How does ECU tuning work?
ECU tuning, or electronic engine tuning, is becoming an increasingly popular way of optimizing the operation of the engine and its components. Drivers remap their cars to increase their strength and power, as well as achieve better driving comfort by improving maneuverability. What exactly is ECU tuning? How do you choose the right tuner and what should you pay attention to?
View here to learn more about Car Remapping Dorset.
What is ECU?
The Engine Control Unit controls the operation of the entire engine and its components, including electronic systems (ABS, ESP, TCS) and other equipment, such as air conditioning. The ECU is therefore the “brain” of the entire computer which determines its technical capabilities. The Engine Control Unit controller is most often in the form of a microprocessor which receives and processes data flowing to it from various sensors.
Manufacturers save universal maps of the engine’s operation in the car’s computer memory at the production stage. They determine many values of the car’s operation, such as the engine RPM, fuel dose, injection angle, turbocharging pressure, and fuel injection pressure. Based on the data supplied to the controller and the saved maps, the ECU selects the optimal engine work parameters. This allows to maintain the greatest efficiency and durability of the system.
What is car remapping?
Car remapping, also called chip tuning or ECU tuning, is an extremely effective, efficient and safe method of engine tuning. Engine tuning is designed to increase engine torque and power. This can be done in two ways: by mechanical interference in the engine or by using appropriate controllers. The first method is subject to high risk. It also requires considerable financial outlays and specialized work.
Chip tuning is a simple, and most importantly, safe way of changing the engine’s operating parameters and increase its efficiency. Car reprogramming, i.e. uploading new maps of the engine operation to the ECU controller, allows to change many default settings. Be sure to check out options like haltech as well.
What is engine remapping?
Remapping a car engine involves the modification of maps uploaded to the computer, which determine all the basic values of engine’s operating parameters. These values are determined at the production stage, but for many reasons, they do not use the full mechanical potential of the car. By using appropriate vehicle software development, it is possible to safely increase the engine’s capacity and give a significant power boost without damaging it. What’s more, changing these values can translate into even more cost-effective and comfortable driving.
The chip tuning process must be adapted to the car and the engine. For reprogramming to be successful, it is important that the software is individually tailored to the vehicle model and the capabilities of the engine and its components. Saving mismatched values in computer maps by an inexperienced tuner could result in the vehicle breaking down or even being permanently damaged. However, remember that although ECU remapping is a safe procedure, it also requires an extremely individual approach.
The benefits of ECU tuning
ECU tuning not only involves increasing the car’s power, although this is also an important aspect. An experienced specialist will adapt the selected software to the goal that the driver wants to achieve with caution. The appropriate modification of car controllers allows to increase engine power and torque without any interference in the car’s mechanics. In addition, electronic tuning optimizes the car’s operation, increasing its cost-effectiveness and environmental performance by reducing fuel consumption. Chip tuning also improves dynamics and maneuverability, which significantly increases the comfort of driving.
Where to remap cars and what to pay attention to
The benefits of remapping are extremely tempting and more and more people are choosing to improve their engine’s operation. This is partly due to the low costs compared to mechanical tuning. However, in order to be able to enjoy all the benefits mentioned earlier, it is necessary to choose experienced and knowledgeable specialists who will listen to your needs and make sure that what you would like to achieve is compatible with the actual possibilities of a particular car model. TC Performance brings together experienced specialists who use the latest, innovative software to tune cars of various brands.
A company that does not know much about chip tuning might overestimate the car’s capabilities and in consequence lead to its serious failure. Theoretically, the controllers of each engine can be changed and you get great results on paper, but in practice it may lead to severe engine overload.