First impressions of EcuTek tune on nearly stock Z

JARblue

Big to Joe @ Dynotronics for letting my Z be his guinea pig for the new EcuTek software. Since the software is still pretty much beta with new features still to be added (like map switching), this tune is a work in progress. Joe spent the past few days with the Z in his possession working on the tune, spending the majority of time on the fuel maps (the Z was running very rich). He also recalibrated my MAF sensors, and advanced (I think) the cam timing slightly (not VVEL). After we do some more data logging and Joe is completely satisfied with all of the adjustments, we will dyno the car with stock and tuned maps for comparison. When this happens will depend on any additional adjustments that need to be made as well as scheduling a time to get the Z back down to New Braunfels; please be patient in asking for numbers as it will likely be June or later before we get there.

**DISCLAIMER** Joe: please don't hesitate to jump in and clarify or correct anything. Everyone else: most of this tune stuff is pretty new to me, so if anything I post doesn't make sense, or is just plain wrong, please let me know. I'd appreciate constructive criticism rather than name calling, but I know that's not always possible

The good news is I am very happy with the tune, as there are some noticeable improvements, particularly with the throttle response. I won't go so far as to say the change is night and day, but it is significant enough that my clutch action seemed slightly behind the entire drive home yesterday (~1 hr). This morning was much better, and already I feel like I'm getting used to the vehicle again. I suspect in a week or so, the extra "peppy" feeling will be pretty much gone, but the car is definitely performing better. I feel like this is how the car should come stock, much like people who think the FI exhaust is how the car should sound stock. I will also be paying attention to see if the adjusted AFR affects my gas mileage in any way, but this is an after-thought as far as my expectations of the tune.

The bad news is my experience, and more specifically this review, is unlikely to be particularly helpful to the crowd who already has an Uprev tune. The improvements I am seeing after the tune are comparable to what I've read about Uprev results, although the EcuTek tuners claim that EcuTek's software shows a much better understanding of the Nissan ECUs than Uprev. I think that many of you will want to wait until the software has more development (i.e. more features are released), and I know many will want to see proven gains from those features not available with Uprev (i.e. VVEL control). Unfortunately, at this time, it looks like you guys will have to dive in head first yourselves or wait for others to share their results.

Here are some additional thoughts and observations. A cold start revs over 2K RPMs now (used to be around 1500 or less) with the same idle around 700 RPMs. We did not adjust the rev-limiter. I am very much looking forward to the addition of more features from EcuTek such as map switching (I desperately want valet mode) and TCS control (I am hoping we can turn off VDC and ABLS at the same time without losing ABS - Joe I know I haven't mentioned this but it's in the back of my mind).

And lastly, since this has already come up, I know some of you are wondering why a stock Z with only intakes would bother getting a tune. The main reason is Joe gave me such a smashing deal for letting my Z be the guinea pig that I couldn't pass it up (free tune, free dyno, license at cost). And right now, after the initial tune results, I am of the impression that a $600 EcuTek tune is much more beneficial to the Z than a $1000 CBE (performance-wise only - if you're primary goal is sound, then exhaust modification has no equal). As much as I want the Z to sound better, performance is a much higher priority.

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Chuck33079

Very nice. Hopefully the tuner chimes in with some specifics about what he did that he couldn't have done with Uprev.

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2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

kenchan

good stuff, congrats, mr.jar!

JARblue

As I mentioned in my review, I don't think this will be too useful for people trying to decide whether to make the switch. However, I am hoping that even a stock Z can show some benefits of features not available through Uprev. I know that Joe had to contact EcuTek to work through some things in the software, so clearly things are still in development. We are very early in the process with the software being so new and not fully released. I hope that down the road my experience can provide fellow forum members with more information and data on the EcuTek tune capabilities

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Chuck33079

My decision to switch will mainly come down to what they can do with the cams, timing and throttle. I'm basically ready to jump on this the moment I see what they're actually doing vs. the Uprev tune.

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2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

SouthArk370Z

IMNSHO, you post is more valuable than you think. I may not know exactly how well the EcuTek software/tune works but at least I now know it's not a bomb. I also found out that Joe and Dynotronics have at least one satisfied customer. Not the whole picture but it's a start. Thanks for posting.

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370Z JT

What are the preliminary numbers.

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Dynotronics1

having used the uprev software on a couple of cars here at the shop, I can tell you I was not very impressed with the GUI, or the table layout. I had about decided to sit on the sidelines where the Nissans were concerned until Ecutek told us they were developing the ProEcu suite for this platform.

I was not really sure what we would see on a atmo version of this car using this SW, but I can tell you, I was impressed!

We were easily able to correct the Maf calibration on James's car to get it hitting targets exactly on the mixture.

We then found a good fuel curve that the car like,and made decent tq on.

I spent quite a bit of time massaging the new timing maps that EcuTek inserted in the RaceRom patch. The initial table was a bit on the "bright" side, with the ecu pulling advance. With a bit of logging, and dialing in, we were able to get the RaceRom advance map working well. No there is not a huge amout to be made from advance, as the nissan logic is pretty damn good. But we were able to sneak in a few deg here and there to fatten the tq curve. Its not totaly done yet, but we were happy with the results.

We also did a bit of work on the intake advance tables. No I'm not going to tell you where or what we did, but will tell you we ere able to make so HUGE improvments in drivablity in the low to mid range.

And yes, I did spend time on the throttle tables, and was able to easily remove the laggy pedal issue.

Again, I'm not 100% finished with James's car, but I'm quite sure anybody that drives it back to back with a like stock car would be more than excited with the results. We will send James to an independant dyno shop sometime down the road and have him post his results of the before and after files for those of you that like to see dyno numbers. But I will tease you with this; the 15-80 rool on times decreased by a pretty good margin

JARblue

As I said in my post, there are none yet...

I have some dyno numbers from a while back but I will not be using them as a comparison since it was done in much different weather and on a different dyno (maxed at 283HP and 231TQ link). The butt dyno says there are some gains, but the better throttle response I'm sure is affecting my perception of that. Based on zero hard evidence, my guess is the current gains are somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 whp.

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JARblue

This is something I should have mentioned in my first post. This morning, I actually noticed a remarkable improvement along these lines. The torque at lower RPMs seems to be substantially improved. Cruising along in traffic, the need to downshift to close the gap in front of me was virtually gone. The throttle response being better certainly helps but it just feels like it pulls way more at lower and mid RPMs than ever before

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Chuck33079

I'm liking what I hear. Have you had a chance to compare it against a car that had been previously tuned on Uprev?

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2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

Dynotronics1

yes, in a road test, and on the track with the track car we have been playing with. Night and day difference

And from the tuners perspective, the software is far more well thought out, and the customer service from EcuTek is always the best in the industry

Chuck33079

I came here from the Subaru world, and Ecutek was always one of the best options there. I'm pretty excited that we're getting it.

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2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

theDreamer

Nice review and good to know how more details.
I know I have talked to Joe about having a cable and it is possible, just have to purchase it myself so that was one thing that helped make me like ECUtech more.

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chrischhorn

super excited about this!!

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