ECU changes
#41
03-12-2011, 09:23 AM
Veteran Member
There are a number of European tuners reprogramming the ECU's, and a number of their "trainees" are now setup in the U.S.--mostly in larger cities. Most of their success comes from remapping the fuel injections on turbo gas engines. They can take the 227 hp Volvo engine to 270 hp without other mods, for example. On a normally aspirated engine, I would think they'd get 20 hp--scarcely worth the trouble. They better really know what they're doing--to keep from frying an engine.
My 7.3 Superduty diesel has had an 80 hp econo ECM flash. Before, I could barely chirp a tire. Now, I can light both rear tires up at 25 mph when I stomp on it.
And, I went from 18 mpg to 20 mpg @ 70 mph. The tuner I use has something like 140 different horsepower/transmission settings. This kind of performance improvements only come in diesels, and high horsepower requires constant monitering of exhaust gas temperatures. The newest diesels with 400 hp are not being modified, as the factories have rigged the ECM's as to not allow reprogramming.
My 7.3 Superduty diesel has had an 80 hp econo ECM flash. Before, I could barely chirp a tire. Now, I can light both rear tires up at 25 mph when I stomp on it.
And, I went from 18 mpg to 20 mpg @ 70 mph. The tuner I use has something like 140 different horsepower/transmission settings. This kind of performance improvements only come in diesels, and high horsepower requires constant monitering of exhaust gas temperatures. The newest diesels with 400 hp are not being modified, as the factories have rigged the ECM's as to not allow reprogramming.
However, it is quite often the case that no-one has cracked how to do the reflashing (yet). Or has not cracked where the maps are. Or both.
The STR may be an example.
#42
03-12-2011, 11:06 AM
Senior Member
THEY'RE WATCHING US! 
When i came to the forum today, I saw that we were getting ad links to reprogramed chips and other such items we talked about here.
http://www.gfchips.com/jaguarxj8.aspx
This one fits mine.
These plug into the IAT, Intake Air Temperature sensor or circuit and send a message to the ECU. This can richen the A/F ratio and thus make more HP.
When i came to the forum today, I saw that we were getting ad links to reprogramed chips and other such items we talked about here.
http://www.gfchips.com/jaguarxj8.aspx
This one fits mine.
These plug into the IAT, Intake Air Temperature sensor or circuit and send a message to the ECU. This can richen the A/F ratio and thus make more HP.
Last edited by Glendoramike; 03-12-2011 at 11:18 AM.
#43
03-12-2011, 11:12 AM
Veteran Member
#44
03-12-2011, 11:36 AM
Veteran Member
@Bamaman, jagv8,
Most turbo diesel engines have relatively easy ECUs (like the early bosch ones) to crack, and for turbos it is easy to get more power as the pressure can be electronically regulated.
This is different for the supercharger engines; you can't regulate the pressure (airflow), so gains are similar to natural aspirated engines.
There are lots of companies that can tune the STR (32 bit denso one, same as in the XKR 4.2) but somehow just not so much in the USA.
I have been working with a Volvo tuner (www.rica.nl) in adjusting the maps on our Jaguar ECUs (and special maps on the newer PANPAG ECUs), and you do need some very good knowledge on tuning as such, and then some more on Denso ECUs to be able to select the right field to adjust. Kudos to www.rica.nl, they have the knowledge and are able to tune them.
@Glendoramike
With our programming, you need a leaner mixture to get more horses, as the ECU is already saturating the cylinders with fuel.
Interesting stuff from Gforce, they are even able to get exactly the same 60 hp more from a Bugatti Veyron, with the same easy install, amazing.
But when it comes to easy/cheap universal HP adders, I stil think the boostbar is one of the better ones:
http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main...srp5glbmvi1u70
Most turbo diesel engines have relatively easy ECUs (like the early bosch ones) to crack, and for turbos it is easy to get more power as the pressure can be electronically regulated.
This is different for the supercharger engines; you can't regulate the pressure (airflow), so gains are similar to natural aspirated engines.
There are lots of companies that can tune the STR (32 bit denso one, same as in the XKR 4.2) but somehow just not so much in the USA.
I have been working with a Volvo tuner (www.rica.nl) in adjusting the maps on our Jaguar ECUs (and special maps on the newer PANPAG ECUs), and you do need some very good knowledge on tuning as such, and then some more on Denso ECUs to be able to select the right field to adjust. Kudos to www.rica.nl, they have the knowledge and are able to tune them.
@Glendoramike
With our programming, you need a leaner mixture to get more horses, as the ECU is already saturating the cylinders with fuel.
Interesting stuff from Gforce, they are even able to get exactly the same 60 hp more from a Bugatti Veyron, with the same easy install, amazing.
But when it comes to easy/cheap universal HP adders, I stil think the boostbar is one of the better ones:
http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main...srp5glbmvi1u70
#45
03-12-2011, 11:59 AM
Veteran Member
#47
04-21-2011, 01:49 AM
***UPDATE***
I have been waiting to hear back from these guys since this last post. I finally got a reply back today and here's the result. I have asked for a HP/torque figure and will let you know what I find out.
I have been waiting to hear back from these guys since this last post. I finally got a reply back today and here's the result. I have asked for a HP/torque figure and will let you know what I find out.
It would be $800, which includes inspection and measurement of the timing chain and guides. XXXX said due to the low mileage it should be OK, but needs to be sure. He said the tune is normally done by Jag dealers in the UK for $2,000+.
#48
04-21-2011, 07:10 AM
12.5 is on the lean side if you ask me. It is right on the edge of safe. 11.9-12.1 is what I've had all of my racecars tunned to. But it is all based on boost, compression, fuel, and most of all, timing!
All this talk about the IAT "chips" is a waist of time. You really need to tap into the fuel and timeing curves. Like has bean said before, the IAT / MAF "Chips" wont do that. They just trick the ECU into thinking more air, or colder (more dense) air is flowing through the MAF. Negligable gains not worth the risk. IMO
All this talk about the IAT "chips" is a waist of time. You really need to tap into the fuel and timeing curves. Like has bean said before, the IAT / MAF "Chips" wont do that. They just trick the ECU into thinking more air, or colder (more dense) air is flowing through the MAF. Negligable gains not worth the risk. IMO
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bfsgross (04-21-2011)
#49
04-21-2011, 08:09 AM
Member
It would be $800, which includes inspection and measurement of the timing chain and guides. XXXX said due to the low mileage it should be OK, but needs to be sure. He said the tune is normally done by Jag dealers in the UK for $2,000+.
Paramount do an STR remap for £599 GBP and claim 25bhp gains:
Paramount Performance Ltd - Jaguar S Type Engine Upgrades
#50
04-21-2011, 12:48 PM
Another update.
It should be about 100+ HP (not sure about torque, but it should be substantial) and is software based only- no hard parts are altered or changed. It should also increase the MPG some. It'd take 2 days. Wish I had some pull on the price, but there are still big yearly fees even with his inside connection.
#51
04-21-2011, 01:27 PM
Veteran Member
#54
04-21-2011, 02:38 PM
The replies come from my mechanic, not the individual directly. There is a dyno next door so there would be before and after runs. I'm just not sure if I want to do it or not. The truth is 400hp is fine for my 15 mile commute and $800 while not a tremendous amount of money is still nothing to sneeze at. On the other hand I'd like to do it so I can be a guniea pig for the rest of you.
#56
04-21-2011, 03:27 PM
#57
04-21-2011, 06:25 PM
#58
04-21-2011, 07:42 PM
I was under the impression the Jag used a Can Bus system that could not be tapped into and changed from some post I have read?
The other idea would be to use a standalone ecu in conjunction with the fac ecu but it's big money and can be a nightmare to get working.
#59
04-21-2011, 08:03 PM
Hi guys. Thought I'd chime in.
I tune for 14.7 at light throttle and 12.0 under boost. I like 12.0 and although it won't make the most power (leaner is meaner), it gives me sufficient margin. I use alky injection and I get zero knock even on 100* days at 12.0. This is on the vette with 91 octane gas.
I'd be really curious to see the afr's on the s type r. Mafioso said his were around 10.5. That is costing us a bunch of power. i run alky injection, so I'd at least like to get mine over 11.75. With the stock timing and alky injection, I'd have nothing to worry about.
Back to the ecu's.... I'd love to find someone in the us that could do something for us. I simply can't believe that nobody can tune it considering our stuff resembles the stuff used on the mitsubishis. Let's keep looking!
I tune for 14.7 at light throttle and 12.0 under boost. I like 12.0 and although it won't make the most power (leaner is meaner), it gives me sufficient margin. I use alky injection and I get zero knock even on 100* days at 12.0. This is on the vette with 91 octane gas.
I'd be really curious to see the afr's on the s type r. Mafioso said his were around 10.5. That is costing us a bunch of power. i run alky injection, so I'd at least like to get mine over 11.75. With the stock timing and alky injection, I'd have nothing to worry about.
Back to the ecu's.... I'd love to find someone in the us that could do something for us. I simply can't believe that nobody can tune it considering our stuff resembles the stuff used on the mitsubishis. Let's keep looking!
#60
04-21-2011, 08:17 PM
I was thinking this as well. They are used all the time with factory ECU's in the import world. A fuel an timing piggy back works well up to 600hp with many cars and can even work with larger injectors, extra inj ect...
I was under the impression the Jag used a Can Bus system that could not be tapped into and changed from some post I have read?
The other idea would be to use a standalone ecu in conjunction with the fac ecu but it's big money and can be a nightmare to get working.
I was under the impression the Jag used a Can Bus system that could not be tapped into and changed from some post I have read?
The other idea would be to use a standalone ecu in conjunction with the fac ecu but it's big money and can be a nightmare to get working.