Can anyone explain to me the relative merits and downsides of the available engine management systems? I am particularly interested in view points on the AEM, Apexi SAFCII, Vishnu Exede and an ecu reflash.

 

If you are gonna tune it yourself, Exede or UTEC are both good. AEM is overkill for most and has lots of kinks you have to spend lots of time getting smooth. It makes the most power though. If you want something cheap and easy get a reflash.

There are plenty of people out there reflashing. If you can, get reflashed on a dyno. That is what I would do if I had to do it all over again. There have even been relashes that gave good results with aftermarket turbo kits. The stock ecu can handle a lot more than people give it credit for.

 

Yeah, the Stock ECU shoudl be good to about 450WHP, although the EMS by DEFAULT would make another 15-20WHP just by removal of the MAS

 

true, maybe even a little more than that. But I'd rather leave 20whp on the table and still have stock drivability. At 450whp, I don't think I'd mind all that much anyway

 

Utec!!!!!!!!!

 

AEM or heard the nemisis is good.

 

alright now i would say utec or AEM but the thing is how far can utec go. becasue i would rather have a piggy back then a totaly new ecu. why? becasue say somthing gets mess up can always have stock ecu for a backup and not have to warry about it. that is if you are a street racer and want to have fun. but AEM yes i think totaly nice but maybe over kill for what most people do. unless like make a 2.3L and new thodle body and mas and what ever else then would need AEM **** becasue utec i dont think can handle that. and for 20wph gain with say a AEM i dont think worth if you going to have car as a daily driver. unless you like pro turner and can do that and truble shot on the spot with out asking anyone. and also talk about price utec say 1000$ and AEM 2000$ and most of does same thing for what you are looking for doing. like AEM has tracsion control tunring how the hell do you know how to do that. i dont lol. but what do i know lol. anyway. i think for a starter off go with utec. and then can have a remote with 5maps. there for you can have 1 for stock ecu and then one you make for hot days, cold days, rainy days, so on....

 

AEM all the way baby.....with a proper tune...the car will run smoother than stock...idle like stock with cams and make more power than any other system...as far as tuning goes.....it's the sh_t.

 

agree. but can do same with utec thats what i dont understand. and for cams. if get cam gears and change them around to diff 0/0 you can run smoot or smoother then stock as well. thats why i dont see a point in AEM unless want like 900WHP. i dont see why utec wont beable to make easy 600WHP and mange it.

 

What choice engine management you choose may also depend a lot if you need to maintain emissions compliance and OBD function, something that's gonna be an issue for standalones.

 

i have HKS 280's with AEM and idle is almost like stock. No Cam Gears. I also don't konw how you will justify Utec but say AEM is excessive....they basically have the same essential function....

 

I have the apex'i safc-2 and avc-r, but i think i'm going to switch over to utec soon. My friend has it and absolutely loves it. He's always telling me to get one.

 

My $.02,

I just switched back from Power FC to stock ECU, took a huge loss btw, and had mark from TT do a custom reflash. With cams/injectors/pump and all the usual goodies my car has NEVER felt better, and I have tried some pretty wild setups (check what I have for sale in my sig.). All I am going to do now is put on an XEDE with no values in the maps and just have the SMART function monitor and adjust the reflash. I will try to avoid a standalone at all costs, its a pain to tune and you are at the mercy of your tuner, not fun. Mark is here to stay and has supported the evo community since day one, its a pity that I had to go through so much to realize it.

Again just my 2 cents...I know many on the board who are convinced that they need a standalone...and I can see the point if you have a stroker.

My friend also just switched from a autronic to stock ecu, and I thought that the autronic was flawless, but he didn't like the bad fuel milage.

 

ok then what you saying is that almost why spend the each 1000$ o wait and then all those sencers you need. keep on adding up the $$. lol. so to this i would still say go with utec at this point. there has no post yet in here saying why get AEM over utec. someone prove me wrong.

 

Here is your proof. The Utec still uses the MAS. You will never make the same power when you are comparing a system that uses the MAF vs. Speed Density.

the AEM also has a ton of more options to it....No2, 3D maps, boost stages....etc.

one can go on and on why the AEM is superior to a Utec....but the one thing that stands out the most...............the AEM removes the MAS...the Utec does not