bws678
Trainee ZX2ner
Posts: 66
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Post by bws678 on Jun 2, 2022 12:42:16 GMT -5
I have been thinking about getting into the tuning side of things for a while now. Two things have prompted me to make this post and start learning: 1.) Gas prices are nuts and I would love to hit that golden 40MPG in the escort. I just can't seem to do it! Tuning is my next step. 2.) I bought a HD Panamerica recently and I love the ability to switch between tunes with a single button. It's slow AF in rain mode, but sport mode is fucking crazy fast compared to what I have gotten used to. I'm not expecting that level of tech on even a tuned zx2, but it would be nice to have a tune for mileage and a tune for "speed." I do have another engine, so physical modifications are not totally out of the question. I would rather not have the car out of commission for too long, but with the summer coming on (finally), I could be persuaded to ride one of my bikes to work instead.
I sort of understand the basics of fuel, air, spark stuff from motorcycle carburetors. I have learned a tiny bit about EFI in the ZX2, but I know virtually nothing about tuning.
Taking the above info into account, does anybody have an idea for where I should start? I saw there was a book listed in the SCT section of the forum called "The Ultimate Ford SCT EFI Tuning Guide" that looks like it has some real content to it. It is spendy, so I don't want to buy it if SCT isn't a good route for some reason. Thanks in advance.
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Post by TheEvilZX2 on Jun 2, 2022 17:10:09 GMT -5
Honestly I think that SCT is going to be the cheapest and easiest route for getting started.
That Ultimate tuning guide from lasota is a really good read to help understand how to tune these computers and also how fuel injection works, or at least how this generation Ford computer handles fuel injection (newer cars are a bit different). It is specific to the SCT software but I think its a good place to start learning and its a big help have a guide to follow along with as you go.
You're not going to get any "on the fly" tuning with SCT though, but you can make as many tunes as you'd like with the SCT PRP. An X4 device can then have a bunch of tunes uploaded to it then the car can be reflashed, but it takes cycling the key and waiting for the reflash of the computer.
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bws678
Trainee ZX2ner
Posts: 66
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Post by bws678 on Jun 3, 2022 3:54:44 GMT -5
That's exactly the answer I was looking for. On the fly would be amazing, but honestly I need to go slower the vast majority of the time. If I can get some decent MPG gains while gas is expensive, then reflash when it goes back down (or I start making enough money to not care), that would be great.
While I did expect that the SCT cannot do on the fly stuff, I am wondering if that is a limitation of the car's ECU and would be solved with a "standalone" (I think that is the right term) ECU. The SCT is probably what I will go with, but I'm still curious.
I have read numbers like 44MPG with tuning. Doee that seem attainable with only S/R parts?
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Post by TheEvilZX2 on Jun 3, 2022 17:11:05 GMT -5
Honestly with a bone stock ZX2 there's room for improvement with tuning alone. You're taking things into your own hands at that point though, Ford's tune has to account for all variables and scenarios. What were basically doing by tuning is trimming the "fat" in the fuel map and adding more timing both when and where applicable to the tables.
SCT would fit the bill for you vs a standalone. There's a ton of work involved in going to a standalone vs just jumping into tuning what you've already got.
As far as actual MPG numbers in the real world, totally dependent on driving habits and conditions yada yada. If you have an ATX you'll more likely get better MPG due to the longer gearing. My wife's 300k+ mile ATX consistently gets over 30MPG and its stock except for an intake and catback. My daily MTX has an intake and header and no exhaust and generally gets 25-28 in my daily commute, but I've managed high 30s on long highway commutes. Both of these ZX2s are on factory computers. My SCT'd ZX2 (going megasquirt slowly) is my turbo car and is the only one that's tuned.
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bws678
Trainee ZX2ner
Posts: 66
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Post by bws678 on Jun 4, 2022 1:14:32 GMT -5
Thanks very much for the info! I'll have to look into the SCT setup then. Do you have a recommendation for a specific system they sell? It looks like there are a couple choices on the site.
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Post by TheEvilZX2 on Jun 4, 2022 1:46:48 GMT -5
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Apex
Trainee ZX2ner
Posts: 68
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Post by Apex on Jun 9, 2022 17:00:53 GMT -5
Without going standalone I believe that a Moates Quarterhorse is the only option for real-time tuning on a stock ford computer. I asked about tuning for MPG, was told zetecs run like hot garbage if they aren't given proper fueling (i.e. no lean-burn).
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Post by TheEvilZX2 on Jun 9, 2022 20:36:06 GMT -5
I don't do any lean burn so I've got no experience there. But the factory computer will cut the injectors under certain conditions, that can be tuned with SCT. I do use that in my turbo car but my fuel map isnt any leaner than stoich anywhere on the map.
The fat trimming I was speaking of before would be all of the rich points on the factory map that can be run at stoich. That and some timing do make a difference.
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