Uprev.vs. Ecutek
 

I've been looking at EcuTek performance in particular on the 7AT platform. The RaceRom they provide looks amazing. A lot more options especially for FI applications.

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Originally Posted by ANMVQ View Post
So I finally did it and bought EcuTek and going to Etunes with Viscotti. I when finished I will go back to my dyno and get pulls done. Same car same mods only thing changing is the software lets see what happens. Dyno is the 13th @9am!

BTW UPREV and my tuner are awesome something I have wanted to see for over a year and no one else did it so why not me LOL .

I also am on my 3rd Flash already as John and I started this on Saturday turn around time is super and the communications have been very good also .

Some note so far ( 1 day driving)
The car feels good but still only have really one full day of driving including the morning drive to work. A quick "butt" feel is the cars throttle response and part throttle doesn't feel as smooth as UPREV ;/. Part throttle-- there seems to but a little back and feel before the car smooths out ( Nothing crazy) and the throttle response feels a bit delayed( On the UPRV the car really felt VERY close to a drive-by wire) The WOT pulls I have done feel a bit harder but its really hard to say. The shifting feels about the same but the shifts felt a bit firmer with UPREV :/. Not sure we've done anything with the line pressure yet?

I know we are still working through things so I'm sure we will iron these out for sure . I really LOVED that I could see knock and see it was ZERO! I was looking through my logs when I had a few free minuets while working on the house this weekend.

Ask them to address the lack of firmness in your shift? MY Ecutek experience is the same regarding the lack of firmness which is critical on our 7AT platform."

On of the most important issues for the 7AT is the transmission especially when boosted the (Line pressure increase for the 7AT is critical!!!) which prevents the transmission from slipping and increases the firmness of the shifts. One great feature that existed in Uprev was that.

However I would like to gather feedback from those who have bee tuned via ECUTEK and are 7AT (Automatic). How does the firmness and the shifting feel compared to Uprev?

Hey man I am a 7spd auto. The shifts are FIRMER that what I had with UPREV, When I got WOT and shift the really shifts hard,( Shift kit) when I watch my vids front the track and can actually see the car "jerk" when it shifts in a good way LOL.. An as far as normal DD driving the tranny is awesome smooth transitions up or down. Jon really nailed it for me.

I had an Uprev for my VQ35 HR 5 speed and did tweak it a bit using the tuner version. The only huge improvement that I noticed or felt regarding a firmer shifting of tranny is when I totally changed the ATF via pan drain plug and cooler line. Proper amount of ATF was added at 70k miles. ( I did it in my garage) Huge improvement! When I shift this time, there is a little force that push you forward not hesitating or lagging using manual mode.

Right now I have a Q40 with Ecutek, etune is not finish yet, still the car shifting is not firm if I drive it less aggressive (below 3.5k rpm). Also, there is a bit engine strain when you gun it. As I said it before, John Visconti is not done with my Etuning. We are still on MAp 3 revision 4. He has a lot of catching up to do...

This. John did the same for me. Very happy.

I am worried about the transmission health. I love Ecutek features but when John tuned my twin sc at the time I felt a difference in the way the car shifted. It was Firmed with Uprev and not so much with Ecutek as it felt a little lethargic when it shifted.

I truly hope that Ecutek can match the increase line pressure feature the way Uprev has done.

ECUTEK actually doesn't change the line pressure it's changes the expected TQ. There is a table that Jon has to change for this :)

So it differs from Uprev in that area where as Uprev has increase line pressure feature.

Thanks for that info. So you would exclaim that your shift is firmer and smoother with Ecutek?

Yes I would. With ECUTEK my shifting is better and smoother than UPREV, :tup:

An yes its different than UPREV. I had a conversation with Jon about it cause I wanted to understand how the software changes the shift firmness. He was really cool about explaining it to me.

Ecutek is the bomb

Some questions in the differences between UpREV and Ecutek:

1) EcuTek is still using Base Fuel Schedule in their maps, or uses a more standard Load Value (0%-100%)?
2) Time Advance Map is still using milliseconds to Max Pressure or is a real Time Advance Map (degrees BTDC)?
3) The maps are all in 16x16 (AFR, Compensation, TA), or AFR is less defined as UpREV?
4) The ECU of my MY2009 1EL5B is managed in Ecutek?

Thanks

:tup:

So Ecutek can't change line pressure? Isn't increasing line pressure important for a boosted 7AT?

1) No longer uses BFS at all. In order to change fueling, you change injector size/MAF voltages. So for instance, if you're running 1000cc's, you literally go into your "fuel injector" table, and put in 1000, and it scales it for you.
2) Timing is set as real timing using a (don't quote me) 20x24 table
3) AFR tables are 20x24
4) I'll see if I can pull this up later. Keep in mind there are 1mb roms which have less functions then other roms.

I know UpRev has been updated abit lately, so has it caught up to EcuteK?

I need to know which one is the best one to use when I have my TT 370Z build tuned which has 7sp AT.

Is Uprev better for the 7AT in terms of tuning the transmission for it?

I asked Ecutek if they allow control of Line pressure, and I don't understand much of what they replied, Im still a noob sorry. Maybe some can help me here:


"Hello,

As far as we can find there are no direct maps in the ECU that control the TCM line pressure, the same effect can be found by increasing the torque demand and torque actual maps which output signals on the CAN bus to the TCM and these values effect line pressure set by the TCM. We don't have direct control of the TCM at yet but i believe other software uses the same maps but calls them line pressure maps but cant be 100% sure.
"

For any boosted 370, ecutek is hands down the better software. It has more features and better control over the ecu like speed density, flex fuel, boost/traction control, and ignition timing. im not sure about the features for the 7at, thats a question for seb.

Ok. Well I asked Fast Intentions the same question and they replied that it does and they have custom tunes written specifically for this through their tuner.

Uprev hasn't surpassed Ecutek in no form or fashion. The best EMS software is EcuTek. The latter has more control over the ECU than Uprev. Also Ecutek is able to manage the line pressure on the Automatics.

Real Auto Dynamic in Queens has informed me of why the use UpRev vs. Ecutek for N/A vehicles.

"The new update that UpRev recently came out with offers the same exact features as Ecutek. For N/A cars we normally recommend UpRev because we've seen the same gains if not alittle better because UpRev is straight to the point with custom tuning especially with N/A cars. If your car was boosted that is when we would recommend going EcuTek because they have larger log tables for boost and calibration, where for an N/A car would have no use for those tables.

Depending on what performance mods you've done to the car up to the time of the tune is how we decide on what software to use, and with your setup I would stick with UpRev. Since you are manual for $100 more UpRev has released their new ARC features which include flat-foot shifting, 2-step launch control, rolling anti-lag and a burnout mod.

But at the end of the day, with custom tuning it's all in the hands of the tuner. The software only does so much as to help organize the calibrations it's really up to the tuner and his math to give you the gains you are looking for. A Lot of people dont understand that, they get confused with custom tuning and ecu flashes. "

Can someone tell me more about those new Uprev ARC features ?

I would have to agree with Real Auto Dynamic. I do all my own tuning with Uprev and with the recent major update they have cleaned up their software a lot and added the ARC add on across all G and Z platforms. Like Real Auto Dynamic stated with the ARC add-on you get flat-foot shifting (no need to let off gas when shifting... reduces shift time and gives a little extra power going into your next gear), 2-step launch control (adjustable VIA cruse control. Once car is at proper temps. simply hold down clutch and throttle to start 2-step and use cruse control toggle to raise and lower launch RPM), rolling anti-lag (more for turbo guys but still useful) and a burnout mod (lets you use throttle and brake at the same time).

What they didn't mention is you also get simplified ignition timing tables with the ARC add-on. Basically your ignition timing tables move to the ARC drop down and use proper deg. from TDC instead of the P.O.S. burn time numbers. you can also specify at what RPM to start using the simplified timing numbers and there are additional tables for retarding ignition timing based on knock, oil temp, and air temp, (water temp as well.. can't remember). These tables basically over ride the car's normal timing table and give you full control. (BTW if you enable the ARC add-on the preset ignition timing is mildly aggressive, 33deg max near top end, you will have to run premium unless you reduce the timing) This is all available for an additional $100.

The ARC Add-on works similar to the original license and gets branded to the ECU. Once you buy the add-on and add it to your cable a drop down with "ARC Toggles" will appear and you can select what ARC features to enable.. (all of them obv.) then it's just a matter of flashing the ECU. If you don't have the tuner version of Uprev your local tuner can hook you up.. It's worth the $100 for sure. In addition to alllll this Uprev also made some tweeks to their VVEL tables and also corrected some things that were giving FI guys some problems (being able to do negative ign. timing, stuff like that) it's still MAF based so not the greatest for FI but will still be ok for mild SC setups and stuff like that.

I actually don't mind Uprev.. software.. Their customer service is beyond sh*t though. Unless your waving money in front of them don't expect a reply. I have tried multiple times on multiple occasions, with various emails (including direct to one of their employees, which I obtained after buying an additional license from them) to get answers to things like the difference between the "Driveability A and B" maps for cam timing and VVEL, or as to when they might (or if at all) be re-enabling the DTC toggles and got absolutely nothing back.