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longassname
08-23-2005, 10:15 PM
Announcing ECUtune Stage 2v4

Ok, we recently changed the stage 2 software from nitrous oxide tuning to tuning for using a z32 maf meter. The main impetus for this change was to make it possible for the engine management system to measure more airflow and open the doors to forced induction on the SVX; however, there seemed to be significant interest in using this modification on naturally aspirated SVX's and there seemed to be good reason to expect good results could be attained with some revisions. The recently released stage2v3 has thus been revised and with these revisions we have been able get a nice increase in torque while expanding the power output that can be met by the stock injectors.

This software now not only paves the way for supercharging, turbocharging, and running higher rpms but improves performance on a stock SVX.

It is based on the Stage 1v4 software and thus has the same fuel map modifcations and ignition advance revision table modifications which greatly improve around the town drivability and part throttle responseiveness. In the Stage 1 software the base ignition timing map was left unaltered in order to avoid any problems for people who live in areas where 93 octane is not available. This software is specifically geared towards those much more performance oriented and thus base ignition timing advance is modified to take advantage improvements in accuracy of airflow measurements and of changes we've made in afr to increase torque.


The Stage 2 software allows the use of a z32 maf meter on the SVX. The airflow on a healthy stock svx is reaching the limits of the factory SVX mass air flow meter. Airflow at 6400 rpms reads as 4.4 volts on our demo car with the SVX mass air meter which is capable of putting out from 0 to 4.8 volts. The z32 meter is capable of measuring much higher airflows, above 500 hp worth of air. Airflow at 6400 rpms reads as 3.7 volts on the z32 maf meter.

The voltage from the maf meter is used by the ecu to look up a value in a translation table which reprsents airflow. This value is later scaled by a constant. We've adjusted both the translation table and the constant.

This is what the factory translation curves look like. They give a value for every .08 volt of maf voltage. The values in the svx table are higher than those of the z32 table but the z32 table values are multiplied by a larger constant. It's the result of the table value times the constant that results in comparable #'s
http://www.ecutune.com/posts/run1/maf1.gif


There aren't enough digits available in the svx ecu software to make the constant big enough to match the z32 maf meter so we have multiplied the difference through the translation table values. If we were going to leave it at that, as we did in the stage2v3 software this is what the table would look like:
http://www.ecutune.com/posts/run1/maf2.gif

In version 4 we've made further adjustments to the translation table which bring the afr down at lower airflows and bring it up at high airlfows. In the stock svx the car runs richer than necessary at high rpms. By bringing the translation table values for higher voltages down we are able to provide fuel for higher airflows before reaching the limits of the fuel injectors. Because this meter measures high airflows much more accurately there are no voltage fluctuations at high ouput which cause variation in afr between cyllinders and revolutions which necessitate a lower afr and less ignition advance. This is what the table looks like after our adjustments.
http://www.ecutune.com/posts/run1/maf-2v4.gif

Once multiplied by the ratios of the constants used you can see the airflow being measured by the z32 meter in comparison to the svx meter.
http://www.ecutune.com/posts/run1/maf-2v4-airflow.gif

The result of our modifications of the translation table are that the afr at wot throttle is now in the range of 12.9 to 12.4 on our demo car which has a walboro fuel pump. A stock svx will run slightly leaner, an svx with an impreza fuel pressure regulator will run slightly richer, and an svx with both a walboro fuel pump and an impreza fuel pressure regulator will run richer still. All scenarios should work fine with this software.

Having richened the afr at low airflows and increased the accuracy of the afr control and ignition advance control at high air flows we were able to substantially increase ignition timing advance for torque gains.

The stock ignition advance table looks like this:
http://www.ecutune.com/posts/run1/stocktiming.gif

The stage2v4 ignition timing table looks like this:
http://www.ecutune.com/posts/run1/stage2v4timing.gif

We made some pulls on the dynapack dyno at mastro to see our results and posted some very nice #'s. All measurements are very accurate and were repeated with extremely tight tollerances. We have a comparison plot between the tsb rom software and the stage2v4 software. With the walboro fuel pump both performed very well but stage2v4 posted some very nice torque gains and was able to maintain power at high airflows despite our leaning out the afr. The factory tsb rom actually did really well with the addition of the walboro fuel pump. (wrx's with manual transmissions put down 168 on this dyno, with an extra 5% loss we're obviously doing well better than either a stock wrx or stock svx and it was 93 degrees today) The added fuel pressure really seams to help with the stock software. I'd have to say that a walboro fuel pump or impreza fpr would be a good modification for those with 96 and 97 svx's who don't yet have the option of getting our software. It has about the same effect on afr so wide open throttle performance is basically the same as stage1v4 is on a stock svx although you won't see the around town, part throttle performance enhancements seen from the ignition revision table modifications which our software offers. Back to the goodies......In the plot you can easily see how much more acurate the z32 meter is at measuring high airflows by the absence of jaggedy thingys at high rpms. With the stage2v4 software power and torque is increased all the way through 5900 rpms with substantial low and mid end torque gains.
http://www.ecutune.com/posts/run1/stage2v4dyno.gif

ilsegretosvx
08-23-2005, 10:37 PM
Can you put the numbers in comparison to stock so we can go oohhh ahhhh :D

longassname
08-23-2005, 10:43 PM
Can you put the numbers in comparison to stock so we can go oohhh ahhhh :D


Both are in that plot. The higher torque line is stage2v4 the lower is the stock tsb rom. The higher power line is stage2v4 the lower is the stock tsb rom.

TomsSVX
08-23-2005, 11:50 PM
so basically by doing this mod it will smooth out the torque and hp curves while still obtaining slightly larger #'s?? I am curious as to how much the stage 1 and an imrezza fpr would effect the peformance?? I understand the advantage of converting to the Z32 meter if you are going Forced induction but for those of us looking for better N/A #'s will we be getting much bang for the buck?? Don't get me wrong, I think you do amazing work and none of this is cheap for you but I am a little shaky on the price for that if I am remaining N/A. I am thinking it may be more practical for me to buy stage 1 and upgrade to an imprezza FPR. What do you think??

Tom

longassname
08-24-2005, 12:32 AM
so basically by doing this mod it will smooth out the torque and hp curves while still obtaining slightly larger #'s?? I am curious as to how much the stage 1 and an imrezza fpr would effect the peformance?? I understand the advantage of converting to the Z32 meter if you are going Forced induction but for those of us looking for better N/A #'s will we be getting much bang for the buck?? Don't get me wrong, I think you do amazing work and none of this is cheap for you but I am a little shaky on the price for that if I am remaining N/A. I am thinking it may be more practical for me to buy stage 1 and upgrade to an imprezza FPR. What do you think??

Tom


A stage one with an impreza fpr will loose wide open throttle power not increase it, the two don't combine effectively. I wouldn't characterize the #'s as "slightly larger either." That's an awfully large torque increase without any engine modifications. This is the best you are going to get without tearing into the engine, going to forced induction, or adding nitrous. I think it's a good "bang for the buck;" it's what was asked for. Maybe just more buck than you are looking to spend. Unfortunately there is no such thing as a cheap mod to get more power beyond a stage 1 or upped fuel pressure. Combining the two isn't cummulative they work against eachother.

TomsSVX
08-24-2005, 12:37 AM
Ok... You answered my questions thuroughly. Thank you.

Tom

Chiketkd
08-24-2005, 06:28 AM
Nice results Michael. Looks like the stage 2v4 chip & Z32 MAF really improves hp & tq throughtout the curve. 176whp is sweet! :cool:

-Chike

AFBeefcake
08-24-2005, 07:16 AM
I have 1v4 right now.
I plan on staying NA.
Would there be any gain in going to 2v4?
Would adding a walbro fuel pump to ether 1v4 or 2v4 be an a good idear?

SVXRide
08-24-2005, 08:26 AM
"..the absence of jaggedy thingys at high rpms..."

Michael,
There you go getting all technical on us :p :D :D

Seriously, I like what you've done with the 2v4 w/z32 combination. Think you could post the AFR curve that goes with the Hp/Torque curves you posted? Can you also post (you've probably already done this is the past...) exactly what mods you've done on your test car and how many miles are on the engine.
Thanks!!

-Bill

MaxImUmZ
08-24-2005, 08:31 AM
Price for upgrade from stage 1?

ssnsltd
08-24-2005, 08:42 AM
Price for upgrade from stage 1?

$329. . . (http://www.ecutune.com/svx-stage2.htm)

$429 for the whole box
and $647 w/ z32 MAF

MaxImUmZ
08-24-2005, 09:56 AM
$329. . . (http://www.ecutune.com/svx-stage2.htm)

$429 for the whole box
and $647 w/ z32 MAF

yea i can check the site too, i just didnt know if it was gonna cost more for v4 as opposed to v3

longassname
08-24-2005, 10:08 AM
I have 1v4 right now.
I plan on staying NA.
Would there be any gain in going to 2v4?
Would adding a walbro fuel pump to ether 1v4 or 2v4 be an a good idear?


Yes there is a very nice torque gain in going to 2v4. 1v4 with a stock fuel pump and fpr regulator is about the same at wide open throttle as the factory tsb rom is with the fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator. An increase in fuel pressure has the same effect as the 1v4 software for wide open throttle performance, both get rid of the lean condition which causes ignition retard and intermittent hessitation problems. Because they both add extra fuel doing both together causes a power loss at high rpms due to an excessively rich afr. In the case of 1v4 and raising your fuel pressure you do one or the other and 1v4 offers much better part throttle performance, the ability to run 87 octane if desired, and a raised rev limit.

With stage 2v4 however the afr for higher air flow rates has been leaned out in order to let the injectors work for higher air flow rates and allow the fuel pressure to be raised without any performance loss. The 2v4 software should work well with or without the fuel pump and with or without an impreza fpr.

SVXRide
08-24-2005, 10:32 AM
*snip*

With stage 2v4 however the afr for higher air flow rates has been leaned out in order to let the injectors work for higher air flow rates and allow the fuel pressure to be raised without any performance loss. The 2v4 software should work well with or without the fuel pump and with or without an impreza fpr.

now we're talking!! :cool: :cool:
now, about those AFR curves.. :rolleyes: :D
-Bill

longassname
08-24-2005, 10:39 AM
now we're talking!! :cool: :cool:
now, about those AFR curves.. :rolleyes: :D
-Bill


We didn't get afr plots at the dyno. The pipe they have for their wideband now doesn't fit in our tailpipe and the plug for their wideband is different than our wideband plug. The afr is easy enough to picture without a plot. It goes from 12.9 at low rpms to 12.4 at high rpms.

SVXRide
08-24-2005, 10:56 AM
We didn't get afr plots at the dyno. The pipe they have for their wideband now doesn't fit in our tailpipe and the plug for their wideband is different than our wideband plug. The afr is easy enough to picture without a plot. It goes from 12.9 at low rpms to 12.4 at high rpms.


Michael,
Looks like I'll have something to contribute (AFR curves) to the community when I get around to doing some more dyno runs later this year
-Bill (z32 in transit....)

Chiketkd
08-24-2005, 11:02 AM
Michael,
Looks like I'll have something to contribute (AFR curves) to the community when I get around to doing some more dyno runs later this year
-Bill (z32 in transit....)
Nice! I can't wait to feel how your car pulls afterwards Bill! :cool: :eek:

-Chike

longassname
08-30-2005, 02:10 PM
my appologies, the power at our corporate office has been out since katrina ran through Miami so I haven't been able to post any new material. The website has been revised to show the stage 2v4 material now and allow it's purchase.

SVXRide
08-31-2005, 02:56 PM
long live 2v4 (at least until 2v5 comes out! :D )

"Since the v4 revision solves the fuel injector cap problem no matter which fuel supply scenario you have I'm personally done with fuel supply discussions." - LAN


Michael,

Does your quote mean that if we want to run the stock injectors and bump the fuel pressure up to where the flow rate of the injectors flattens off that the 2v4 chip will be able to keep the engine from going rich to the point of power actually dropping off? Or is there a fuel pressure point where we'd have to add forced induction to keep this from happening?
Thanks!
-Bill

longassname
08-31-2005, 03:27 PM
I don't understand your question Bill. I don't know what you mean by "where the flow rate of the injectors flattens off." Can you come up with a way to make the fuel pressure so high that your afr becomes too rich and you loose power? I suppose it's possible. Will that happen with an impreza fpr? No way.

I've done my best to describe the changes I've made and the effect of them. I think maybe people should read the relatively detailed explanation I gave in the write up more carefully maybe even a few times over until they understand. I'm getting the feeling some people have gotten set in a mindset during pushing for the impreza fpr and haven't taken the time to understand how the software works. Because of the change in the shape of the translation curve the afr will no longer get exceedingly rich as airflow increases. In fact it is leaned out at the higher rpms from where it is with the factory software. If you raise the fuel pressure with an impreza regulator or walboro fuel pump you will not go too rich. The dyno testing was done with a walboro fuel pump after all....I haven't looked in a while but I believe the fuel pressure on our car is 42 psi at wot. We are maintaining power at shortened injector pulse widths at high flow rates thus increasing the airflow that the injectors are capable of supporting. Beyond that the injectors can be driven to highest possible pulse widths since they will be calculated by propperly measured airflows. That's two ways that the software increases the power levels that the factory injectors can support before even raising the fuel pressure. It also allows you to raise the fuel pressure further increasing the power levels the factory injectors can support. This is all the same stuff I've explained in the write up. I'm not sure how else to put it.

I can appreciate wanting to understand how things work. I'm that way myself. I'm going to have to put the burden back on you though and say reread until you understand. I have supercharger manifolds to weld, pulleys to machine, circuit boards to design, software to write, orders to fill, orders to place, paperwork to do. These long posts all take time away from those activities which other customers are waiting on the results of.



long live 2v4 (at least until 2v5 comes out! :D )

"Since the v4 revision solves the fuel injector cap problem no matter which fuel supply scenario you have I'm personally done with fuel supply discussions." - LAN


Michael,

Does your quote mean that if we want to run the stock injectors and bump the fuel pressure up to where the flow rate of the injectors flattens off that the 2v4 chip will be able to keep the engine from going rich to the point of power actually dropping off? Or is there a fuel pressure point where we'd have to add forced induction to keep this from happening?
Thanks!
-Bill

mbtoloczko
08-31-2005, 05:53 PM
Just want to post this picture of a generic fpr and point out that an fpr can be overdriven by raising the flow rate through the fpr. As the flow rate increases, the orfice opening increases to maintain the fuel pressure at the preset value for that regulator. If the flow rate is continually raised, at some point the spring that operates on the orfice will bottom out. If the spring is operated in this "bottomed out" mode, then the fpr cannot control the fuel pressure.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/mbtoloczko/29048.gif

longassname
08-31-2005, 06:36 PM
Just want to post this picture of a generic fpr and point out that an fpr can be overdriven by raising the flow rate through the fpr. As the flow rate increases, the orfice opening increases to maintain the fuel pressure at the preset value for that regulator. If the flow rate is continually raised, at some point the spring that operates on the orfice will bottom out. If the spring is operated in this "bottomed out" mode, then the fpr cannot control the fuel pressure.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/mbtoloczko/29048.gif


I asked you not to bring your fuel pressure regulator discussion in here. If you want to discuss fuel pressure regulator design somewhere else please do. This thread is about stage 2v4 not fuel pressure regulators. If you feel i must be involved in your fuel pressure regulator discussion feel free to give me a link to your thread when you start it.

ps i would appreciate it if you would remove it from here.

SVXRide
08-31-2005, 08:06 PM
I don't understand your question Bill. I don't know what you mean by "where the flow rate of the injectors flattens off." Can you come up with a way to make the fuel pressure so high that your afr becomes too rich and you loose power? I suppose it's possible. Will that happen with an impreza fpr? No way.

I've done my best to describe the changes I've made and the effect of them. I think maybe people should read the relatively detailed explanation I gave in the write up more carefully maybe even a few times over until they understand. I'm getting the feeling some people have gotten set in a mindset during pushing for the impreza fpr and haven't taken the time to understand how the software works. Because of the change in the shape of the translation curve the afr will no longer get exceedingly rich as airflow increases. In fact it is leaned out at the higher rpms from where it is with the factory software. If you raise the fuel pressure with an impreza regulator or walboro fuel pump you will not go too rich. The dyno testing was done with a walboro fuel pump after all....I haven't looked in a while but I believe the fuel pressure on our car is 42 psi at wot. We are maintaining power at shortened injector pulse widths at high flow rates thus increasing the airflow that the injectors are capable of supporting. Beyond that the injectors can be driven to highest possible pulse widths since they will be calculated by propperly measured airflows. That's two ways that the software increases the power levels that the factory injectors can support before even raising the fuel pressure. It also allows you to raise the fuel pressure further increasing the power levels the factory injectors can support. This is all the same stuff I've explained in the write up. I'm not sure how else to put it.

I can appreciate wanting to understand how things work. I'm that way myself. I'm going to have to put the burden back on you though and say reread until you understand. I have supercharger manifolds to weld, pulleys to machine, circuit boards to design, software to write, orders to fill, orders to place, paperwork to do. These long posts all take time away from those activities which other customers are waiting on the results of.

Michael,
Thanks for the response. I've sent you a PM.
-Bill

mbtoloczko
08-31-2005, 09:33 PM
...

ps i would appreciate it if you would remove it from here.

I think its pertinent to the thread, so I'm not going to remove it. I've made my point though, so I'm not going to post any more on fprs here.

longassname
08-31-2005, 11:49 PM
I think its pertinent to the thread, so I'm not going to remove it. I've made my point though, so I'm not going to post any more on fprs here.


I don't think you made any point except you are trying to push a point. If the spring was "bottomed out" then the fuel pressure wouldn't change with manifold pressure. The fact is the fuel pressure is raised and it is still effected by manifold pressure appropriately. Your picture and the discussion you are forcing has nothing to do with the stage 2v4 software.

longassname
09-01-2005, 12:48 AM
Michael,
Thanks for the response. I've sent you a PM.
-Bill


No problem Bill,

The point of your pm I think IS good material for this thread. You want to make more power after you have stage2v4 installed. Well that's exactly what you should want to do and that is what you should be talking about. I know you got your fuel injectors flow tested and saw that above 60psi you reach a point of dimenishing returns. The thing is you aren't short on fuel so why worry about it yet? The stage 2v4 software takes care of improving accuracy of the engine management and optimizing the timing to get more power out of the air your engine ingests. If you want to make more power what you need is more air. That's what you need to be talking about.

How can you get more air? Well your ram air certainly isn't going to do it on the dyno. I know there has been some discussion in the past about improving high rpm performance by changing your cam timing. I believe Harvey said one notch on your timing belt is a 4 degree change. I would start a thread to start that discussion back up. It could work and it's free. What more could you ask?

That's the kind of stuff we should be talking about. Though not at great length in here. Would love to see links in here to other threads saying hey look how I figured out how to make more power out of this engine now that engine management will let me. Or even just saying hey i think this might work I've started a thread about it here.