New ECU's - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

JeffNJ · 09-24-2001, 01:08 PM

Ok, as if I were six years old, if a new ECU can alter fuel curves and air flow and all kinds of crazy stuff to give my car so much extra horsepower and torque, why wasn't the stock ECU designed that way in the first place?

My only guess: new ECU's run at very different mpg.  That's all I got.  So, why is it?

09-25-2001, 07:34 AM

Maybe Nissan designed them so that they would get optimal gas mileage and performance as they see fit (usually makers are very stingy). I guess they just matched it up on how much you pay for a car. I dunno, I'm a girl-don't listen to me. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

BlueEyes240 · 09-25-2001, 10:51 PM

Fuel economy and also to other EPA regulations such as smog and all of that other stuff are a major reason. And plus certain things like the restrictive intakes and exhaust, These are not only smog legal but QUIET and most people (not us) don't want some loud intimidating car. So due to these restrictions a more advanced ECU is not needed. You notice that reprogrammed ECUs will not yield any real performance gains to a car unless modified, such as Intake and exhaust etc. etc. Thats when the added air and fuel come into play.
But like s13grl....Im just a girl and thats just my .02

(Edited by BlueEyes240 at 10:54 pm on Sep. 25, 2001)

*drifterx* · 09-26-2001, 08:07 AM

i'm just a guy.... well the girls are right.... i learned something as a guy "Women are always right, even when u know you are right, you are actually wrong because you will never be able to convince her she is wrong"

JeffNJ · 09-26-2001, 08:30 AM

From a movie: "Well, of course I didn't say it.  I'm a woman.  We don't always say what we want.  But we reserve the right to get pissed when we don't get it.  That's what keeps us so fascinating.  And not a little bit scary"

.. I'm drifting a-stray from the topic, but that's out of one of my favorite movies ..

Anyway, so this is what I've learned.  A new ECU without any other upgrades is essentially useless?  What I, therefore, need is a new intake and complete exhaust, then an ECU to compliment them?  Now I can take in more air, which means I'll have to be shoving out more air, and my engine will know what to do with all that extra air?

Then my car will be all super loud and annoying and I can pull into the movie theater parking lot senselessly revving my engine like a #### fool?  But at least I got there before the movie started because my car has like 20 extra horses by now, right? =)

*drifterx* · 09-26-2001, 10:31 AM

hmmm ECU dont make your engine louder i dont think.....
if u wanna be loud, do an exhuast, header, and intake frst anyways... then do ECU after that if u want some good NA power....
i wont get ECU till after u know what u want for your car.... say if u decide u want a turbo later on, then wait till u get the turbo to get your ECU....

*LanceS13* · 09-26-2001, 10:50 AM

Are all JWT n/a ecu's the same, or do they program it specifically for your setup.  Say, if you have some wilder cams and running higher compression on top of i/h/e and maybe a honed intake manifold.  Or it just one general a/f map?

*ca18guy* · 09-26-2001, 11:13 AM

I don't know about 240's but with 300zx's they configure it to your mods, so I would assume they would do the same with 240sx ECU's.

JeffNJ · 09-26-2001, 12:53 PM

I know the ECU won't make my car louder.  I'm not saying I even want that.  But the new intake and exhaust is what I'm assuming would create that.  Personally, I'd prefer the car stay sounding like a car and not like a motorcycle.

I'm not going to get carried away with a turbo or supercharger or anything like that though.  I just want a little extra kick for a few extra bucks.  New ECU's seem to offer lots of promise, but I figured before I invest $600, I really know what's going on.

And, where else better to find out than here?

vancouvers14 · 09-26-2001, 01:32 PM

how does a new ECU affect gas mileage?

nguyen · 09-26-2001, 06:31 PM

a new reprogram ECU from jim wolf will cost $599 and it will be program according to what you have done to your motor. If you just want an extra kick, I suggest you get greddy header, intake and a good exhaust. not all exhaust are loud, it will be louder depends on what you get. If you still want to get an ECU then you should upgrade your air flow meter and 4 larger injectors first then have the ECU program.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-24-2001, 01:08 PM	#1
JeffNJ Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 550 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Ok, as if I were six years old, if a new ECU can alter fuel curves and air flow and all kinds of crazy stuff to give my car so much extra horsepower and torque, why wasn't the stock ECU designed that way in the first place? My only guess: new ECU's run at very different mpg.  That's all I got.  So, why is it?

09-25-2001, 07:34 AM	#2
Guest Posts: n/a	Maybe Nissan designed them so that they would get optimal gas mileage and performance as they see fit (usually makers are very stingy). I guess they just matched it up on how much you pay for a car. I dunno, I'm a girl-don't listen to me. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

09-25-2001, 10:51 PM	#3
BlueEyes240 Leaky Injector Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 70 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Fuel economy and also to other EPA regulations such as smog and all of that other stuff are a major reason. And plus certain things like the restrictive intakes and exhaust, These are not only smog legal but QUIET and most people (not us) don't want some loud intimidating car. So due to these restrictions a more advanced ECU is not needed. You notice that reprogrammed ECUs will not yield any real performance gains to a car unless modified, such as Intake and exhaust etc. etc. Thats when the added air and fuel come into play. But like s13grl....Im just a girl and thats just my .02 (Edited by BlueEyes240 at 10:54 pm on Sep. 25, 2001)

09-26-2001, 08:07 AM	#4
drifterx Premium Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: boston, ma Age: 40 Posts: 1,533 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i'm just a guy.... well the girls are right.... i learned something as a guy "Women are always right, even when u know you are right, you are actually wrong because you will never be able to convince her she is wrong"

09-26-2001, 08:30 AM	#5
JeffNJ Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 550 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	From a movie: "Well, of course I didn't say it.  I'm a woman.  We don't always say what we want.  But we reserve the right to get pissed when we don't get it.  That's what keeps us so fascinating.  And not a little bit scary" .. I'm drifting a-stray from the topic, but that's out of one of my favorite movies .. Anyway, so this is what I've learned.  A new ECU without any other upgrades is essentially useless?  What I, therefore, need is a new intake and complete exhaust, then an ECU to compliment them?  Now I can take in more air, which means I'll have to be shoving out more air, and my engine will know what to do with all that extra air? Then my car will be all super loud and annoying and I can pull into the movie theater parking lot senselessly revving my engine like a #### fool?  But at least I got there before the movie started because my car has like 20 extra horses by now, right? =)

09-26-2001, 10:31 AM	#6
drifterx Premium Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: boston, ma Age: 40 Posts: 1,533 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	hmmm ECU dont make your engine louder i dont think..... if u wanna be loud, do an exhuast, header, and intake frst anyways... then do ECU after that if u want some good NA power.... i wont get ECU till after u know what u want for your car.... say if u decide u want a turbo later on, then wait till u get the turbo to get your ECU....

09-26-2001, 10:50 AM	#7
LanceS13 AutoX Junkie Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: MS Age: 39 Posts: 2,044 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Are all JWT n/a ecu's the same, or do they program it specifically for your setup.  Say, if you have some wilder cams and running higher compression on top of i/h/e and maybe a honed intake manifold.  Or it just one general a/f map?

09-26-2001, 11:13 AM	#8
ca18guy Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Clearwater FL Age: 39 Posts: 3,226 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: ca18guy Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I don't know about 240's but with 300zx's they configure it to your mods, so I would assume they would do the same with 240sx ECU's.

09-26-2001, 12:53 PM	#9
JeffNJ Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 550 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I know the ECU won't make my car louder.  I'm not saying I even want that.  But the new intake and exhaust is what I'm assuming would create that.  Personally, I'd prefer the car stay sounding like a car and not like a motorcycle. I'm not going to get carried away with a turbo or supercharger or anything like that though.  I just want a little extra kick for a few extra bucks.  New ECU's seem to offer lots of promise, but I figured before I invest $600, I really know what's going on. And, where else better to find out than here?

09-26-2001, 01:32 PM	#10
vancouvers14 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 868 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	how does a new ECU affect gas mileage?

09-26-2001, 06:31 PM	#11
nguyen Leaky Injector Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 72 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	a new reprogram ECU from jim wolf will cost $599 and it will be program according to what you have done to your motor. If you just want an extra kick, I suggest you get greddy header, intake and a good exhaust. not all exhaust are loud, it will be louder depends on what you get. If you still want to get an ECU then you should upgrade your air flow meter and 4 larger injectors first then have the ECU program.