I'm just wondering how you like it and whether its hard to set up the staged injectors.

 

I've got one running on my streetported 6 port 1st gen. I love it. It's simple. Definitely a must have mod. Forget the (S)tupid (A)ir (F)uel (C)omputer that the lazy people like. Megasquirt rocks! There are many rotary people running them. Tech support for rotaries is very easy to come by.

 

Setting up staged injection is very easy. The latest MSNS_E firmware has it built in and it's just a matter of choosing it from a menu in megatune.

Megasquirt is an order of magnitude superior to any piggyback running on the stock ECU. It's a GREAT mod.

 

Uh, ok...


-Ted

 

Uh oh i smell an S-AFC II vs. MegaSquirt war. Tell me why i shouldn't buy the S-AFC II i've seen what 88IntegraLS did, but how much harder is it, and is anyone running the full setup with the ignition control too? I really dont have the money for a Haltech right now.

 

I don't see how there could ever be an SAFC vs Megasquirt war. They aren't even in the same league. Is Ms comparable to a Haltech, Microtech, etc? Maybe in certain ways but every one of them is better than an SAFC. The SAFC is a bandaid to a festering infected wound.

Thanks for your usual insight Ted. You of all people should understand the value of a standalone ecu instead of adding on overpriced underachieving junk. Maybe not though.

 

Megasquirt with spark control coming soon to my n/a! Just need to get the engine finished and built, damn porting is holding me up...

I'll report back after I have it up and running, I can't wait!

 

thanks for clearing that up, will it work if i keep my emissions and a/c and the dreaded cold start crap?

 

You're right.
They are not in the same category.
Each has it's own merits and disadvantages.
Each, also, has it's place in terms of upgrades.
To call it "stupid"...for "lazy people" is kinda extreme isn't it?

The S-AFC works.
It's targeted to those who don't have the capability of tuning a MS.
Sure, you can call it a band-aid, but aren't we all slapping a band-aid onto the engine?

A'PEXi has sold THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS (even millions?) of S-AFC.
If it's so crappy, why has it sold so many units?
MS hasn't been around to set it's reputation yet...only time will tell.


-Ted

 

SA is better

 

no. the reason why the safc is used too much is because the complete cost of switching over to stand alone. megasquirt has solved this problem. with a couple hundre dollars you can have a full stand alone and it will do absolutly everything. plus the afc tunes fia messing with the afm. this is bad.

 

I'm running a Megasquirt on my (ported) NA. I love it. Right now Im' just using a distributor from a 12A, although I'll switch over to the CAS at the end of the season, now that the code is stabilized. It definately pulls harder than it did with the stock ECU, and my fuel milage has increased some, Although I haven't gotten through a whole tank without at least an autocross on it yet, so I don't know what numbers are. I'll shortly (month and half?) be getting a wide band O2, and get some tuning time on a dyno, I'll let you guys know what my numbers are then. I want to make sure I'm tuning properly before I go Forced Induction.

To Summerize - Yes, there are lots of people running in on their NAs. Yes it is worth it. Yes, MegaSquirt does prod serious gluttamous maximus.

I have to agree with Ted here, though. The sAFCs do have a place, but if you're willing to put a little more work in, you'll get amazing results from a Megasquirt. Some people aren't willing to jump in and completely replace the stock ECU

 

im wondering how much I will get in terms of a street ported s4 na and a megasquirt. 88integrals says he saw a great gain with it and would never turn back and is pretty decent to build for yourself if you are inclined enough to do it. The SAFC is a piggyback whereas the megasquirt is a very inexpensive DIY standalone. For the price I would go for the megasquirt for sure, but they are still apples and oranges due to what is involved.

 

yes, but apples youy just eat, and throw away the core. oranges you have to peel and well. i hate them cus they scquirt fluid all into my mouth.

to make a long story short

megasquirt>safc

 

Or can't do it for emissions reasons. The S4s are safe, but at least in some states, the S5s (and other cars with a check engine light) will have a sensor pulled to confirm that the check engine light works.

It's one thing to have to swap exhaust systems every 2 years for a test. Changing the entire engine management system, especially if you have a custom harness made, is going to be a bit harder.

... and SAFCs are a wonderful way to show just how bad the stock ECU really is. I'm saving up for a full standalone here.

-=Russ=-

 

What's the major difference between a Megasquirt and a Haltech? They both allow you full customization over everything pretty much, just Megasquirt is a hell of a lot cheaper. (And you can get prebuilt megasquirts so you don't have to solder either.) But of course, both require a lot more time to tune. Perhaps someone who has an RX-7 as their only car and a daily driver wouldn't have the time to tune one and thus gets a S-AFC as a band-aid for their situation.

 

I've had it both ways: SAFC last summer and now a megasquirt running fuel only (for now). The SAFC can produce a GREAT improvement in power and fuel economy, but it is not as adjustable (only two fuel maps on the version I had) and the throttle response isn't as good. Low end torque isn't quite as good either for some reason.

the megasquirt won't give you a whole lot more power than a properly tuned SAFC if you are running the megasquirt in fuel only. However, once you start maxing out the timing map you will see a notable increase in power IMO. MS in fuel only does give more low end torque, absolutely NO more flooding, easier start-ups, and a world more adjustability that allows better transition from cruise to full throttle fuel settings, etc. And it's runs at about 8x the speed of the stock ECU with an SAFC on it, so the motor is much smoother and more responsive.

-one guy's opinion

 

so a megasquirt would be kinda tough to do since i have to keep my emissions?

 

You can always check out the Megasquirt Forums for most of your questions.

Megasquirt Forums


Mike

 

I don't really see why it wouldn't work with emmissions equipment. It can do anything the stock ECU can do, and better. I'm sure you'd have no problems hooking it up with emmissions systems. Besides, if you ran into trouble, you could always use dDuB(?) gauranteed emmsions check method, and just re-adjust your fuel map to deal with the added alcohol

 

i've been interested in a ms for quite a while now, but the s-afc was a lot less of a reliability risk for me than an ecu that i assembled myself. now i know that it doesn't do nearly as much, but it helped me get 25 mpg and will help me tune it for some better power as soon as i can get ahold of a wideband o2.

i'm really looking forward to when the ms becomes more widely-used and the support base is bigger. but i've poked around on the ms forums, and there's definitely enough info to help out a lot, i just don't trust myself enough to do it yet.

 

I think the MS sounds like a dream come true. I can lose the failing engine harness that is 17 years old and replace the "stupid" ECU & have control over whatever I decide to hook up to the damn thing. Knowledge is power... if I know whats going on & have the ability to control it I have defeated the mechanical limitation of design & substituted an adjustable & visible system. I've been waiting for something just like this to make my radical research design possible.

Ramses666

 

Passing a tailpipe sniffer with a Megasquirt or such isn't a problem. The problem is passing the harder visual tests with it. If you have a state that just glances under the hood, sticks a sniffer up the tailpipe, and runs - no problem.

The problem is when you have a state that does a strict visual and functionality check. One of the main problems is handling the check engine light - I don't know of many aftermarket ECUs that will light a check engine light up if a sensor is disconnected. Also, if the EGR & such are tested, you'd need to be driving those solenoids as well.

Doable, yes. Easy? Not really.

-=Russ=-

 

Do you get to be in the car when it throws a check engine light? I know this may sound stupid, BUT, you could always rig a switch to the CEL. He pulls the connector, you hit the buttion, and wha-la, you have a CEL. Or, use a remote control for it Just keep on eye on what he's doing, and put the button when you need the CEL to show up...