EcuTek Unable to Increase Load Limits
 

I've been trying to tune my car for quite some time now. Dealt with various issues but not I have come across one that has me stumped.

I'm tuning for a turbo. When I do a run, I see that I'm running quite lean. I command 12 AFR but get back around 15-16. Not good. So I try to find why... All the maps seems to be setup correctly. I check the logs and see that my Engine Load Limit is capped at 1.33.

This does not make sense at all. I have changed the Engine Load Limit tables to 4. I thought that 4 may be too high so I reduced it to 2. In each instance, the logs show that the max load was 1.33. I have rescaled all relevant tables to go up to an engine load of 2.0.

The only thing I can think of, is that it's not flashing the ECU properly. But I get no error. And I definitely know that it is at least partially flashing because I have disabled some fault codes successfully.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :)

Do you have the RaceROM version? Which table exactly are you using?

I do not have RaceROM however, I have installed the "RaceROM Update" to the rom file that is required. (In the RaceROM tab.) If that makes sense.

I am editing the Engine Load Limit #1 and Engine Load Limit #2 tables. I could not see any other tables that manipulate the load limits.

You will need the RaceROM version to be able to scale load limits past that. It is a RaceROM feature at this point. We do it for 349 but you can check with your master tuner of choice and they can supply you with the additional software. Otherwise you can try scaling your MAF down and bumping your fuel up, this will have the effect of globally scaling the load down below the limiters.

Ultimately for forced induction the ability to do custom mapping is well worth the upgrade cost...you can then do flex fuel, the features (LC/FFS/Revmatch) and traction control etc....

I am slightly confused and surprised by your answer. Are you telling me that EcuTek deliberately restricts the load limit to 1.33 in an effort to sell RaceROM upgrades? So effectively, anyone who runs FI is forced to buy RaceROM.

Scaling the MAF down sounds like a hack, so I would rather avoid that.

I was actually planning to buy it after I'm happy with the initial tune so it's not that much of a problem. However, I am worried that I will buy RaceROM and the issue will not be fixed.

Edit: I've got an AT, so half the RaceROM features aren't useful to me. The main reason to buy it for me is the ability to setup boost cut and custom maps.

Also just wanted to add that the PI/DI ratio is not doing what I command (even at 1.3 load). This adds to my theory that the flashing process is not working correctly.

@jamesm

What moto-mike said is correct. The load limit is (i believe) in the stock logic. I do not believe that this was 'added' by EcuTek, though it seems weird that you're hitting it at 1.3 grev as I was able to run more load than that on open source and BRZEdit, so it's possible that maybe they have i don't know. I've never used the non-RaceRom version of EcuTek, so I can't be sure. Inputting values into engine load limits 1 and 2 will have no effect. You're also correct that you don't want to go jacking up the airflow model to try and hack around it. The solution to the problem is RaceRom, which will allow you not only to increase the load limit but to overcome other limitations that you likely haven't encountered yet (with custom maps). You'll need it for a boost cut to begin with, which no turbo car should be without (i've personally watched it save multiple cars... bad things do happen and it'll save your ass).

If you want you can send me the rom and I'll check it over to make sure there isn't something else getting in the way, but I'm confident that RaceRom will fix your problem. It is worth every penny and then some, for sure on a turbocharged car regardless.

Ok. I guess I'll try the RaceROM upgrade. Surprised that no one has mentioned it before though. From what I've read, RaceROM replaces the Engine Load Limit tables with one of its own. Maybe this is the issue.

If you don't mind, could I send you the rom and logs? Please pm me your email.

Cheers.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I too am having the PI/DI split issue but I don't think that is down to RaceRom or not. However, its not consistent as I can make the tables 100/0 and run full PI or DI no problem, it seems that some ratios it doesn't like.

I have the exact same issue of logged engine load going static. Mine used to peg at 1.233 then after one of the flashes it got pegged to 1.33 . I have flashed since then and it's back to the 1.233 from about 6000rpm to about when torque drops off.

I use BRZedit and Openflashtablet.

I suspect there is something limiting engine load. Would be very interested to find out. I'll post some logs for u guys to see when I get back home.

The EcuTek manual clearly states that raising the load limit is a RaceRom feature.

DI/PI ratio in custom maps is a fractional 0-1, DI/PI ratio in the factory tables is 0-100 percent. The factory tables have cutoffs in that you can't always command lower numbers. You will want to make a fully custom map for the ratio if you want precise control.

I'll just make the note that anyone looking to make big HP is going to want RaceRom for the custom maps anyway. Particularly on E85, there are other limitations that you'll hit soon enough that you will need custom maps to get around anyway. And of course anything making that much power is likely to be turbocharged, which you'll definitely want things like boost control, overboost cut etc for anyway. It's really the only way to do big power on this platform, as of today (and likely for a long, long time).