No one uses Megasquirt?
03-31-2009, 05:30 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SB
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No one uses Megasquirt?
Did a search, found like three threads...
So no one uses the $300 stand-alone wonder around here?
Has anyone used it on a 350Z yet? I notice it's also rather rare on 240 builds as well. (Friends and I have used it on several applications to date).
So no one uses the $300 stand-alone wonder around here?
Has anyone used it on a 350Z yet? I notice it's also rather rare on 240 builds as well. (Friends and I have used it on several applications to date).
03-31-2009, 07:43 PM
#2
Registered User
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: socal
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The folks at 2gnt.com (nonturbo 95-99 mitsu eclipse) used it and it was a godsend since we didn't have the ems systems like the 350z and honda's have. I think it will take time for the MS to tricly down since its a pretty diy project and most guys here tend to pay others to do there tuning...
04-01-2009, 06:07 AM
#4
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 2,252
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The amount of time you need to devote and not to mention the tuning required is just not practical for just fuel control. Fuel tuning alone is not enough. At that price with tuning and all the time you have spent is just not practical!! I believe Megasquirt II control timing but that is around $400-$500 and not to mention there will be no base map so you have to tune from scratch!! Oh, what about the cost of other sensor needed? You can go get an Osiris w/ a full tune without the headache and that gives you control with fuel and ignition. For FI application you can also get a Utec and also have full control of your fuel and ignition!! Also newer car has smart ECU so not sure how well can it work, you cant really remove the ECU on our car coz it control other feature so it need to work with it side by side.
Last edited by athenG; 04-01-2009 at 06:15 AM.
04-01-2009, 03:03 PM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Detroit, The Motor City
Posts: 949
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I build and setup a MegaSquirt in my 420a powered 2gnt. I loved it, and when I decide to setup something for fuel and spark MS will be it for sure. It's not easy to install, but tuning is straight forward if you understand how to tune a car.
04-01-2009, 03:51 PM
#6
Banned
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 1,095
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't see why you COULDN'T use a MegaSquirt. But why WOULD you?
There are better options, with more control already on the market. The MegaSquirt was a fair enough option on OBDI cars but with the technology in todays stock ECU there isn't a reason to worry about it.
By the same logic, why isn't anyone running Bias Ply tires on their cars anymore? Better options with more control.
There are better options, with more control already on the market. The MegaSquirt was a fair enough option on OBDI cars but with the technology in todays stock ECU there isn't a reason to worry about it.
By the same logic, why isn't anyone running Bias Ply tires on their cars anymore? Better options with more control.
Trending Topics
04-01-2009, 04:02 PM
#8
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
MSII would be a good DIY solution for vehicles that have little to NO computer controls... I am considering running this for fuel and spark on my project '69 Chevelle. It is very flexible, almost to a fault, it would seem. Lack of sequential injection is an issue for some.
04-01-2009, 07:39 PM
#11
Banned
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 1,095
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
MSII would be a good DIY solution for vehicles that have little to NO computer controls... I am considering running this for fuel and spark on my project '69 Chevelle. It is very flexible, almost to a fault, it would seem. Lack of sequential injection is an issue for some.
04-01-2009, 07:50 PM
#13
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Rapid City, SD Ellsworth AFB
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wouldn't say just the OBDI cars as alot of people in the neon world tuned OBDII on MS and had alot of success with it. I had the program installed on my laptop from my Neon days and it wasn't as bad as most people think. Just very time consuming. Very cheap alternative to Greddy E-manage or the only few other options that were available. For $400 bucks you could tune ignition, spark, fuel, pretty much everything you could do with a full EMS but alot cheaper.
Also the 2gnt cars have Neon DOHC engines with reversed heads. Fun fact.
Also the 2gnt cars have Neon DOHC engines with reversed heads. Fun fact.
04-01-2009, 07:57 PM
#14
Banned
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 1,095
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Prove me wrong, show me a Nissan 2003 or newer running on a $300 MegaSquirt that doesn't have some issue. Even the Sentra guys hate it on their QR25 motors, but it's all they have besides the SAFC stuff. They use it because they have no choice, then know it sucks and it's not safe, which is why they keep grenading motors.
$400 will get your stock ECU a full flash thats far safer than the MegaSquirt running as a piggyback because it can't run as a full standalone, unless you want to give up your gauges, ABS, etc etc.
If you want to go FI on your Nissan, then $400 + dyno tuning will get you everything you need to run up to the limit of the MAF. Add $224 to get the upgraded MAF and you're safe to the limit of the motor/fuel system up to 1000-ish HP. $900 gets you a full tuner system if you want to tune it yourself for whatever reason.
No wiring needed. No hoping the stock ECU doesn't adjust itself and screw up the tune you spent time dialing in on your MegaSquirt.
The only thing that was remotely neat about the MegaSquirt was the autotune function. You could give it a go and as long as your car wasn't that crazy/bleeding edge then it would do some basic adjustments. It's not a very fast processor (MSII is like 1/4 the speed of an 03 350Z ECU) but it worked decent enough. Only thing it did was keep you from having to build and keep base maps to get the car started and running before you tuned it. Neat, but not a good place to start your full dyno tune from. Most tuners still started with known values and built their tune from there.
And the comparison to Bias Plys is very valid. EMS doesn't mean it has capabilities. The newer generation EMS stuff that is coming out has technology from OEM ECU's of 5-10 years ago. An EMS company doesn't have the money to develop bleeding edge designs. OEMs build million plus units in an ECU run, the money they spend developing a single ECU generation at Nissan is multiples of the combined money spent by all aftermarket ECU manufacturers to date. There have been 7 generations on Nissan ECU since the 2003 model year. The way a current OEM ECU calculates and adjusts is far more complicated than a simple EMS like the MegaSquirt. There is a huge difference in technology and ability, as there is between BiasPly and Radial tires.
04-01-2009, 08:01 PM
#15
Banned
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 1,095
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wouldn't say just the OBDI cars as alot of people in the neon world tuned OBDII on MS and had alot of success with it. I had the program installed on my laptop from my Neon days and it wasn't as bad as most people think. Just very time consuming. Very cheap alternative to Greddy E-manage or the only few other options that were available. For $400 bucks you could tune ignition, spark, fuel, pretty much everything you could do with a full EMS but alot cheaper.
Also the 2gnt cars have Neon DOHC engines with reversed heads. Fun fact.
Also the 2gnt cars have Neon DOHC engines with reversed heads. Fun fact.
Also in a world where you have no other choice, it may be an option. If there are better safer faster choices, then why take a step backwards in technology?
04-01-2009, 08:39 PM
#16
$400 will get your stock ECU a full flash thats far safer than the MegaSquirt running as a piggyback because it can't run as a full standalone, unless you want to give up your gauges, ABS, etc etc.
No wiring needed. No hoping the stock ECU doesn't adjust itself and screw up the tune you spent time dialing in on your MegaSquirt.
Maybe not on a 350z but it has been done. Tuning it is just like any aftermarket piggyback/standalone, and IS MUCH BETTER THAN A REFLASH IMO. I know many that have turned a mid 15's car in to a high 11's car with a turbo and Megasquirt, never having any issues.
This is my favorite:
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/W...mpg_641894.htm
14psi on a 2.5L Mazda KLDE engine, powered by Megasquirt.
Last edited by BoostedProbe; 04-01-2009 at 08:46 PM.
04-02-2009, 10:59 AM
#18
I never said that there are things a reflash can't do. I just stated that in my oppinion, MS would be better than a reflash. Again, maybe not in the case of a 350z. It is just my point of view. There are many cars out there, where a reflash is simply not available and MS does the job just fine.
04-02-2009, 01:15 PM
#19
Banned
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 1,095
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I never said that there are things a reflash can't do. I just stated that in my oppinion, MS would be better than a reflash. Again, maybe not in the case of a 350z. It is just my point of view. There are many cars out there, where a reflash is simply not available and MS does the job just fine.
And thats not the point in this thread. He is on the my350z board asking about running a MegaSquirt on a particular car.