Tuning Boxes

[faz]

Hi all

 

I am thinking of buying a tuning box on Ebay for

[Guest HairyPlateEater]

Hmmmm ... so for

[Guest gooner52]

im with hpe on this

 

but if u did get it,let us know how good it is :D

[Guest seacam]

Hi all

 

I am thinking of buying a tuning box on Ebay for

[Davetheref]

Loads of previous postings on here about them , whether they do damage, help etc.

I must admit that I do have one of the cheap ones fitted and it really does help with extra power. I had it for a year then got worried about what I read on here and uninstalled but missed it so much I re-fitted again.

I only paid

[johnb80]

What I don't understand about these cheaper 'tuning boxes' is why they are supposed to work. They fool the ECU into thinking the engine is at a lower temp than it really is, the ECU in turn gives it more fuel. Taking the above as true where does the extra power and torque with less fuel consumption come from? Using steady state conditions i.e. 60 mph along a flat road, 'x' amount of power will be needed. All thats going to happen is that you lift your foot off the throttle further to acheive the same power BUT the amount of fuel going into the engine would be the same so no power, torque or fuel consumption gains there. Now we go to full throttle, as soon as the turbo hits maximum boost the fuel is going to be trimmed by the ECU to keep emissions down so I don't see any gains there either.

 

It's my beleif that people think they have more power because their foot isn't as far down on the pedal as it was before. I'm not sure if anyone has done real tests eg 0-60 30-50 etc.

 

Regards - J

[jkspoff]

Don't bother, just get your ECU remapped for

[cartman]

Well i've got a tuning box and believe me they work, I removed it for a garage to do some work and hated driving without it.

[roly1977]

im the same i got one about a year ago cost

[Guest HairyPlateEater]

Well i've got a tuning box and believe me they work, I removed it for a garage to do some work and hated driving without it.

 

Please quantify "work" - higher bhp? better mpg? 0-60 time quicker? more torque? increased psychosomatic disorientation? lol

[cartman]

Well i've got a tuning box and believe me they work, I removed it for a garage to do some work and hated driving without it.

 

Please quantify "work" - higher bhp? better mpg? 0-60 time quicker? more torque? increased psychosomatic disorientation? lol

Yep all the above......No seriously, more bhp, faster 0-60, Deffinately more torque (noticeable towing my caravan) And fuel consumption is in my opinion unchanged.

[faz]

It appears to me all those that have tried them think they work and those that have not tried them dont think they work.

[Guest HairyPlateEater]

It appears to me all those that have tried them think they work and those that have not tried them dont think they work.

 

But have they informed their insurance companies and do they know what damage it may be doing to their car?

[johnb80]

I'm not saying they don't work, I'm simply saying I don't see how they can work. A diesel engine will simply burn the fuel you shove into it. More fuel = more power but less mpg. The ECU will not allow more fuel when the emissions start to rise so there is a top limit.

 

Interesting that no-one quotes 0-60 before and after and steady speed mpg.

 

Regards - J

[tim-spam]

It's quite simple - if you stuff more fuel into a diesel engine, it will produce more power, up to the point at which it emits clouds of black smoke. So, assuming these boxes fool the ECU into fuelling the engine beyond the level required to meet emissions standards, they will work.

 

However, when taking advantage of this extra power, more fuel will be consumed, and when cruising, the fuel consumption will be unchanged. So, I do not see how these boxes will improve fuel consumption, but if the extra power is only used from time to time, fuel consumption will probably remain much the same.

[johnb80]

It's quite simple - if you stuff more fuel into a diesel engine, it will produce more power, up to the point at which it emits clouds of black smoke. So, assuming these boxes fool the ECU into fuelling the engine beyond the level required to meet emissions standards, they will work.

I would have thought that the ECU would start to reduce the fueling once you got to the stage of black smoke?

 

Regards - J

[Guest MATT jr]

a proper tuning box does work - but i wouldnt belive all the claims, and actual power increase will be lower than stated.

 

however - i am full against these - if you want more power, buy a car with a bigger engine.

 

MJR

[tim-spam]

What I was saying was that a diesel engine will continue to produce more power with increasing fuel up to a point at which it would produce a considerable amount of black smoke. I did not say that this could actually happen on an emission controlled engine. However, I believe that these 'cheap' black boxes fool the engine ECU into providing increased fuelling, which would obviously override the emissions controls to some extent, although if the level of smoke was increased too much, the car may fail an MOT.

[seatkid]

I am getting fed up to the back teeth being stuck in queues behind newish cars (volvos seem to be the main culprits) which belch out black smoke every time they nudge a few feet forwards.

 

Tuning boxes work by either artifically extending the injection times or massaging MAF/temp readings to the ECU. The ECU is unaware that something is wrong with its kit.....therefore emmision control is out the window. Not only is the car breaking the (EU) law, its poisioning those kiddies in the buggies at the roadsides, and the driver is blissfully unaware that his oil is sooting up several times faster than normal and engine wear is likely when the oil is "saturated". Also the idea of better mpg is largely a myth, the ECU is unaware that the metering of the fuel has been tampered with and calculates mpg according to the manufacturer's original setting.

 

Remapping is a different kettle of fish, but I am pretty sure that the ECU manufacturer doesnt release code and most outfits reverse engineer code. I am also sure that they do not have anywhere near the equipment and knowledge to remap and stay with emission limits - which by law has to be for the lifetime of the engine....

[Guest gooner52]

having young kids

 

seat kid as made some goods points

 

does make u think

 

glad i have not got one :ph34r:

[johnb80]

I am getting fed up to the back teeth being stuck in queues behind newish cars (volvos seem to be the main culprits) which belch out black smoke every time they nudge a few feet forwards.

 

Tuning boxes work by either artifically extending the injection times or massaging MAF/temp readings to the ECU. The ECU is unaware that something is wrong with its kit.....therefore emmision control is out the window. Not only is the car breaking the (EU) law, its poisioning those kiddies in the buggies at the roadsides, and the driver is blissfully unaware that his oil is sooting up several times faster than normal and engine wear is likely when the oil is "saturated". Also the idea of better mpg is largely a myth, the ECU is unaware that the metering of the fuel has been tampered with and calculates mpg according to the manufacturer's original setting.

 

Remapping is a different kettle of fish, but I am pretty sure that the ECU manufacturer doesnt release code and most outfits reverse engineer code. I am also sure that they do not have anywhere near the equipment and knowledge to remap and stay with emission limits - which by law has to be for the lifetime of the engine....

I'm with Seatkid on all of this, save your money.

 

Regards - J

[adrianf.]

Same old story -_-

 

One person thinks theyre fab :)

 

another thinks theyre crap :(

 

Blah Blah Blah :D

 

Funny how some subjects get such a 50 - 50 split :unsure:

 

I havnt and i wont bother

 

Got a little beast in the garage if i need a speed fix

[zeplin43]

Nice going Seat Kid very profissional opinion,only the blind cant see.

[Alick]

IT 'S A GRAY AREA BUT MY OLD MAN IS MAD ON TDI HE THINKS THE TUNIT BOX IS MORE TROUBLE THAN ITS WORTH LIKE INCREASE ON PRESSURE ON INJECTORS THE DAMAGE HES SHOWN ME AND COST CUSTOMER HAVE HAD TO PAY. HE TOLD ME THE FIRST DESIEL ENGINES RAN ON PEA NUT OIL AND 2 GET MORE POWER U WOULD AD MORE AIR NOT MORE FUEL SO ADING MORE AIR AND FUEL LIKE THESE CHIPS HOW CAN IT GIVE U BETTER MPG U R JUST FORCEING FUEL AND AIR QUICKER INTO THE ENGINE.( JUST PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN MORE) OR CHANGE THE AMOUNT AIR GOING IN TOO THE ENGINE AND JUST AS IMPORTANT GAS LEAVING THE EXHAUST. i PUT A RACING CAT ON MY GALAXY BY DPF ITS A METAL CAT NOT A PLATIUM AND CERAMIC AND IT'S ALL GOOD ON M.O.T TEST JUST MAKE SURE CAT IS RED HOT ON TEST . REMOVED MID SEACTION OF EXHAUST STRAGHT THROUGH STAINLESS PIPE AND STANLESS STEEL REAR BOX BUT NOT EXPOSED BOX I DONT WANT TO LOOK LIKE A GARY BOY MADE A COPY OF OLD SYSTEM BUT WITH BIGGER EXITS. I THINK MY OLD MAN PUT A PANEL FILTER BY BMC COTTON ITS MADE A DIFFERNCE TOO FUEL ECOM MUCH BETTER AND POWER IS MUCH SMOOTHER BETTER ROLLING ROAD 133.5 BHP FROM STANARD 90BHP ENGINE AND FROM 600MILES TANK TO 750 AV

[mk2vr6]

mmm, your dad has done a lot for you! shame he neglected your education! :angry2: