Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any traces left after tuning?
Sometimes, but not in most of cases.
In rare cases, exotic vehicles or complex ECU’s it can be advisable to make a full backup of the ECU for safety or in the event a restore is required. This may involve removal of your ECU and working on the Bench, oftentimes just with special connectors, but without opening the EDU.
DriveLogic Powertrain Calibration have every available leading tool for programming on the marketplace. Often, a plug via your OBD (Diagnostic socket) or even a wireless connection can be used for programming, leaving no physical traces.
Digital footprints can often also be corrected by professional calibrators and tools (such as CVN, Flash Memory Counters and PMI).
Can I return my vehicle to standard?
Yes!
Your DriveLogic Calibration includes a complimentary factory backup and restore at your request. *Once Free Of Charge*
Can my vehicle be damaged after a dyno tune?
DriveLogic Powertrain Calibration have tuned thousands of vehicles and not one vehicle has been damaged to date as a direct result of tuning. We believe that a professional calibration will help your engine to live longer and operate more efficiently. We recommend following a consistent maintenance schedule by servicing your vehicle every 10,000km or every 6 months (whichever comes first). If you notice a performance change or noise, schedule an inspection for your vehicle.
ECU Tuning vs External Chips
In most cases, external tuning chip boxes can be unreliable and risky simply because they cheat the ECU by giving false readings of feedback values from various engine sensors. It is in such a way that the ECU will add more fuel, more boost pressure or more fuel rail pressure. Because of this, a false reading of a simple engine sensor could ultimately lead to turbocharger or engine or general powertrain failure.
I can get this cheaper.
You probably can, but what are you actually getting?
What do you mean?
Companies that offer "dyno tuning" at discounted or very low rates are not safe. As a consumer, it is important to understand that cheaper work is not better, and better work is not cheaper. Flashing of cheap files is increasingly popular and often results in many problems, from drivability issues to severe powertrain damage.
Is this legal?
Yes.
WHY:
Tuning is not illegal. However, there is a distinct difference between “emissions conscious” and “emissions compliant” tuning.
Not all tuning is compliant, regardless of the aftertreatment and pollution reduction devices are fitted to vehicles for global emissions compliance during manufacture. This does not mean you should remove them for more performance.
Additionally, in some locations around the world, tuning must comply with regulations after testing and certification by bodies such as the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and CARB (California Air Resources Board). Check with your local laws before making a purchase.
What do you change in your tuning?
A modern vehicle is a complex machine and contains hundreds of sensors providing instant feedback to the central controller systems, sometimes hundreds of times per second.
The controller almost instantly reacts to feedback from the sensors, adjusting turbocharger behaviour, fuel injection volumes, fuel injection timing, fuel injection quantity, air metering, exhaust gas recirculation, and many other parameters to meet the driver's demand and suit the driving environment.
A sensor reading instantly causes an action in your engine. The operating principles built into your ECU file are what the tuning changes.
To achieve enhanced performance and efficiency, alterations can be made to torque modelling, turbocharger boost and control strategies, injection volumes, injection timing, fuel pressure, and many other related factors.
What maps and values are changed depends on the ECU strategy, intended purpose for the vehicle, road safety, and environmental factors.
What happens to my fuel economy?
It usually improves!
WHY: With more torque on demand and greater thermal efficiency of the engine, your vehicle requires less throttle to accelerate and maintain the same cruising speed. This means less fuel is needed throughout the combustion process. A DriveLogic Powertrain Calibration ECU remap typically results in fuel savings ranging from 5% to 15% for most models
Will an ECU Remap from DriveLogic Powertrain Calibration void my factory warranty?
Simply put, yes; an aftermarket calibration can implicate your factory warranty.
WHY: The calibrations and tuning processes used at DriveLogic Powertrain Calibration will not harm your vehicle's hardware when due diligence is undertaken. The research and development completed by our professional technicians ensure that optimum performance and economy are achieved while maintaining optimal cylinder pressures, combustion temperatures, and turbocharger speeds and many other factors. Additionally, DriveLogic Powertrain Calibration works closely with OEMs and dealerships, often on a consultancy basis, to determine the cause of failures from poor tuning practices. This collaboration provides us access to OEM-level technical data, ensuring that our tuning is non-compromising to your powertrain. Simply put, our tuning is designed to be “safe” for your vehicle.
Why does my dealer tell me otherwise?
Dealerships must maintain strict adherence to OEM guidelines to uphold their dealer agreements. Once your vehicle's ECU calibration is altered, it is no longer the OEM calibration, and the OEM is no longer responsible for any issues that can arise.
Legal Implications:
It is important to note that any change to an OEM calibration can legally create grounds for the manufacturer to void your warranty. However, there are workarounds to this. Many vehicles can be easily reverted to their standard settings without leaving a digital footprint, ensuring that the original factory calibration can be restored if necessary.