Before you tell me to search or get in an arguement about which products are better than others, let me say that I'm not looking for details on specific mods or asking which are the best.

What I want to know is, what exactly can all of these electronics cover? It's hard to figure out what they can and cannot do with the names they give certain fuctions...


For example... if I buy an e-Manage, is it useless to buy a SAFC? Will an e-Manage be able to cover all of my Air/Fuel controlling?

What about boost controllers? Are there any products that negate the need for a boost controller, or any controllers that negate the need for other electronics?

Also, with the proper electronics, is an ECU reflash/piggyback redundant? Is there anything that remapping accomplishes that cannot be done with add-ons?


I feel like I'm forgetting something, but I think you guys understand what I'm trying to ask. Basically, which combinations of products cover all of my monitoring/tuning needs? I don't need specific product names (unless the product is unique) as long as I can understand which type of electronic you're talking about.

Thanks.

 

You have to research what each electronic controller can do.

You need to modify these parameters to tune your car:
1. MAF signal
2. Boost pressure
3. Ignition timing (not necessary to start with, but it's available on some units like the e-Manage)

At the very least, you want to monitor these signals:
1. Boost pressure
2. Fuel-Air ratio (usually when tuning on the dyno)
3. Exhaust Gas Temperature

You can also monitor these for better tuning/safety (unless built-in to the piggyback/AFC, use datalogger and gauges):
4. Knock
5. Fuel Pressure
6. Injector duty cycle
7. Oil Temperature
8. Oil Pressure

You can get a boost gauge that combines a boost controller within it, or an electronic boost controller that doubles as a boost gauge (same thing but different).

A reflashed ECU or standalone can give you a higher rev limit, something that a piggyback can't do (that I'm aware of).

The simplest thing to do is use the AFC. You don't need one if you have an e-Manage or reflash, but you can use an AFC in conjunction with a reflash if you put in race gas or add a mod.