Tuning Module vs Live/Remap CDTi

[installer]

Don`t know if I`ll start a war,get banned or make enemies with this.

Heard mixed views,opinions and thoughts on tunning modules for diesels.
For the price they seem to be a bargin for power gains,torque gains,mpg gains associated etc with them.Reasonable to fit and wipped out in a few moments.
But the way I understand them to work makes me skeptical.Why?Because the way I read it is this - it alters the ECU info to basicly put more fuel in.There is spare capacity of air in the cylinders due to the fact diesel only really ignites under compression.No other settings are changed such as boost etc.
So basicly it puts more fuel in which will give more power.You can also turn the unit up or down for more or less power .Seems too simple or odd that you can turn a knob to get more power.
One shoe fits all ?

Remaps are reconfigured programmes to suit your particular car,boost etc can be changed,it`s designed for your car.Will take into account any mods or variations in your car.They can be hidden from diagnostic equipment and changed when ever required.

So is it a case of you get what you pay for?Or are there other pro`s cons for either.
I`ve been led to believe that tunning modules are a bit of a gimmick - and I`ve had 2 heavily modded V6`s where remaps were regarded as the best - so that why I`m curious and skeptical.Also I know turbo stuff is different to N/A cars.

[ossypete]

basically a tuning box on a common rail diesel engine ( CDTi ) increases the fuel pressure in the fuel rail to higher pressure so the fuel is injected at a higher pressure into the engine through the injectors , this makes for better burning which in turn produes more power.The fuel volume can be increased too on some versions. On modern truck engines which are common rail too , to increase power ie make a 340 horse power engine to a 360 hp engine the ecu programme is re written slightly to do basically what the tuning box does . There are advantages and disadvantages to both really but its your preference overall. main factors are diesel box easy to fit , easily removed, or swapped to other vehicle ie if you change to a new car.The warranty issue is cloudy but the box can be easily removed so who will know . With an ecu programme the operating data is re written and will be obviously noticeable if ever its looked upon therefore nulling your warranty technically.The ecu programme is a more permanent version but still does the same things so anyone checking the engine and associated components looking for a little box somewhere will not notice anything wired in to where it shouldnt be cos its not there.Hope that clarifies a few points :-)

[installer]

cheers ossypete for that


if you had a few mods on the car a remap would make for a better option to take into account stuff.
if you`ve just a panel filter etc then a module mayby better - save your self 300 notes + over a remap.

according to Courtenay the remap would be invisible to any vxl equipment

any more thoughts from any one else?

[diagnostix]

A little bit from us lads at Diagnostix UK.

As you know, we produce diesel tuning modules but we also do re-maps & re-mapping equipment/software, now on a petrol engine a re-map is the way to go, but things change with a diesel because it ignites under pressure not by ignition, so you cant really alter the time sequence of combustion. A diesel re-map can only do similar things to the tuning module, you can alter the injection solenoid sequence slightly but the result will be similar to altering the fuel pressure within the rail. To do both then you will need better air flow, and to alter turbo boost will stress the whole engine and may affect engine temp etc. Now a module can be stuck in and whipped out for £237.00 (plug & play) a re-map from us would set you back £500, do both to 2 identical diesel cars and I bet you could hardly tell the difference. And contrary to beleif, we have it on good advice by people who know, that dealers and insurance Companies can tell if your car has been re-mapped, also when your car goes in for work on certain parts, the dealer may "reset" your ECU. Whereas the module, once removed, the engine is as was....so whether a re-map or a module, the important thing is getting good delivery of power & torque at the right time.

[installer]

So then a tuning module is better for a diesel,due to the way a diesel works and the difference to a remap - unless you`ve had work done on your car such as bigger turbo or intercooler - is not worth the £250+ a remap would cost you.
Would a tuning module be complemented by say,fitting a more free flowing air filter and derestricting the air box?
You also have the added benefit of wipping it out if required.
So a tunning module is probably the better way to go,if your only going to do an air filter and thats it really on the mod front,because you need a bigger wallet for more power on a diesel.

[chrismiller]

There is a company in germany doing ghost remaps so when your dealer plugs in it cant be seen also the keep all the info so if the worst happens you can re do it

[installer]

So is this the `undiscovered country` the subject in this thread - 74 views and 3 replies?

[installer]

so no one has any thoughts or info then

[Harry]

i'd also been looking into having a power increase of some sort so this has certainly shed some light on the situation

[installer]

thought might get bit more input from some of the tuners on here