APR tune price hike

[VW Convert]

It makes it hard to run a business based on imported product, especially if you aren't big enough to hedge the forex.

100% correct Brad, we're a small aftermarket company competing against a major OE. Landed costs have increased around 30-40% this year but the OE must have hedged as they have not increased prices since the beginning of this year. Making the sale means skinny margins.

Cheers

George

[Primordial]

Always thought this was the laws of physics kicking in, higher temperature = lower air density, lower air density = less oxygen, less oxygen = less fuel can be burned, less fuel can be burned = less fuel is injected, therefore = less power.

I may be wrong though.

Cheers

George

Sorry you're dead right - less oxygen = rich scenario. I was more questioning whether the flash tunes would adapt in the same way as the OEM parameters.

[Guy_H]

Sorry you're dead right - less oxygen = rich scenario. I was more questioning whether the flash tunes would adapt in the same way as the OEM parameters.

The entire strategy of the Simos 18 (and 12) is to target Lambda 1 under all conditions - not seen before in VW / Audi land. A proper ECU tune richens it up based on a whole bunch of factors, and you also have all the component protection modes which effectively cool everything down at a certain level.

What we have seen with tuning boxes is they do not (because they can not) richen the mixture under any circumstances. If you run your vehicle on a dyno with the tuning box attached, you would probably remove it on the spot.

As a test - do that & report back!

There is this tech thread for further info:

New A3 / S3 3rd gen EA888 Engine tuning, Tuning boxes & Reflash tech discussion.

And here is an independent dyno of a tuning box (increasing boost but not richening the mixture) as an example.

[Umai Naa!!]

Well that's a quick way to blast a hole through the side of a piston.

[VW Convert]

Well that's a quick way to blast a hole through the side of a piston.

But it doesn't cost as much as a tune.............right?

Cheers

George

[nat225]

But it doesn't cost as much as a tune.............right?

Cheers

George

find me a new TSI or used engine with labour to fit under $2k.

[VW Convert]

find me a new TSI or used engine with labour to fit under $2k.

Tongue was firmly in cheek.

Cheers

George

[Primordial]

The entire strategy of the Simos 18 (and 12) is to target Lambda 1 under all conditions - not seen before in VW / Audi land. A proper ECU tune richens it up based on a whole bunch of factors, and you also have all the component protection modes which effectively cool everything down at a certain level.

What we have seen with tuning boxes is they do not (because they can not) richen the mixture under any circumstances. If you run your vehicle on a dyno with the tuning box attached, you would probably remove it on the spot.

As a test - do that & report back!

There is this tech thread for further info:

New A3 / S3 3rd gen EA888 Engine tuning, Tuning boxes & Reflash tech discussion.

And here is an independent dyno of a tuning box (increasing boost but not richening the mixture) as an example.

I see - Good to see a quantifying explanation. Thanks for that.

So in the case of a tuning box, the mixture will lean out when additional boost is introduced, eventually causing detonation, resulting in the ECU pulling timing. Am I on the right track?

After reading through the thread you posted, I'm wondering how the ECU manages to come so close to the targeted Lambada 1? It must use its smarts to dynamically adjust (based on a bunch of factors) to reach the target, even with the stock tune. Would it not adapt the same way when boost is increased artificially using a tuning box?

To clarify I'm not contradicting you, I'm just genuinely interested! Regardless you've got me convinced that a flash tune is the safer option, no doubt!

--Edit: Taking a stab in the dark after some further thought - does the OEM program not adjust fuelling at all, and only use OAR/trim to compensate the timing according to the environment/inputs? That would pose an obvious problem for a tuning box of course, not being able to bump up fuel to compensate. However if the OEM program is adjusting fuel there would be no issue. Not sure - please educate!

[jazzyjames999]

The entire strategy of the Simos 18 (and 12) is to target Lambda 1 under all conditions - not seen before in VW / Audi land. A proper ECU tune richens it up based on a whole bunch of factors, and you also have all the component protection modes which effectively cool everything down at a certain level.

What we have seen with tuning boxes is they do not (because they can not) richen the mixture under any circumstances. If you run your vehicle on a dyno with the tuning box attached, you would probably remove it on the spot.

As a test - do that & report back!

There is this tech thread for further info:

New A3 / S3 3rd gen EA888 Engine tuning, Tuning boxes & Reflash tech discussion.

And here is an independent dyno of a tuning box (increasing boost but not richening the mixture) as an example.

There is no better settlement in a disagreement than pure and simple facts (and education), thanks Guy. Obviously the tune is better and safer for the car. Playing devils advocate for the moment, with a tuning box, what if the driver was easy on the car i.e no racing, no 0-62 sprints etc and just used the extra bit of torque (or boost ) on the motorway, do you think this would have the same damaging effect?

[nat225]

There is no better settlement in a disagreement than pure and simple facts (and education), thanks Guy. Obviously the tune is better and safer for the car. Playing devils advocate for the moment, with a tuning box, what if the driver was easy on the car i.e no racing, no 0-62 sprints etc and just used the extra bit of torque (or boost ) on the motorway, do you think this would have the same damaging effect?

that would be like being married to a supermodel (Jenner or Kerr) but you only get see her from 2m distance during the nights in the same bedroom... and nothing more