ECUTek or AP Engine Management

Just trying to get a feel of who is running with engine management. Right now I am running with ECUTek.
Modifications:

Injen Cold Air Intake
TurboXS DownPipe with HighFlow cat
Authentic JDM STi Catback
Greddy Front Strut Bar
Tein Lowering Springs

Had the K&N Typhoon intake but it gave me problems

 

ecutek

 

I have it, may be moving to Ecutek in April depending on how streettuner goes. But so far no problems with it

 

Accessport stage 2 and loving it....

 

Another AP Stage 2 owner. I'm VERY satisfied as well. No CEL and plenty of boost.

 

well... i'm running prodrive which is similar to the ecutek solution.

it really just depends on what you want to go with, both are excellent and reliable solutions:

Cobb AP:
PRO: user-defined maps, you can change maps according to changes in upgrades, by downloading the appropriate/approximate map from cobb. you also have the option of switching "modes" (economy, valet, drag/ track, etc)
CON: you won't get quite as much out of the mod/map as a custom tune (i *think* cobb will get you around 16.5-17.5lbs @ stage II)

ECUtek:
PRO: with a good tuner (i would recommend scott at subaru of gwinnett), you can usually get higher performance gains out of your mods. (i'm running @ about 19.5lbs)
CON: every time you add something that you want to take full advantage of, you will need to get the chipset remapped by the tuner.

...a matter of need/want/preference/cost.

 

EcuTek here. Monk hit it on the head. More gains with EcuTek custom tuned to your specific car as opposed to base tuning based on wide variety of cars with similar mods like Cobb. It will be interesting to see how Street Tuner will work out with the Cobb. If it is anything like EcuTek after that, I would still go with EcuTek. There is alot that someone can mess up if they don't know what they are doing.

 

Scott up at SOG told me that AP was something along the lines of "a generic Ecutek tune in a box"

Both reflash your ECU but the AP uses a generic tune.

Keep in mind that until Street tuner comes out you're stuck having to run a setup similar to one of the Cobb stages.

 

Maybe I'm just lucky but...I hit .13Mpa's with AP stage 2, which is around 18.75 psi...As for HP gains, I'll let you know after dyno day pretty soon here.

 

from what i've heard from others running CSII you do sound pretty lucky... i haven't heard anyone pushing that much from that setup except for you... good stuff :bigthumb:

can't wait to meet some of you guys (at some damn point), when i have some more free time.

 

Good points everyone has made. But, in my case. I had ECUTek. I was very disapointed with my dyno results. I had a K&N Typhoon, borla headers, TurboXS turboback. The car felt like it had too much torque and not enough HP. When I removed the headers and exhaust, the carbon buildup was incredible. I was running way too rich. Once i switched over to AP there was no carbon buildup in the exhaust and the car is running alot smoother and it feels faster. I have not install the header. I will once COBB has a map for them or if I get the Street Tuner. I guess the moral of the story if you want something done right just do it yourself.

 

scott said that out of the 25+ sti's he's tuned, 2-3 had headers and they made low hp

 

I'm getting 17.4 psi with CS2.

 

I heard the same thing. But the ESX-STi is running with headers and ECUTek and it running 425HP so the headers can't be the problem http://www.esxmotorsports.com/sti performance/esx_sti.htm The design of the ESX headers and the Borla headers is identical

 

I am getting just about 18psi with the AP Stage 2 93oct. Thats only by looking at my autometer boost gauge

 

maybe the headers work well for the power levels of a BIG turbo... but with the vf39, they may be detrimental?

just a thought... don't hold me to it cuz im not a tuner

 

i correct myself... thats 425 estimated at the crank right... dyno plot shows about 320whp, 350+ lb-ft... hmmm... so its not that much more than a vf39 can put out...

 

You might be right. I am not a tuner either

 

I haven't read enough on the ESX-STi to know if it comes with a vf39 turbo but the plot does show about 320whp. Who know I might buy it. :bigthumb:

 

Im thinking about going with the ecutek. How much does SoG charge for the reflash and tune, does anyone know? Has everyone with ecutek been pleased with the gains it made??

 

I just got my reflash about 2 and a half weeks ago from SoG. Price is 850 for the reflash and 2 hours of road tuning. I had to pay for an additional hour of tuning just to get everything running smoothly. I am very, very pleased with the results. I am pushing about 18.5 to 19 PSI boost. They car pulls hard thru 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. In 4th it has about as much pull as 3rd stock. Very very happy. Gas mileage has increased as well.

 

im lovin the ecutek

 

Thats sick! i want mine so bad.