LAP3 ECU and TCU Review

[Russell Buzz Buzz]

 

[Flynfishmedic]

And how has the TCU tune improved your daily driving?

 

[Avant]

And how has the TCU tune improved your daily driving?

They have different stages. Stage 3 is firm and you will feel the shifts. Stage 2 is in between stock and stage 3. Normal driving you wouldn't notice it but when you step on it, it shifts a lot faster.

 

[Flynfishmedic]

So it is basically power and shifts when you feel like it and daily driving when you are in dad mode?

 

[Avant]

Yea, pretty much.

 

[Flynfishmedic]

That is exactly what I am looking for. What about your plugs? I have Densos tapped at 0.24 currently. What would you recommend?

 

[Avant]

I had denso's but was swapping them out too often. recently changed to HKS and have a .028 gap.

 

[Flynfishmedic]

How long are the HKS lasting and which are you using?

 

[Avant]

How long are the HKS lasting and which are you using?

I have only had them a few 100 miles. Im using M45iL. others are getting 20k+ miles.

 

[Corleone1]

Awesome. What gas are you running?

7k is pretty high! haha. It doesn't boost taper though nearly as bad as JB4 (even with EWG wires). Usually I shift before 6k for 1/4, 0-60 times. Boost just stays as a flat line on the logs. I love it.

Torque does come on a lot quicker with the tune. I had to get used to launching the car and shifting 1st to 2nd because first and 2nd gear go so damn fast now.

I run E30 (98 RON+ E85%)

 

[dtrail7a]

How long are the HKS lasting and which are you using?

I've got 36k on mine and I do a 4th gear pull every fill-up and they are still working perfectly.

 

[Avant]

Alright. was able to do 5 back to back logs with the new meth kit installed.

In terms of the log, it is perfect. Not one thing out of place. 0 timing pull on all logs across the board and hitting 22 degrees of timing up top. AFR is spot on. Fuel trims are perfect. Boost stays flat at about 19-20psi through the gears. HPFP is not even close to being maxed out with E46 on CPI. IAT's are lower than normal. Its still 75-80's here so seeing IAT's in low 70's is a first. Once it gets colder I am sure they will drop more.

A lot more data to come. Going to get some logs today showing it without WMI and just CPI on E46. Then Once I get that, I will drop the car down to E30 and turn off CPI and run it with just meth spraying.

LOG: Meth w/CPI. E46

 

[Avant]

Here is a log with just CPI and no meth. Pretty much the same data as CPI w/ meth which I expected.

Next logs will be E30 w/ meth. No CPI. Then E30 w/ CPI and no meth.

 

[Corleone1]

Here is a log with just CPI and no meth. Pretty much the same data as CPI w/ meth which I expected.

Also, was out and about and had to fill up with straight 91 octane (couldn't find E85). So attached is a log with just 91 octane and meth. Pretty good considering. few timing corrections but not bad at all with highest being 1.5 degree. Def feels a tad slower in the powerband with the overall timing being lower throughout. But the ECU is doing its job and adjusting.


Next logs will be E30 w/ meth. No CPI. Then E30 w/ CPI and no meth.

Like no need for CPI then, or? Will probably be enough with E30-35. I tried 35% E85 to 98 RON (yours 93) and also works well and keeps HPFP. Meth seems more to have if we do several runs as the heat will accumulate, maybe also at a 1/4 run. I feel that meth can slower down car a bit if start to early. I did now start meth at 16-17 psi.

Do you use "stock HKS gap", like 0,028" or 0,7mm?

 

[Avant]

Like no need for CPI then, or? Will probably be enough with E30-35. I tried 35% E85 to 98 RON (yours 93) and also works well and keeps HPFP. Meth seems more to have if we do several runs as the heat will accumulate, maybe also at a 1/4 run. I feel that meth can slower down car a bit if start to early. I did now start meth at 16-17 psi.

Do you use "stock HKS gap", like 0,028" or 0,7mm?

Well I cant get a full answer yet but from where it stands now, CPI and METH produce the same results so far. One or the other. I would say if E85 is more accessible then go with CPI over Meth. If you don't have E85 locally, then go with WMI.

I have yet to run on just E30 and Meth without CPI. That will give us more info.

Also, these are just logs so far. I am going to get some draggy times with all the same scenarios.

I have HKS gapped at .028.

 

[MacGyver]

Glad I went with the CPI kit so far. Thanks for doing all this testing and also for the help on the CPI/JB4 setup. I'll probably be ordering a lap3 TCU pretty soon

 

[trainheavy]

Awesome thread and has me leaning heavily towards lap3.

Depends on octane you are going to run. The 1.5 tune is great for pump gas. 2.5 is great for higher E85/pump gas mix or running WMI.

There are plenty of 11 second cars with stage 1.5 tune.

I have the stage 2.5 because i run E50 with charge pipe injection.

Awesome thread - maybe you can help me out here. At the moment I have intakes and a stage 1 TCU tune. I could maybe do a full exhaust system in the future, but really nothing much more than that. I typically use 92 octane as I get it from Costco around here. E85 is also available nearby. Should I be looking at the 1.5 tune or the 2.5 tune?

 

[Avant]

Awesome thread and has me leaning heavily towards lap3.

Awesome thread - maybe you can help me out here. At the moment I have intakes and a stage 1 TCU tune. I could maybe do a full exhaust system in the future, but really nothing much more than that. I typically use 92 octane as I get it from Costco around here. E85 is also available nearby. Should I be looking at the 1.5 tune or the 2.5 tune?

With E85 local to you, the 1.5 tune will be plenty. I am seeing more and more people with 1.5 putting up some insanely fast times on a relatively stock car. (ECU and TCU tune only).

 

[trainheavy]

With E85 local to you, the 1.5 tune will be plenty. I am seeing more and more people with 1.5 putting up some insanely fast times on a relatively stock car. (ECU and TCU tune only).

I’m still somewhat new to this so to be sure I’m understanding E85 is used to blend with pump gas to get something such as E30 and that in turns is equivalent to using a higher octane gas correct?

 

[StingertimeNC]

I’m still somewhat new to this so to be sure I’m understanding E85 is used to blend with pump gas to get something such as E30 and that in turns is equivalent to using a higher octane gas correct?

bingo!