alright who owns an ap and who owns a utec? I really want to know if there is any difference between the two, pros and cons. Owners please chime in. Sorry if this has been discussed thousands of times before. Lets do it again.
like he said - the answer you don't want to hear is "it depends" i bought an ap 2.0 because i'm still learning about cars and their inner workings, with the ap there is a prescribed upgrade path that even i can follow. if you are will to study and learn (or have the knowledge already) go for one of the other options and spend the money differential on parts
To the best of my knowledge it's all about fuel, ignition, and boost. Each system is just using the set of variables and sensors to control those things. So I would say there is no difference between them. Of course each piece of hardware is going to have its own quirks and whatnot. So if that's the case, the only difference is going to be the ability to change maps real time. So, to me, the AP makes much more sense. Maybe the Utec has more customizability outside of the OEM tools of controling engine vitals or something (I don't know), so if that were case maybe that would be a better solution if you had all kinds of crazy mod plans in the works. I'm ignorant by way of specific EM options out there. I can really only speak to an understanding of IC engines in a general sense.
In the end which one would be the most limited one (especially with what the tuner can do). Ive got a fp green in the works, so im trying to map out my strategy.:biggrin:
Don't APs have all the same tools as everything else (+ some)? I'm no Cobb fanboi or anything, but from my viewpoint it seems like they all offer the same thing. Control of boost, ignition, and fuel. So in my mind, it seems like the only way to go is either openecu (free) or AP (realtime map switching + bells/whistles). You can buy a Vishnu for his secret mojo, and then where does the UTEC fit in?? I suppose I should search eh?
Yeah, you've got some more research to do young lad. And there's no secret mojo regarding Vishnu/Ecutek....other than them being a complete ripoff, lol. UTEC offers MAP based tuning (aka speed density) and is a good fit for turbo setups that will surpass the stock MAP & MAF sensors that the stock ecu utilizes.
Without getting into the details of fuel trims, WG duty cycles, KC, timing tables, et al. An IC engine is an IC engine and requires a balance of air (boost), fuel, and ignition. Each EM solution utilizes control of these three criteria via one mechanism or another. That's all I'm saying. Unless someone is doing some sort of retarded quad-turbo/dual-super charger setup, I'd wager that the limit is going to be the safistication of the tuner, not the safistication of the available tuning software (ie AP, UTEC, openecu, whatever). To the OP, my personal recomendation is to determine which tuner you want to use and find out what their preference is and to go with that. Because, although I don't know too many specifics about EM, the one thing I do know is the tune is only as good as the tuner.
K, the utec has some nice features that a reflash will not get you. You have a controlable output that you can use for whatever (nitrous, water spray, water injection, etc). You can control the paraeters on when it turns on and off. You can also utilize map 5 for a 3d water injection map. You can tune for speed density. With the remote map switch, you can switch maps on the fly (must be under 1500 rpm). With a little creative wiring, you can run unlimited boost (wire in any map sensor). There are some little things that you could run into running the utec, but most of them can be tuned around. Russ
thanx bumpy, Open ecu is out because im no whiz at that kind of stuff. Ive heard good things about the utec and good things about the ap(V.1) its v.2 im worried about. As far as boost psi i havent thought about it(just hp numbers), im hoping to make 300+ on this fp green.
Well, once Cobb gets some good firmware out for the ap2.0 it will be a good system. Working with the patchwork crap they have going now is not much fun. You need to decide on what you want to do to the car, and what you are looking to get out of it. 300whp on a green will be easy. Local's are at/over 300whp on pump with 20g's, so your 49/50lb wheel will easily pull that. The big factors are going to be what you are looking to do. Water/meth injection, race gas, combo, etc..... The ap's can swap maps, but not while sitting at a stop light (or cruising down the freeway). If you are not looking for all the bells and whistles that the 2.0 offers, just go with the 1.0. Mapping and everything is the same, it is just the 2.0 will have some extrra features once Cobb gets everything complete. Russ
I have a stock 04 wrx, and recently got an AP v2... and did the stage 1 flash. so far so good, and I like it a lot. I guess a person can do a more specific and perfect tune with openECU, but other than maybe exhaust i don't really plan on doing any mods so I figured an AP would work just fine for me. Plus from reading posts it seemed like the other things take more time to learn and are more for people that might like to tinker with tuning and make it more of a hobby... I just went for the simple easy get it done now approach.
