and more cheer.
I wish there were more company's like the Cobb access port where you can simply plug it in and adjust everything.
When my supra was stock with the factory ecu, there aren't many options for obd port tuners.
But eventually when i went single turbo i installed a standalone ecu and its worlds different than the factory one.
As a student and enthusiast im really impressed..good job bro...i wanna be a tuner one day....raising the rev limiter creates more heat hence losing tremendous power, n/a cars chipped
The major German auto manufacturers (BMW, Mercedes Benz and VAG) restrict top speed to 250 kph (155 mph) on most, if not all of their cars. I understand this is voluntary - Porsche chooses not to, for instance.
I thought it was German law, at least for the ones sold there.
According to the Wikipedia (which may be wrong) "BMW, Mercedes and others have entered a Gentlemen's agreement to a limit of 250 km/h (155 mph), but may 'unhook' their speed limited cars in Europe, and Mercedes will provide some vehicles in the USA without limiters for an additional price", with 2 external references. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limiter
This implies that there is no legal requirement in Germany (or elsewhere in Europe) for the vehicle to be speed restricted.
probably just another way they can make money on their performance models by charging 6 times the actual cost of removing the limiter.
I had to look up VAG on wikipedia to find out it stands for VW... For a second I thought you were talking about the Freiburger Verkehrs AG (VAG) hahaa
Yes, that's another parameter can change.
0:37 "ohbihdeedoo"
Trevor Natisin OBD2
you're a genius and I really enjoy watching your videos! but doesnt ECU just increase the potential of over heating and blowing your engine since there it allows you to reach max limit of revs?
Oh snap, I'm a reference! Not sure how I feel about that haha
Thanks for the info. So it is better to leave chip normal if you want fuel economy right?
I feel like the late 90s civics are tuned more lean on the low end and during idle. I mean they were built for fuel economy
But do you know turbo?
every video.. dope! explained very very well. thank you
Some of these comments I've thought that. Plus your title says "how-to". Keep doing your thing man. Just don't want people to jump in their car after buying a programmer and blowing their motor. And another word for a ideal mixture is stoichometric. Sp?
It seems passing emissions in some states isn't too difficult.
btw kid you make great video's, I really hope you make it far in this industry like redefining the industry, What are you currently doing for a living? Where do you live??
I always wish you would put some sound pads or something in ur recording area. It's always been echo-y but I love the content
Great great videos!!! Thanks so much for making them. Why do some people say that ecu tuning increases fuel economy?
Excellent vid as usual *liked*
Yes, they are governed. To think the high powered BMWs, Audis, Mercs can't reach over 155 is silly. They're electronically limited.
lol. Took the words right out my mouth. Its hard for me to explain it. Even said, chips are expensive, cost as much as an air intake for my bird. Crazy. But yeah they work. If car shows use em', then it's bound to make a difference. Worth to buy
Love your videos :D
Could you possibly make a video about vortices and vortex generators?
Thanks!
Likely so, yes.
You have earned a sub
I do not, though maybe someone else on here can help you out. I used to have a neighbor with a chipped 2500, but I have no idea what he used.
Can you do a video on tires, tire wear ratings, tire width and the affects of these on grip/traction?
Back in the old days of guys like Mickey Thompson there was no electronics! It was about listening to the motor and tuning the carb and timing for the best times!