Minimally invasive mods – Part 1 | ECU Tuning only results - dyno
09-10-2010 | 12:18 PM
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Minimally invasive mods – Part 1 | ECU Tuning only results - dyno
This forum has provided me with some great information so I thought I would give some back.
I went to the local Nissan speed shop for an oil charge. All I had in mind was getting decent oil and having someone that knows the car do the job. Also, since this is my first experience with a Z and I have only had the ’07 (15K miles) for a couple of months, I had some general questions.
While I was having their best oil (Motul 300V) put into the car, I had a chat with Tuner man. I mentioned I saw a write-up on Stillen Gen 3 intakes in modified magazine (really it was an ad since it wasn’t subjective and merely contained info from Stillen’s website including Stillen’s dyno results) claiming 20 hp gains with no other mods.
Anyway, we started talking about things I could do to improve performance that would leave the car in a for-all-intents-and-purposes stock state or (easily reversible) as I plan on selling it. Three options were identified; Intake, Test Pipes and a Dyno Tune (ECU).
So, I was game and since the only thing that could be done right away was the Tune (no parts required), that’s what I did – on the spot, enlisting the services of a Dyno Dynamics dynamometer. I have come to learn that these heartbreaking dynos read up to 20% lower than others dynos. That didn’t matter as we were looking for the delta. Dyno charts/readings show raw dyno data with NO adjusting for temp, alt or other factors. Temperature was high 80’s and probably less than a 1000’ above sea level.
After 2 hours of tuning and some 20 pulls, this is the outcome. Note, the car is 100% stock (even tires). The bottom line figures are: start HP = ~245, end HP = ~263; start TQ = ~211, end TQ = ~231. Those are pretty big differences for just tuning the ECU. Air fuel ratio is almost a perfectly horizontal line ~ 12.8. All in all, the A/F ratio, Timing and Cams were tuned. So, how does it feel? A lot smoother power delivery but I can’t really say it feels faster. I guess 15 or so HP is not really significant in a 3K+ lbs car (my only other tuning reference in on a motorcycle).
My next move is the Test Pipes and a re-Tune. My concern is I don’t want a loud car unless I am really pushin it. I am thinking resonated and hoping they are not too loud at normal 2K – 3K rpm highway cruising speeds. And then go with the Gen 3 intakes and another re-Tune. Then call it quits and probably sell it (I really want a 911 TT). If you have any comments on the Test Pipes or Intake mods or sequence, I am all ears. Last thought, based on these numbers, I tend to think that the lion’s share of the gains from doing intakes comes from the associated tuning that would necessarily accompany the install if maximum results were to be realized.
I went to the local Nissan speed shop for an oil charge. All I had in mind was getting decent oil and having someone that knows the car do the job. Also, since this is my first experience with a Z and I have only had the ’07 (15K miles) for a couple of months, I had some general questions.
While I was having their best oil (Motul 300V) put into the car, I had a chat with Tuner man. I mentioned I saw a write-up on Stillen Gen 3 intakes in modified magazine (really it was an ad since it wasn’t subjective and merely contained info from Stillen’s website including Stillen’s dyno results) claiming 20 hp gains with no other mods.
Anyway, we started talking about things I could do to improve performance that would leave the car in a for-all-intents-and-purposes stock state or (easily reversible) as I plan on selling it. Three options were identified; Intake, Test Pipes and a Dyno Tune (ECU).
So, I was game and since the only thing that could be done right away was the Tune (no parts required), that’s what I did – on the spot, enlisting the services of a Dyno Dynamics dynamometer. I have come to learn that these heartbreaking dynos read up to 20% lower than others dynos. That didn’t matter as we were looking for the delta. Dyno charts/readings show raw dyno data with NO adjusting for temp, alt or other factors. Temperature was high 80’s and probably less than a 1000’ above sea level.
After 2 hours of tuning and some 20 pulls, this is the outcome. Note, the car is 100% stock (even tires). The bottom line figures are: start HP = ~245, end HP = ~263; start TQ = ~211, end TQ = ~231. Those are pretty big differences for just tuning the ECU. Air fuel ratio is almost a perfectly horizontal line ~ 12.8. All in all, the A/F ratio, Timing and Cams were tuned. So, how does it feel? A lot smoother power delivery but I can’t really say it feels faster. I guess 15 or so HP is not really significant in a 3K+ lbs car (my only other tuning reference in on a motorcycle).
My next move is the Test Pipes and a re-Tune. My concern is I don’t want a loud car unless I am really pushin it. I am thinking resonated and hoping they are not too loud at normal 2K – 3K rpm highway cruising speeds. And then go with the Gen 3 intakes and another re-Tune. Then call it quits and probably sell it (I really want a 911 TT). If you have any comments on the Test Pipes or Intake mods or sequence, I am all ears. Last thought, based on these numbers, I tend to think that the lion’s share of the gains from doing intakes comes from the associated tuning that would necessarily accompany the install if maximum results were to be realized.
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