RomRaider

I'm just wondering what kind of gains you achieved by tuning your ECUs. I know we won't see huge leaps like the turbo folks, but just trying to justify buying an Openport 2.0. I can use it as an OBDII and CAN bus reader for any car out there, and my cousin can use it for his Legacy Spec.B, but if I can gain something from it for my Legacy 2.5i, that'd be great.

On a stock NA engine, no one I know has seen any power gains at all. In fact, several people have lost a little power once they tuned the engine to run safely (the factory tune is really ragged edge). However, you make MASSIVE gains in drivability. Additionally, once you start altering the engine, tuning the ECU allows you to make the most of those hardware mods safely.

How about compensating for using higher octane fuel? Or does the factory tune do that?

Someone on the Saab 9-2X forum got his Linear tuned professionally. Under the skin, that's a 2005 2.5i. He noted significant improvements in power and driveability.

http://saab92x.com/viewtopic.php?id=21115

Man, even an increase in throttle response would be greatly appreciated. You can tweak the DBW through the OpenPort right? Coming from a cable driven throttle, this DBW is driving me up a wall. I guess that's you guys are referring to by driveability? Great to know!

edit: How about raising my redline 300 more rpm? It's a bone stock engine, it'd just be more helpful on a track to hold a gear rather than shift. Anyone running a slightly higher redline?

It seems to depend on the car. I've extensively logged about 20 NAs now. About 2/3rds of them are substantially retarded on 87 oct. giving them more than enough advance to take advantage of 94 oct. About 1/3rd of them have been minimally retarded and could probably only be able to take advantage of 89 oct. It's pretty obvious that the factory tune is for 94 oct and just happens to not kill the engine within the warranty period on 87 oct.

I have noticed this also, i was hunting for a reason why i was getting some knock (especially down low under high loads) and only maintaining a .6xxx IAM around town. I had a great MAF scaling and even zeroed the CL/OL delay and richened up the OL a touch to see if that would help out a bit. After getting no real improvement, i tried some 93 oct and my IAM quickly went up to 1 and then settled just under .9 Here in FL, with the high intake temps i thought that wasnt too bad. got some power out of it too, with the slight timing bump. cant wait for some colder weather.

The best benefit to increased timing is the increased fuel mileage. I've always meant to see if I could tune it for 94 and get enough better mileage to offset the increased cost.

Interesting things, I guess I won't mind buying the OpenPort 2.0 then, thanks for your help!

I've tuned a few stage 2 non turbos and they are faster than a stock wrx.... thats completely incorrect about not seeing a big power gain...

Read carefully. The "no major power gain" was specifically in reference to a stock car.

Sorry for my incompetence, but what's stg2 reffering to N/A cars? Is it bigger cams set? And stg1 likely intake/exhaust

Intake
Exhaust (catless)
Tune

the map i flashed kicks ass!

That's nice. More information would be nicer ...