suggestions

i wont be modding soon $$$, but i still like to talk about mod schedule, being a novice and everything. More of a driver than a tuner.

Siegel once told me the stock ECM map runs SUPER rich after 2700rpms.

I'm wondering what would be the best mod to work first. People say up-pipe makes a huge difference, but Siegel told me you can see serious gains on stock just by having a better map. which would be better for the car?

or is there another option to consider?

 

Uppipe and downpipe are usually good starters, or you could just got straight to engine management. It all depends on what EM you want to go with. If you are going to do Accessport then that would be good to start with, but if you are doing EcuTek, do the up down first, no point in having to pay again to get it tuned once you get those parts.

 

here is some help

 

i was looking for more of a 'why.' In an overall picture sort of sense.

I mean, my wrx is my beater. I still care about things like gas milage and primary reliability.

I've learned what an obstruction that cat is as far as gas milage, but isn't throwing tons of fuel into the works just as bad?

If I only have one mod every year, I like to scrutinize it more. Call me whiny but I have lots of bills...

 

Engine Management will tune your car better than factory. Every aspect of your engine is controlled and optimized for maximum performance. With good EM you gas mileage will generally increase as does hp and tq.

Your choice in EM will affect your your first mod. If you go with Accessport, you can decide to get new mods at any tiime and load new maps to configure the ECU to what you have. Maps I believe are free for download so you are more free to buy on a whim.

EcuTek has to be tuned. You will generally get more power, better gas mileage with EcuTek, but the fact that you have to take it somewhere to get it tuned makes it more expensive in the long run. You can somewhat plan ahead and tune for things you are going to do in the future, but only slightly. Then supposing you do get up/dp you have to get retuned. Tuning on average is $150/hr.

Up/dp will give you quicker spool up, about 15-20 hp on average, and about the same gas mileage. It will also increase sound, you will be able to hear your turbo more. Gains increase if you have EM to calibrate for mods you have.

 

here's a good guide...

http://www.wrxtuners.com/tuning-guide/power-stage1.php

 

so the accessport is an actual replacement of the factory module that you program yourself?

is the ecutek the same thing, only you can't program it yourself/ its proprietary somehow?

same gas milage as stock? or as an EM upgrade?

thanks for the insight.

thanks for the info. *reads*

 

ecutek changes no actual hardware, just the software in your ecu

 

TURBOBACK!!!

 

Gas mileage will decrease slightly with up/dp, but more so as your foot gets heavier, the more power the heavier your foot becomes. It might not be true for everyone, but I think most of us would agree with the above statement.

 

:werd: That power is awesome!! And sooooo addictive!!!!

-drums

 

Okay, so the ecutek reprograms your stock computer? Is Ecutek a service or a product? I got the impression I'm looking at this things site, and its a service. The 'product' that performs the flash is not sold to individuals.

Also, looking at cobb tuning, the Accessport is also a tool to change the software in the computer, but is something you can program yourself.

To me, this sounds like Accessport is a more powerful tool for someone who is up to snuff, is that right?

 

Again it all depends on what you are looking to do. EcuTek, bigger gains, safer, but not able to be tuned yourself. get something new, have to go and pay to get tuned.

Accessport, slightly lower gains, not as safe, but you load maps yourself. Get something new, upload a new map.

 

is there any actual reason why the ecutek maps are better?



*absorbing info/exp like a sponge*

 

ecutek is better b/c it's not maps, it's custom. Kinda like getting a suit made by a tailor vs. buying your size at a store... the custom suit is going to fit better, but if you get fat or grow, you'll have to change it.

 

okay, it just seems like they're the same thing. Ecutek is providing a tuning/programming service using their custom inhouse software, ProECU tools to make. . .well, a program.

I thought that's all a map was, a map to guide the computer with.

so, up & down will cause gas milage to worsen?

 

Doing up and dp should improve you gas mileage *IF* you can keep your foot out of it. You are removing a restriction, letting the car "burn" less energy just breathing in and out.

Ecutek is custom tunable. Accessport, without the StreetTuner is NOT custom-tunable. You can download "off-the-shelf" maps, but they are an attempt to fit your setup, not generally as accurate to custom tuning. There are a lot of threads like "AP" only gains 9 or 15 hp...

It is good that you can download other maps, but they will all be "off-the-shelf" maps, not actually custom to your car.

With Ecutek you would want to come back in and get tuned after a mod, but it could be as little as a half hour or an hour, so only $60-$120 to make sure that it's running right.

SS

 

thats an awesome description and so very true!

 

thanks! :bigthumb: only if i could order my custom suit

 

the only reason i say go up/down first is because if u go with a tune..right after you do up/downpipe you will have to pay again for another tune...versus going up/downpipe then tuning

 

my commute is 60 miles daily of hwy. Hoping that milage improves.

so the thing that Cobb is selling for about $600 isn't customisable? its just pre-set maps, like a bad stereo graphic eq?

http://cobbtuning.com/wrx/accessport.html

you'd have to buy something else on top of that to actually program to it?

 

yes..ecutek all the way..you will be %100 satisfied..i know i am

 

I say it depends on how crazy your going to go. I have an accessport that I'm very happy with. With an up/down pipe with an axel back and CAI I put down 232 at the wheels. This is around 62HP more than stock and on the higher end of WRX's without a bigger Turbo installed(see dyno day results). Milo has more HP than Me with ecutek but for what $$ difference? I think the map's Cobb puts out are pretty decent for plug and play. On the other hand, the maps are pretty limited. Once you get much past the mods I've done is where custom tuning comes into play. Not to mention with the AP you can download/switch maps in minutes, you can read/clear CEL codes and use as a turbo gauge.

So...Like I said, If your going to get pretty extensive with your mods down the line get ECUTEK, If your going to do the basic's AP is the way to go..

Just my .02

 

this is true...

 

Also forgot to add, I'm getting 2 more miles per gallon after these mods and thats with a pretty damn heavy foot....Which is coming in handy as gas prices go thru the f'n foof...

 

or even the f'n roof...I can type I swear....

 

downpipe!