After several visits to those helpful (and persuasive !) guys at Power Engineering, I tried out the Tek 2 in place of a Prodrive ECU on my '99 car which is unmodded except Prodrive backbox and PE downpipe and sports cat centre section.
Overall performance was improved but the most dramatic effect was on low speed driveability, seemingly improving torque significantly (not tested on dyno)- most noticeable when going back to the Prodrive ECU which feels strangled in comparison.
In short I am imprssed and very tempted but have some reservations.
Firstly and most importantly, can anyone advise the likely effect on engine longevity ? (I will travel to europe and be at the mercy of available fuel and I do the occasional track day, if that makes a difference)
Secondly, any ideas on fuel consumption - during my trial it worsened but that was possibly because I was enjoying myself too much so driving was not representative of my average journey ?
I would be very interested to hear of anyone else's experiences.
Thanks

 

Cruise fuel consumption should be no worse (uses closed loop lambda control), but with more power and torque you will enjoy yourself more, so use more fuel.

Safety: it retains the original ECU low octane fuel and ignition maps and compensation maps so can pull things right back.

It spools up better because of the attention given to timing, fuelling and boost duty cycles in the spool up area. In fact in this area ADDING fuel helps enormously.

From the logs I have done it seems to be just as safe as the PPP map - if not safer in some areas where the PPP runs excessive amounts of ignition advance and routinely retards it. The Tek 2 is more conservative in these areas - does not make it slower because the PPP has to remove timing in these areas frequently.

 

I've found that fuel consumption actually improves if a long journey (i.e. constantish speed), presumably 'cos they've leaned out higher up, or maybe it's just me!
Engine longevity - boost pressure is actually pretty much the same as on the PPP, so shouldn't make much difference there! Clever stuff is done with timing which is how more power is gained (on top of boost being upped to PPP levels).
The 'low quality fuel' map is identical on the normal map & Tek2 map, so putting junk in will only have the same detrimental effects as it does on the engine usually!
The lower down torque is 'cos they've richened up the mixture down there - it does make a huge difference! I had a pre-low-down-richened Tek2 before the update and the difference was pretty huge!
So... I hope that calms your fears. The whole thing IMHO is about as safe as you cn get - I believe that the PPP doesn't actually handle bad fuel as well as the Tek changes anyway.

 

Sorry - posted at the same time as John! Seem to be saying the same things, though, or thereabouts...
Maybe I should launch into trying to flog the things as well
Happy customer strikes again...

 

I made two happy customers yesterday with ECU Scotland custom map or whatever I feel like calling it at the time One in a rush to get it done before a long driving weekend Great fun seeing them smile when they put the foot down

[Edited by john banks - 5/24/2002 2:01:10 PM]

 

Thanks guys, can feel my wallet strings being loosened I speak/type !!

 

Just to confirm the above..........

Have now done just over 4000miles with no problems yet...........

I will be upgrading my hoses soon as a precaution, if I can find someone who has them and can do it for me.

J

 

I know that the RB5 PPP has "upgraded intercooler piping", but does that mean its necessary with a Tek2 ?

And, same question - what are the parts that are needed / £cost?

 

(following on from SteelBlues questions)

 

Not sure what parts you're referring to (!), but the Tek2 effectively doesn't require any & is £500, the hoses are about £60 if you look about a bit, and the normal tube kit replaces the stuff around the intercooler (without getting complicated!) - 3 tubes, 2 simple & one splitter type thing under the intercooler.
The tubes would be needed for the upped boost. It's guessed (by MRT in this case, I think), that the standard tubes can only cope with up to 16psi. As the Tek2 & PPP go over this, it makes sense to upgrade the tubes. There's no performance increase, justless of a likelihood that the tubes burst! And they look pretty too...

 

Thanks Nom , thats exactly what I was assuming .

Anyone want some business in the Bracknell area to fit them on me car?????????

J

 

Scoobysnack,

If you find someone, let me know ... seems to make a lot of sense!

Steve

 

J - apparently it's an easy job and you can do it yourself quite quickly! I haven't done it myself, but know of people who have and they normally stay clear of all things engine bay related!

 

Replacing the Y-section intercooler pipe does make a noticeable improvement to the flow restriction. When you take the old part off you can see how bad it is for flow. It is worth doing this mod even if you don't do anything else.

 

Hoe much is this TEK2 installed???

 

BL,

Take a look at

www.ecutek.co.uk

It has all the info there ... well worth it!

Steve

 

I am selling my TEK2 if anyone is interested.

See the 'For Sale' section for more info.