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EcuTek ProECU - Basic Normally Aspirated Tune ?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 6:31 am
by Pat
I'm ready to pull the trigger on getting a tune to fully take advantage of the AEM intake, RoadsterSport Street Header, Midpipe, and SUPER-Q Exhaust. My main goal is to eliminate the low gear limits and raise the redline as it now pulls hard up to the fuel cutoff.

What is a safe redline for a basically stock motor with the above mods?
Is there anything else that I need to know about with applying the tune and data logging? I'm quite proficient on the computer side but my past experience has been with motorcycle carbs. The electronic side of tuning is foreign to me.

Sorry if the questions have been answered before, I search but wasn't finding the info.
Thanks

Re: EcuTek ProECU - Basic Normally Aspirated Tune ?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 8:08 am
by Brian
Hi Pat

These days it is real easy, two or three log sessions at most usually.

My suggestion for redline is 7200....but talk to your tuner. There is no magic 'safe' limit line, it's a matter of balance (balance of motor longevity versus enjoying that top end). The 06-08 motors in particular I don't like top push beyond 7200. The later motor can easily take more...but some increased long term wear comes with enjoying that extra top end. On my supercharged car with built motor I am 7400 currently.

Brian

Re: EcuTek ProECU - Basic Normally Aspirated Tune ?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 10:44 am
by Chuck H
Not sure from your post whether you were planning to use the new user-tuning features to tune it yourself, or if you were just trying to figure out what specs to give to a tuner. I'd recommend letting one of the better known tuners do the tune for you -- either Mike at Moto-East, Jay at TDR Tuning, or Joe at Dynotronics. There's nothing at all straightforward or common-sense about the ECU in these cars, and those guys have already figured out most of the gotchas the hard way. :wink:

Re: EcuTek ProECU - Basic Normally Aspirated Tune ?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 10:53 am
by Brian
I will echo Chuck's comments, I was assuming you will get our package here and talk to Mike at MotoEast or Jay at Tuning Done Right ...and having them do the tune after a consult on the details.

Re: EcuTek ProECU - Basic Normally Aspirated Tune ?

Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 8:27 pm
by Pat
Brian and Chuck thanks for the quick reply's. I should have been more clear as yes I will be buying a package and working with the tuner and not doing the tune myself. Just installing and data logging to further refine the tune.

My NC is a 2011 model, not quite sure what the differences are from the 06-08 to the later models that would impact the rev limit. I understand the long term wear factors so I'm going to try to balance that and the increased top end that is now available.

Thanks

Re: EcuTek ProECU - Basic Normally Aspirated Tune ?

Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 3:18 pm
by NaregM677
For those of us who don't know how a tune works, could you provide a brief explanation? I've heard of everything from $20 chips people buy from eBay, to plugging in a computer to the OBD-II and getting reading of how the car is running, to uploading prepared software for a specific model, and taking it to a dyno where someone can professionally make adjustments. What are the reliable options? For example, if I get the "EcuTek ProECU Programming Kit and Datalogger with MOTOEAST REFLASH", how does it work? Does it benefit from taking the car to a tuner afterward? Enlighten me!

Re: EcuTek ProECU - Basic Normally Aspirated Tune ?

Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 10:03 am
by Brian
HOW DOES THE PROCESS WORK? Instructions included but process is very simple. We send you the box with cable to attach a notebook computer to the car OBDII outlet, and a separate USB Dongle that contains the license. You start by downloading the software to your computer from the Ecutek site. Then you use that software with the cable and USB Dongle to download ('Ecu Dump') the calibration that is in your car from Mazda (over 2 dozen factory calibrations so this step tells the tuner which is actually in your Miata). You send that downloaded calibration by email to Mike at Motoeast and he sends back modified calibration for upload back into the car. After loading the modified calibration you do some driving with the notebook computer attached to the OBDII outlet to log how the car responds to the changes and send Mike that log. Mike has done so many that usually just one or two rounds of this process are needed but if going E85 or other more specialized tunes, or adding boost, then a few rounds of the log and load calibration process may be required before the tune is dialed in just right.

Re: EcuTek ProECU - Basic Normally Aspirated Tune ?

Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 6:27 am
by Freescopesdad
Pat and NaregM677, my experience with Mike at Moto-East could not have been better. I went through 4 iterations with Mike, starting with a GWR street header/midpipe/RSII combination, and adding the M-E cold air intake into the mix in the middle of the process. Mike's current tune is excellent - driving my 2012 is so much more fun after the hardware upgrades and tune. The car pulls very stongly all the way to [raised] redline, and I really enjoy the rev-matching on downshifts when out on the backroads. My only regret is that I didn't pull the trigger sooner.

Re: EcuTek ProECU - Basic Normally Aspirated Tune ?

Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 2:35 pm
by StephenW571
Hi Guys,
I too have been considering the ecutek tune for a while now.
The comments / advices have helped me stop procrastinating and
I Just pulled the trigger on it.

Re: EcuTek ProECU - Basic Normally Aspirated Tune ?

Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 7:03 pm
by NaregM677
Wow, that sounds amazing. Thank you so much for the clarification. Guess I'll be waiting until after my planned hardware is installed. From the sound of it, it looks like there is no "expected gains" since the results are specific to each vehicle.