R18 ECU Tuning

[nedkerry]

I only knew of Hondata and they apparently don't work on Australian ECUs.

What other ECU tuners do work? (including piggybacks)
What benefits have you received or know of?
How much for the tuner + tuning?

[Grayfox]

Unless you have alot of disposable income, i wouldn't really bother.
The R18 engine is an economical engine so it doesn't output much power and you wont get much out of a hondata remap

If you do have disposable income you could get the R18 to output 220HP and 230lb.ft of torque @ 8PSI of turbo boost.

Only real way to get power out of these engines is to turbo it.


Now say hello to the Tangerine Terror

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6YKCMr_pEg

The car in the video is NOT a FN2(Type R) but a FN1.
The FN1 is a 3 door hatch with the R18 engine.
This cost above £1000 or $1700


More info here
http://www.civinfo.com/forum/tdi-north/113284-r18-type-s-development-turbo-video-post-1-a.html

[Honda_FD]

Yeah. Not worth it.
You would have to spend atleast $3,500 before seeing anything noticeable.

Intake
Exhaust
Headers
Computer+Tune

Even with all that you will probably only get 20-30kw

[curtis265]

greyfox is right. the engine's quite well designed for midrange torque i find. Nice enough drive to as it is.

[carayan]

wheres stevil when you need him

he'll hook you up at byp

[nedkerry]

What about piggyback ECUs? (e.g., HKS FCon)

[curtis265]

piggybacks are relatively inexpensive but are limited in what they can do - i.e. AFR only.

[Fredoops]

what does the chipboard and harness look like?

I might be able to do something depending on the type of ecu used.

[nedkerry]

what does the chipboard and harness look like?

I might be able to do something depending on the type of ecu used.

What sort of information do you need? Diagram of the chipset or board?

I just got in contact with Peter from Superchips and he didn't seem too hopeful with the R18. He said he'll have an answer for me in a couple of days. I'll keep you guys posted.

[Fredoops]

picture of the whole board would be a start.

and the pin out.

[Stevil]

Save ya cash, the R18A is tuned very well from the factory so you ll get bugga all gains

When the Aus $ was higher then you could land a complete TSI kit including hondata flashpro and larger RDX injectors for less than $3K. An USDM ecu is also need, pins need to be pulled for the ecu to work with our Audm cars and I know only 1 tuner with the skills B-)

[Stevil]

Been testing rims in the last 24 hrs and I'm thinking of going upto 17x9.5 all round with 255s upfront and 235s in the rear, 265s are also on the short list for the front. B-)

[bubbakush]

Save ya cash, the R18A is tuned very well from the factory so you ll get bugga all gains

When the Aus $ was higher then you could land a complete TSI kit including hondata flashpro and larger RDX injectors for less than $3K. An USDM ecu is also need, pins need to be pulled for the ecu to work with our Audm cars and I know only 1 tuner with the skills B-)

**** off.

[nedkerry]

**** off.

yeah...pretty much my reaction, too.

T____T

[RenzokukenJ]

yeah...pretty much my reaction, too.

T____T

You learn quickly child

[Stevil]

pleezeggsplane Bubbakusk, r u suprised a complete kit is that cheap ? or you feel my advice is not correct ?

[RenzokukenJ]

pleezeggsplane Bubbakusk, r u suprised a complete kit is that cheap ? or you feel my advice is not correct ?

I think we are more waiting for it to blow up again since its byp tuned

[nedkerry]

pleezeggsplane Bubbakusk, r u suprised a complete kit is that cheap ? or you feel my advice is not correct ?

i was surprised that it was cheap lol

[bubbakush]

pleezeggsplane Bubbakusk, r u suprised a complete kit is that cheap ? or you feel my advice is not correct ?


Save ya cash, the R18A is tuned very well from the factory so you ll get bugga all gains

When the Aus $ was higher then you could land a complete TSI kit including hondata flashpro and larger RDX injectors for less than $3K. An USDM ecu is also need, pins need to be pulled for the ecu to work with our Audm cars and I know only 1 tuner with the skills B-)

https://24.media.tumblr.com/0c1bda3211f022e60608e97e1554009b/tumblr_mlw106Divb1rr2q2go1_250.gif

[nedkerry]

What's Stevil lying about?
He only knows of 1 tuner with the skills.
I know of 0 tuners with the skills.

[newpaddy3]

What's Stevil lying about?
He only knows of 1 tuner with the skills.
I know of 0 tuners with the skills.

He doesn't know any tuners.

They just claim to be tuners.

[Stevil]

lol go hard Bubba n Renzo, tell me of another tuner who has installed flashpro successfully for the R18a ? B-)

Nedkerry cause there was no distributor for the TSI turbo kit in Oz I contatced TSI direct and boy were they keen to get my business.

[destrukshn]

stevil, if given the chance, i'm sure alot more than 1 tuner can do it.
they just haven't given the chance yet.

[Stevil]

No doubt Destrukshn and there r plenty of other tuners out there, what I was trying to say was the R18a has been out for what 8 years now and I doubt I was the only 1 who wanted to be boost, but where are all these other tuned/boosted 8th Gens R18a ? just sayin ! anyway save ya cash get some better incar entertainment.

[destrukshn]

you are the only one i know of.
the manifold resriction is the deterent.
so you are very limited of what you can do with it.
most people see the 8th gens as cruiser then a performance car.

[Stevil]

misinformation is the deterent, nothing wrong with the manifold. FD2 Type R was based off the FD1 chassis, FD2 R is arguably 1 of the grestest NA FWD ever produced.

Cruiser LOL, my pos came 3rd recently at a recent time attack event even with 30kg of rear towbar attached, had no trouble beating all of the track Evo's, STi, wrx's, turbo Mx5, S2000 etc thats right stripped trackcars.

too many assumptions !

[RenzokukenJ]

lol go hard Bubba n Renzo, tell me of another tuner who has installed flashpro successfully for the R18a ? B-)

Nedkerry cause there was no distributor for the TSI turbo kit in Oz I contatced TSI direct and boy were they keen to get my business.

Well I guess you got me there stevil, no one including BYP can properly tune a R18a, as when they do yours, they always seem to blow the motor.

[Stevil]

lol Renzo atleast ya got a sense of humour ! just a shame ya know SFA about tuning and motors B-) ya welcome to take it for a spin anytime, just not this sunday as Ill be doing the Nulon Hill Climb up at Buladelah. Hopefully my tune handles the drive up the freeway.....

[lolmclol]

No doubt Destrukshn and there r plenty of other tuners out there, what I was trying to say was the R18a has been out for what 8 years now and I doubt I was the only 1 who wanted to be boost, but where are all these other tuned/boosted 8th Gens R18a ? just sayin ! anyway save ya cash get some better incar entertainment.

Worth considering that not everyone who modifies their car will jump on the forum(s), just saying!

[RenzokukenJ]

lol Renzo atleast ya got a sense of humour ! just a shame ya know SFA about tuning and motors B-) ya welcome to take it for a spin anytime, just not this sunday as Ill be doing the Nulon Hill Climb up at Buladelah. Hopefully my tune handles the drive up the freeway.....

Sweet mate, I'm in Sydney in May, would love to see the famous byp tune. Just don't go stevil knevil on me during test drive.

Nekminut blown motor wot

Funny you say that I know SFA about tuning motors, I guess that's something me and BYP boys have in common?

[Stevil]

haha all good !

[nedkerry]

Update:
So the guys at Superchips gave me three options: Hondata (too complicated), piggyback ECU (rubbish) or a Link ECU.
They're made in New Zealand, and possibly named something else in Australia.
http://www.linkecu.com/
The way he described it (caution - bad paraphrasing) was that the data on your existing ECU is copied and replaced by a Link ECU, unlocking you from the restraints of the ECU manufacturer. From here, you/someone more knowledgeable than you, can safely and properly tune it accordingly.

Ballpark cost was ~$2000 = ~$1400 for the unit, and ~$600 for dyno/tuning/etc.
The potential gains he mentioned (ballpark again) were around a 20% increase.

This is all just a preliminary analysis at the moment and I'll report back when I get some more concrete information.

[Adrian @ SAS]

My preliminary analysis is...
The lights on but no one is home... Wake up!

Hondata (too complicated) ? - If "Dumb & Dumber" can do it, anyone can.
Piggyback ECU (rubbish) - Yet the cheapest solution
Link ECU - This is a wire in stand alone aftermarket ECU & a pretty good one too...
But, you haven't factored in the cost to fit this ECU...
Or the fact that it won't work anyway when fitted because Link can't do fly-by-wire
+ reading & copying the OEM ECU & turning that data into something usable by the Link ECU sounds easy to you.

& potential gain from just tuning - 20%...
In the real world, where we live the R18 engine is unresponsive to both fuel & ignition changes.
Think about it...

[cbauto]

haha all good !

So, will you take us for a joyride?

[cbauto]

LOL @ dumb & dumber

[nedkerry]

My preliminary analysis is...
The lights on but no one is home... Wake up!

Hondata (too complicated) ? - If "Dumb & Dumber" can do it, anyone can.
Piggyback ECU (rubbish) - Yet the cheapest solution
Link ECU - This is a wire in stand alone aftermarket ECU & a pretty good one too...
But, you haven't factored in the cost to fit this ECU...
Or the fact that it won't work anyway when fitted because Link can't do fly-by-wire
+ reading & copying the OEM ECU & turning that data into something usable by the Link ECU sounds easy to you.

& potential gain from just tuning - 20%...
In the real world, where we live the R18 engine is unresponsive to both fuel & ignition changes.
Think about it...
Thanks for the feedback, Adrian. I will most certainly obtain a copy of Dumb and Dumber immediately (please advise if DVD or Blu Ray) and commence tuning my car with it.

Sarcasm aside, thanks for bits and pieces of useful information in your post.

I'm also sceptical of the numbers which is why it's a preliminary analysis with ballpark figures until it has been substantiated.

[destrukshn]

misinformation is the deterent, nothing wrong with the manifold. FD2 Type R was based off the FD1 chassis, FD2 R is arguably 1 of the grestest NA FWD ever produced.

Cruiser LOL, my pos came 3rd recently at a recent time attack event even with 30kg of rear towbar attached, had no trouble beating all of the track Evo's, STi, wrx's, turbo Mx5, S2000 etc thats right stripped trackcars.

too many assumptions !


Yes, BASED on it.
but the FD1's are NOT FD2R's are they?
and the FD2Rdoes not have a R18a motor does it?
yes.
the FD1 are more based as cruisers, as they do have a sluggish motor, and it's no where near a performance motor.
hence most people just put body kits. wheels and suspension on it.
face the music bud, the FD1 is not a performance car from factory, and was never meant to be.
not dissing your car, well done with it.
but don't compare your car to a FD2R.

[curtis265]

Yes, BASED on it.
but the FD1's are NOT FD2R's are they?
and the FD2Rdoes not have a R18a motor does it?
yes.
the FD1 are more based as cruisers, as they do have a sluggish motor, and it's no where near a performance motor.
hence most people just put body kits. wheels and suspension on it.This is what
face the music bud, the FD1 is not a performance car from factory, and was never meant to be.
not dissing your car, well done with it.
but don't compare your car to a FD2R.

Bingo

The reason why nobody has developed PnP ECU solutions for the R18A motor is because hardly anybody is interested in purchasing so - there is no market for it.

[Stevil]

I think ya reading my posting the wrong way destruckshn, In no way am I saying my cars equivalent to a Type R, chassis is the same ! no doubt they have alot more welds to aid rigidity. My point was the first prototype for the FD2R was an FD1. With my cheap ass turbo kit I have about 20hp more than a Type R and about 80nm more torque. Brakes? well my 4 pot brembo, coilover and Cusco sways are all equivalent ( interchangeable between both models FD1 and FD2R ). Which would be quicker, I'd back my lighter less sound proofed boosted R18a. If the FD2R was available thru Honda Aust Id be driving 1.

I have stated previously there is almost zero gains from bolts ons for the R18, I am in no way selling the R18a as any sort of performance motor, even with the turbo, its restricted on the intake and exhaust side of things.

[newpaddy3]

I think ya reading my posting the wrong way destruckshn, In no way am I saying my cars equivalent to a Type R, chassis is the same ! no doubt they have alot more welds to aid rigidity. My point was the first prototype for the FD2R was an FD1. With my cheap ass turbo kit I have about 20hp more than a Type R and about 80nm more torque. Brakes? well my 4 pot brembo, coilover and Cusco sways are all equivalent ( interchangeable between both models FD1 and FD2R ). Which would be quicker, I'd back my lighter less sound proofed boosted R18a. If the FD2R was available thru Honda Aust Id be driving 1.

I have stated previously there is almost zero gains from bolts ons for the R18, I am in no way selling the R18a as any sort of performance motor, even with the turbo, its restricted on the intake and exhaust side of things.


misinformation is the deterent, nothing wrong with the manifold. FD2 Type R was based off the FD1 chassis, FD2 R is arguably 1 of the grestest NA FWD ever produced.

Cruiser LOL, my pos came 3rd recently at a recent time attack event even with 30kg of rear towbar attached, had no trouble beating all of the track Evo's, STi, wrx's, turbo Mx5, S2000 etc thats right stripped trackcars.

too many assumptions !

Ok.

We believe you.

[Stevil]

Feel free to youtube the Marulan Shootout ! Lol