EFI Experience Thread

[GTsRasta]

I think the stock rev limit is still pretty safe. I've beaten it to hell and back with perfect 8,400 rpm shifts many times, and my econobox is still holding up fine. But then again...I only go in a straight line . But I guess you guys won't exactly be holding out accelerating through a corner, and not taking advantage of the extra revs...

If you're going to stay on the stock motor, that would be even more reason to invest in a J&S safeguard, assuming they come out with the new version sometime before we turn old, unless it's out now.

[Bgwilly31]

Originally Posted by Maypo

As my car has DBW throttle, I am struggling with idle misbehavior. I haven't been able to get instruction on how to massage that, but Kris@DRS is scheduled for a fly-and-tune service in a couple weeks, and I understand that meticulous tuning can make the idle serviceable for those like me don't want to spend another grand on the EFI 'idle module.' That session will be combination tuning and training, and I hope to feel like I 'm in chagre thereafter.
.

I was inches away from pulling the trigger on the Exige S power package.

This "idle issue" Is the only thing holding me back. Im very saddened that the only solution to the problem is $1k fix to what is supposed to be a complete product out of the (package). Its not really a package if you have to buy a $1k module to make the package work properly.

As of right now i guess i will have to sit back and wait for somebody to figure out the problem or wait on another product to bring my Exige S to its proper Power level.

[Kris from DRS]

Originally Posted by Bgwillyelise

I was inches away from pulling the trigger on the Exige S power package.

This "idle issue" Is the only thing holding me back. Im very saddened that the only solution to the problem is $1k fix to what is supposed to be a complete product out of the (package). Its not really a package if you have to buy a $1k module to make the package work properly.

As of right now i guess i will have to sit back and wait for somebody to figure out the problem or wait on another product to bring my Exige S to its proper Power level.

I've, as well as Casey at FF, recommend to drill a .080 to .090" hole in the throttle plate and the idle is much more stable. I recently tuned a car for a customer who did not go for the DBW controller and it idles fine after this modification was done.

The reason there is an additional module for the DBW cars is b/c the system was originally designed for the '05 non-DBW cars. Instead of redesigning the entire ECU around this (not a realisitc option at this volume) we opted for the external DBW controller. The fact is that even if you spend an extra $1K for the DBW control you are still getting a pro-level ECU system for much less than what other comperable motorsport level systems would cost.

We know there are less expensive tuning solutions out there. But if you're looking for a self-editable ECU with powerful software this is the product.

[jim-clayton]

There are many advantages to having the EFI stand alone. I started looking into what equipment was needed to monitor my Lotus ecu tune. The simple
ODBII scanner with canbus doesn't work well on the Lotus. Especially the 06 and up cars. There's a delay and some have reported the info is incorrect or inaccurate. I had / have an A/F gauge but thats not enough. How could I monitor timing, fuel etc? Not an inexpensive undertaking.


I want to add headers and intake. The Lotus ecu would have to be reflashed.
The reflash wouldn't give me me max HP. It's flashed on a bench half way across the country. It will be in the ballpark but not tuned to my car, altitude, etc.

With the EFI you can monitor everything real time. A great side benefit I think. External data logging for the Lotus ecu would be at least $2000.00

I'm no expert but the upside on the EFI is huge. I can tune for max HP and
change my car configuration anytime I want. I can add a second map for 100 octane. I can change my rev limit for city driving etc etc.

I too had sticker shock when I first looked at EFI a couple of years ago.
I really didn't understand everything it could do.

Now I consider it a bargain.

my 2 cents

[Stephen]

I've been gone for a while and did not read this entire thread. My experience with the EFI has been nothing but positive, but I did use it on an '05 non-DBW car. On my FF 340 Elise it made much more power than the Unichip piggy-back that I had at the time (I realize that with the other solutions out there that the Unichip is propably really old news that no one even talks about anymore; the new guys probably don't even know what a Uni-chip is ), and it was much smoother and allowed for much more control and better multiple maps and ...etc

This was back in Mar of 2007 when Casey flew out to install and tune the EFI on my 340 Elise and it was excellent then; with all of the work done since then and experience gained by Khris and Casey, it must be better than ever right now. As for DBW idle issues; that does suck. If the $1K solution works perfectly, then I personally would pony up the cash.

[Dragon]

Tagged for future reference as I plan on doing this some time in the future..

[Kris from DRS]

Originally Posted by Dragon

Tagged for future reference as I plan on doing this some time in the future..

PM sent.

[jim-clayton]

The freedom of EFI.

Just installed a nice intake. No CEL worries here.

I'm not going to mention the extra 20hp I have gotten so far (just EFI and Phil's map).

New HP doesn't include new headers, smaller pulley and intake.

New dyno next week.

[2-Y-CHROMOSOMES]

Originally Posted by jim-clayton

The freedom of EFI.

Just installed a nice intake. No CEL worries here.

I'm not going to mention the extra 20hp I have gotten so far (just EFI and Phil's map).

New HP doesn't include new headers, smaller pulley and intake.

New dyno next week.

Congrats

[turbophil]

Ah, the power of tuning!

I didn't have time to perfect things really and I'm obviously not tuning for peak power, I'm just looking for the power under the curve as they say- For me that's 4,000 to 8,000 rpms... Check out the average torque gains

The dip at the came change can be tuned out, but again, it was late in the date and the dyno operator wanted to go home... This is close enough for now though...

Best,

Phil

[turbophil]

For a point of reference, This chart shows Darksol's car today as well. Same dyno, same day... His dynoing was done earlier in the day as he had to go home... I did too.... but than I came back

So I "fixed" the torque issue. Here you can see his Katana tune next to my rough EFI tune...

His car has FF headers, bigger TB, and the 2.5" vonhep (I have the 2.25" Vonhep)...

He's the green graph and I'm the blue and red with the red being the final for the day...

Importantly, the tq is up a bunch and I'm running a lot more fuel... more power on a richer mix

Awe, the power of tuning

Best,

Phil

[darkSol]

Originally Posted by turbophil

His dynoing was done earlier in the day as he had to go home... I did too.... but than I came back

Great morning of tuning - and after I left this morning I just KNEW that Phil couldn't let well enough alone - once he gets that itch he can't scratch... anyway

Originally Posted by turbophil

His car has FF headers, bigger TB, and the 2.5" vonhep

AND THE STOCK 3.4" PULLEY...

A couple of weeks ago we were worried about the AFRs with the 3.2" pulley and the Katana tune so until I jump into the fray and get the EFI we decided that the best course of action would be to retrofit the original 3.4" pulley in the kit.

After 250 miles of driving the AFR's have come back into the high 12's / low 13's...

BUT here's the real kicker... last week I installed a true 2.5" AreaP / VonHep exhaust, replacing my wonderful 2bular unit... which is going up for sale soon!

Anyway see the results below - last August's initial SC install is in blue, today's was in red - more HP across the board!

Gotta love 230whp out of a stock Katana tune with the stock Katana 3.4" pulley! I think my car's running fine!

[Kris from DRS]

Originally Posted by turbophil

For a point of reference, This chart shows Darksol's car today as well. Same dyno, same day... His dynoing was done earlier in the day as he had to go home... I did too.... but than I came back

So I "fixed" the torque issue. Here you can see his Katana tune next to my rough EFI tune...

His car has FF headers, bigger TB, and the 2.5" vonhep (I have the 2.25" Vonhep)...

He's the green graph and I'm the blue and red with the red being the final for the day...

Importantly, the tq is up a bunch and I'm running a lot more fuel... more power on a richer mix

Awe, the power of tuning


Best,

Phil

Looking good Phil.

[Jean]

Great Darksol
But what was your low compression issue ?

[Dave]

Dave/Phil,

Glad to hear all is well...looking real good! Dave, so what's with the compressions? Something just isn't jiving there.

[charliex]

as far as we've found, the difference in hp between the 3.2 and 3.4 just isn't worth the added effort/stress anyway.

why does phils sheet showing darksols car, look way different to darksols sheet showing his car? its a bit hard to make out.

[turbophil]

Originally Posted by charliex

as far as we've found, the difference in hp between the 3.2 and 3.4 just isn't worth the added effort/stress anyway.

why does phils sheet showing darksols car, look way different to darksols sheet showing his car? its a bit hard to make out.

Different Scales. His graph is the same as what I posted, but he forces the same scale for HP and TQ. I like to have different scales so that I can see the TQ changes easier. No doubt that forcing the scales to be the same looks prettier. However, you just can't see what's going on with the real power (torque) since it's being vertically scrunched due to the HP being a much larger number than the TQ...

Make sense?

Best,

Phil

[turbophil]

Here ya go Charlie

Here's both forced and seperate scales with just or final runs...

Very interesting...Notice when our respective rev limiters went off.___ mine is lower than the Lotus/Katana ECU and I have not changed mine since the valve dropping issue... You can also see how the Lotus/Katana rev limit cuts fuel where the EFI cuts timing (known as the "soft" rev limit) by looking at Dave's AFRs at the rev cut vs. my AFRs...

Best,

Phil

[MaineLotus]

Originally Posted by darkSol

BUT here's the real kicker... last week I installed a true 2.5" AreaP / VonHep exhaust, replacing my wonderful 2bular unit... which is going up for sale soon!

Muffler looks familiar, very nice!

[charliex]

ahh ok, i didnt notice the scaling was different that explains it.

the stock ecu cuts fuel and timing, its got a hard and a soft.