ecu tuning

[theSOB]

so i got a pt6 ecu before realizing that it can't be tuned very much. i heard to that i should get a po6 and get a base map to run my car. my question is, what all do i need to do for an ecu to run my f22a1 with h23 IM with IAB hooked up and be able to tune it for performance?

[kirk90]

From what I hear you dont have to tune an ecu for what mods you have. The Pt6 will do fine.

[deevergote]

Exactly. You don't NEED to tune. You'd benefit from a good tune, sure... but it's not necessary.

Tuning an ECU requires quite a bit of knowledge, and some fairly expensive tools.
You'd need a proper tuning program (Uberdata and Crome are popular free ones, Crome has a paid version with more options). You'll also need a wideband o2 sensor, a datalogger (such as the Moates Hulog), a ROM burner... and for better tuning, a vac gauge, EGT sensor... and of course, the knowledge necessary to use it all!

Asking this question is kinda like saying "I realized that Forza 3 doesn't quite do whatever I want it to do... can anyone tell me how to program my own racing game?"

We have an ECU Tuning subforum in the Performance section of this site. Take a look in there.

[theSOB]

Exactly. You don't NEED to tune. You'd benefit from a good tune, sure... but it's not necessary.

Tuning an ECU requires quite a bit of knowledge, and some fairly expensive tools.
You'd need a proper tuning program (Uberdata and Crome are popular free ones, Crome has a paid version with more options). You'll also need a wideband o2 sensor, a datalogger (such as the Moates Hulog), a ROM burner... and for better tuning, a vac gauge, EGT sensor... and of course, the knowledge necessary to use it all!

Asking this question is kinda like saying "I realized that Forza 3 doesn't quite do whatever I want it to do... can anyone tell me how to program my own racing game?"

We have an ECU Tuning subforum in the Performance section of this site. Take a look in there.

i've read thru the tuning subforum a bit and have learned a lot more than i knew prior to coming here. however, i do not feel confident enough to dive in quite yet. i was just hoping in the future to be able to tune my car for performance. i just bought the pt6 and after reading i see that nothing more than timing can be tuned. that is y i was thinking about getting the po6 instead. how hard would it be to get it to run my engine like the pt6 but just be able to tune it in the future? or is that all the tools you were listing above that i would need?

[deevergote]

You would need those tools to tune it.

You could get a P06 and run someone else's tune... there are plenty of people with similar mods. It would work, but it wouldn't be 100% correct. Probably not off enough to cause any damage. For it to really benefit you, you'd need to properly tune it (or get it tuned by someone that can do it)


Really, the ECU isn't something you'd need to worry about just yet. Once you add a camshaft, you could benefit more... a Bisimoto header, certainly... headwork, new internals... absolutely. The simple mods you have now, you MIGHT see an additional 5hp... maybe more, I dunno... but not a whole lot. You could increase fuel economy, though. I had MRX (who isnt' around much anymore) tune my P28 for my H22A. I went from 25mpg to 28-30mpg.

[theSOB]

You would need those tools to tune it.

You could get a P06 and run someone else's tune... there are plenty of people with similar mods. It would work, but it wouldn't be 100% correct. Probably not off enough to cause any damage. For it to really benefit you, you'd need to properly tune it (or get it tuned by someone that can do it)


Really, the ECU isn't something you'd need to worry about just yet. Once you add a camshaft, you could benefit more... a Bisimoto header, certainly... headwork, new internals... absolutely. The simple mods you have now, you MIGHT see an additional 5hp... maybe more, I dunno... but not a whole lot. You could increase fuel economy, though. I had MRX (who isnt' around much anymore) tune my P28 for my H22A. I went from 25mpg to 28-30mpg.

ok thats what i was wondering. the upgrades you listed that would benefit from a tune are what i am planning on doing eventually. just trying to be prepared. i'll probably just use the pt6 until then.

[wed3k]

honestly, you need a dyno to tune or someway to make consistent runs. p06 with a f22 basemap and with a wideband, adjust according to the afr's.

[deevergote]

A street tune can even out the AFR, but only a dyno will produce maximum power (though some confident street tuners said their street tunes have been very close to dyno tunes)

[wed3k]

part throttle tuning is also very important for driveability. you're not driving everywhere even on a track at WOT.