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Microtech R33 Plug&Play

XrSiSt

By XrSiSt,
in Engines & Forced Induction

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whatsisname Grand Master

whatsisname

Posted
Posted

Yep! Both Freebaggin & myself have LT12 plug-in ECU's. We’ve had them for sometime now.

My ECU took very little time to get tuned thanks to Freebaggins map being loaded into my ECU & then tweaked to suit my upgraded turbo/fuel system (1.5hrs tuning). After one more small on-road fine tune (15mins worth) my car now runs beautifully! The power curve is smooth, even better than my previous Unichip could manage. This is mostly due to the piggyback nature of the UC. The UC can't overcome the stock ECU AFM commanded ignition retard that GTS25t's suffer once you start making decent power & the airflow maxes out the AFM.

Both Freebaggin's car & mine run new inlet set-ups as we no longer need to run AFM's.

The LT12 has a very impressive range of datalogging info. It can also be tuned via both laptop, or the optional hand controller (also acts as a display/logger). I don't currently have a HC but it's only a few hundred $. Freebaggin can give you more info on the HC as he's got one.

In my case we had to run an extra wire to get everything up & running, it also took a bit of time to iron out a few bugs with the "LT12 to stock loom" adapter plug, so it wasn't a quite as simple as a PFC. But Freebaggin’s car & then my car were the first to have the new LT12 GTS25t Microtech fitted so it was still in the trial stage (in fact the photos in HPI are of my engine bay & Freebaggins inlet set-up).

The LT12 ECU's are now fully sorted & offer a true local plug-in option that's somewhat cheaper than "most" other options.

Since the fine tuning work my car has no problems with cold starts, idles fine, drives perfect, has zero problems with a vent to atmo’ BOV, & thanks to a few other mod’s makes 236rwkw on 14psi. It can even give the odd slightly modified GT-R a run for it’s money :(

I’m sure Freebaggin will be able to add more valueable info but if there’s any specific questions then ask away :)

Matt.

Freebaggin Proficient

Freebaggin

Posted
Posted

Whatisname, I think you've covered most it.

I think with all the half reasonable prog ECU systems on offer, the WOT peak power and power curve that can be gained would all be within the same ballpark, from Microtech to Motec M800. The piggyback options are less successful for this I think.

However it's the other nice things that then make a difference like purchase cost, installation ease (cost), fuel consumption, part throttle drivability, idle quality, upgradability etc. It becomes a compromise.

Here is what I think the advantages and disadvantages of the plug-in Microtech are.

Adv.

*Low cost

*Laptop tunable and data logging

*Plugin (except for air temp sensor install)

*No AFM

*Very cheap hand controller (~$150-160) that also datalogs to a point and indicates all the major functions

*Pretty attractive Dash display including shift light and also most hand controller functions ($500)

*High degree of upgrade flexibility (extra injectors, NOS, boost controller, injectors of any resistance OK etc all controlled from one ECU)

*Potential of system not fully realised with software upgrades on the way for increased tunability as well as modular additions

Disadv.

*Increase in fuel consumption (non closed loop may be contributing to this)

*Load and set point number lower that most other ECUs

*I still have some flat spots that are difficult to tune out so still more tweaking required (however Whatisname has little or no probs)

Anyway, I'm very happy. But the main thing, is that I have only started and I'm looking forward to a trouble free power upgrade path due the Microtech flexibility and also the contstant upgrades that are in the wind for the LT-12.

Cheers,

Freebaggin.

whatsisname Grand Master

whatsisname

Posted
Posted

Good stuff Lachlan! I knew you'd jump in with some excellent info :)

A few quick things to mention with 2 of the disadvantages Freebaggin mentioned.

*Fuel consumption - I did a cruise with the local Adelaide SA guys recently, afterwards we were talking about fuel usage, it turned out that I hadn't used much more than a fellow GTS25t owner on the cruise, his car makes less power & still uses the stock ECU. I’ll admit my economy isn't quite as good as when I had the UC fitted, but the power/driveability have both improved.

*Flat spots/general driveability - Like Freebaggin pointed out, I've been really happy with the driveability of the car since getting some on-road tuning done, & I've never experienced any flat spots.

Freebaggin Proficient

Freebaggin

Posted
Posted

INASNT,

Some of the reasons I did not pursue the Power FC:

*No data logging available at present

*Non laptop programmable at present

*Injector type limited to factory resistor specs (expensive items usually)

*Not possible to control extra fuel injectors, water injection or NOS from ECU

*AFM still required at present

*Load and set point number only marginally better 20/20 I think compared 16/16.

*Expensive

*Boost controller expensive

*Hand controller expensive

*Limited local Apexi support

etc

So eventually Tim at RPM and I decided to see if a plug-in Microtech could be developed and here we are.

Please correct me with any points, but they were some of the issues I had with the Power FC when I was deciding what ECU to get. However as you say some of those issues may change over time with for eg. English software may become available etc.

Cubes Grand Master

Cubes

Posted
Posted

Quote Freebaggin:

*Increase in fuel consumption (non closed loop may be contributing to this)

-----

I was under the impression that the Microtech L12 was closed loop.

Well thats what Tim told me or is for some reason yours isn't running closed loop? :)

-----

Meggala if the AF's were all in order wouldn't the emissions be in order also?!?!

Or is there more to it other than just not running rich or lean?

diduc Collaborator

diduc

Posted
Posted

*whatsisname*

I’ll admit my economy isn't quite as good as when I had the UC fitted, but the power/driveability have both improved

I have his UC..

economywise, gain around 15-25kms more as I get around 230km to 1/2 tank.

power/driveability/fuel consumption hampered a bit by atmo BOV but otherwise an excellent budget upgrade.

whatsisname Grand Master

whatsisname

Posted
Posted

Hi Nath :(

Yep agree with you on the UC mate, it's a very good unit. It's "spot on" with fuel consumption & driveability. If only the damn factory ECU ignition timing retard didn't start rearing it's ugly head once power gets over ~220-230rwkw :O

The UC driveability only declined when the stock ECU started to play silly buggers with timing.

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