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RTEK 2.0 vs Standalone EMS?

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Old 01-05-11, 01:10 PM
  #51  
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The Rtek (stock s4 & s5 CEL system) and Power FC self diagnostics are pretty similar. They will tell you if a sensor voltage is too high or too low which is what is typical for late 80s/early 90s engine computers.
Old 01-05-11, 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by lastphaseofthis
still didn't see were his goals are listed, i'm sure that would end this EMS debate.
IMHO Goal<350=Rtek 2.x.

Haters call an Rtek a piggyback. simple truth is, when they update it to lose the AFM, and add in a few duty cycle controlled outputs, it will put it even more on par with everybody else.

Further more, YOU CAN USE ANY SENSOR with the rtek, it has the option within the software to define any parameters for such. although it only supports two extra over the stock.and things like the ECT and TPS can't be made to use one of these after market sensors, the extra two are more for datalogging, and display, like EGT,Lambda(a/f), boost/backpressure, knock.
Since this seems to have been asked more than once I answer the question.

Goals:
1. I have no power goals in mind at this time. Maybe a broader powerband through tuning.
2. Currently experimenting on NA engine to get the most I can out of it.
3. I want an ECU that I can use for both NA and Turbo, because I am currently collecting parts to do the conversion to a T2 6-port setup. So using the PFC will give me much more flexibility in that area.
4. In order to make my engine as efficient as possible, without spending an arm and a leg, I will need a much newer ECU, which at this time means the Rtek is out of the question, as has been said, it's resolution is a bit dated and is a lot slower then modern ECUs. Which means the PFC is currently in play, it comes with a base map from the guys at Banzai-Racing, it's good at what it does, it's proven.
5. I'm in California, I need to make sure that I'm using an ECU that doesn't draw to much attention, and it looks like the PFC can be mounted in the stock location. I also can utilize most stock sensors and can easily revert back to stock if I so desire, especially if I am required to smog it.


Current plans for mods are going to be:
- 4-RX8 Secondary Yellow injectors
- Corksport Header
- Corksport Catback
- Stock Main Cat
- Ignition Amplification box (MSD 6A perhaps)

I'm sure there is more I can do, but I want to see what this engine is capable of with modern tech, since as far as I'm concerned not many have done. So far an ITS RX7 race car has put down 199 RWHP on the Series 5 NA engine, which is considerable.

Now considering the RX7 series 5 NA engine makes 160HP, which I assume is flywheel HP, a bump to 199 rear horse power, now if I recall correctly, most people use a 15% drive train loss? A stock engine at the wheels should make 136HP, someone correct me if I'm wrong on this, I don't specifics, I'm just going on what I think is correct. Now assuming this is correct that's a 63 HP gain, and this is in break in. According to my math that's a 68% increase in HP. This is also on stock port engine as well. Now considering I'm an series 4, I don't expect to make as much, but if I can get anywhere from 160-180 to the ground, that would be sweet.
Old 01-05-11, 01:56 PM
  #53  
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then to really answer your question is simple.

you can't use the non turbo Rtek for the car once you switch it to turbo. you could maybe get the Rtek turbo version for the series of car your non turbo is and tune it for the vacuum maps only before the conversion but it will have even more limited usability.

major drawback to the Rtek is that it still requires a MAF, which hurts turbo performance more than n/a performance and limits the cieling of which you can accomplish with it.

Last edited by RotaryEvolution; 01-05-11 at 01:59 PM.
Old 01-05-11, 01:59 PM
  #54  
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Originally Posted by Karack
then to really answer your question is simple.

you can't use the non turbo Rtek for the car once you switch it to turbo. you could maybe get the Rtek for the series of car your non turbo is and tune it for the vacuum maps only before the conversion but it will have even more limited usability.
Which is why I figure, why use Rtek and need 2 ECUs to do what I want to do, when I can use the PFC and be able to configure for both.
Old 01-05-11, 02:00 PM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by Gryffinwings
Since this seems to have been asked more than once I answer the question.

Goals:
1. I have no power goals in mind at this time. Maybe a broader powerband through tuning.
2. Currently experimenting on NA engine to get the most I can out of it.
3. I want an ECU that I can use for both NA and Turbo, because I am currently collecting parts to do the conversion to a T2 6-port setup. So using the PFC will give me much more flexibility in that area.
4. In order to make my engine as efficient as possible, without spending an arm and a leg, I will need a much newer ECU, which at this time means the Rtek is out of the question, as has been said, it's resolution is a bit dated and is a lot slower then modern ECUs. Which means the PFC is currently in play, it comes with a base map from the guys at Banzai-Racing, it's good at what it does, it's proven.
5. I'm in California, I need to make sure that I'm using an ECU that doesn't draw to much attention, and it looks like the PFC can be mounted in the stock location. I also can utilize most stock sensors and can easily revert back to stock if I so desire, especially if I am required to smog it.


Current plans for mods are going to be:
- 4-RX8 Secondary Yellow injectors
- Corksport Header
- Corksport Catback
- Stock Main Cat
- Ignition Amplification box (MSD 6A perhaps)

I'm sure there is more I can do, but I want to see what this engine is capable of with modern tech, since as far as I'm concerned not many have done. So far an ITS RX7 race car has put down 199 RWHP on the Series 5 NA engine, which is considerable.

Now considering the RX7 series 5 NA engine makes 160HP, which I assume is flywheel HP, a bump to 199 rear horse power, now if I recall correctly, most people use a 15% drive train loss? A stock engine at the wheels should make 136HP, someone correct me if I'm wrong on this, I don't specifics, I'm just going on what I think is correct. Now assuming this is correct that's a 63 HP gain, and this is in break in. According to my math that's a 68% increase in HP. This is also on stock port engine as well. Now considering I'm an series 4, I don't expect to make as much, but if I can get anywhere from 160-180 to the ground, that would be sweet.
You are dreaming. It is a pleasant dream, but a dream nonetheless.

I mean seriously, you are basing your dreams on the power from a race car, then using a couple of rules of thumb to calculate your Hp? Oh yeah, then you make the mental shift from Series 5 back to series 4?

Pick your ECU, then skip the N/A power dream and go straight to the turbo. You will have a lot more fun and the car will be much more pleasant to drive.

Which ever way you go, make sure you post up here on daClub so we can, eh, watch.

Good luck!
Old 01-05-11, 02:00 PM
  #56  
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yep and the powerFC still manages all the stock components for the republic of california.
Old 01-05-11, 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by jackhild59
You are dreaming. It is a pleasant dream, but a dream nonetheless.

I mean seriously, you are basing your dreams on the power from a race car, then using a couple of rules of thumb to calculate your Hp? Oh yeah, then you make the mental shift from Series 5 back to series 4?

Pick your ECU, then skip the N/A power dream and go straight to the turbo. You will have a lot more fun and the car will be much more pleasant to drive.

Which ever way you go, make sure you post up here on daClub so we can, eh, watch.

Good luck!
I honestly don't think it's that much of a stretch to think that I could make that kind of power with said parts, although it could take more to pull it off. It's already been pretty much proven with the series 5 engine. However I may be stretching it too far considering which injectors I'm using, the guy that made 199 HP made it using T2 550 Injectors. Who know's what I'll make once I'm done, I just coming up with some base numbers based on what the guy got.

And yep I do plan on posting the results. Should be interesting.
Old 01-05-11, 02:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Karack
yep and the powerFC still manages all the stock components for the republic of california.
Yep, and that's is something that is very appealing at this point in time.
Old 01-05-11, 02:38 PM
  #59  
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with the power fc ,can you use your stock bac and throttle components, the water thermo sensor
so cold starts wont occur...im tired of removing all that stuff then the idle is lumpy and jumpy
Old 01-05-11, 02:58 PM
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given your constraints the Power FC would be a good choice if you can stomach the cost in relation to the resale value of your car.
Old 01-05-11, 03:25 PM
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The PFC's are quite pricey it seems. But I would say is your best option.. I'm assuming you can still run everything the stock ECU can? A/C, air pump, BAC, etc?
Old 01-05-11, 05:04 PM
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everything except for the CEL.
Old 01-05-11, 05:09 PM
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Originally Posted by arghx
given your constraints the Power FC would be a good choice if you can stomach the cost in relation to the resale value of your car.
It's fine with me, I don't plan on ever selling the car considering it's my dream car to have the second generation RX7.
Old 01-05-11, 06:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Bamato
The PFC's are quite pricey it seems. But I would say is your best option.. I'm assuming you can still run everything the stock ECU can? A/C, air pump, BAC, etc?
They're really not that pricey but to have everything you really should have on FC you will spend $1500 for an FC depending on what kind of deals you can find.

-- A new PFC is currently near $1000 due to exchange rates. You get the new hand controller though which is nice because it is much easier to see compared to the old one which looks like an 80s Game Boy screen

-- adapter kit is $315.00 . you can use this with AEM EMS as well

-- Power FC Datalogit box which lets you swap maps and connect to the computer with a laptop to log data is $300 new

That's within the ballpark of the competition.
Old 01-05-11, 07:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Gryffinwings
- Stock Main Cat
everything else looks fine, but the stock main cat won't flow enough.
Old 01-05-11, 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by j9fd3s
everything else looks fine, but the stock main cat won't flow enough.
Unfortunately it's what I have to use, because there isn't anybody that will make me a cat in California that flows enough. Until then, I'll deal with it. Besides it's more for keeping noise down. This will be after all a highly tuned street car, at least that's how I look at it.
Old 01-05-11, 08:58 PM
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Your kidding right? There should be tons of shops out in CA that can help you out with a cat replacement using a 50-state legal performance cat, just make sure you use a mettalic core cat and not a ceramic..
Also currently the AEM is at $1300
Old 01-05-11, 09:08 PM
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Originally Posted by D Walker
Your kidding right? There should be tons of shops out in CA that can help you out with a cat replacement using a 50-state legal performance cat, just make sure you use a mettalic core cat and not a ceramic..
Also currently the AEM is at $1300
If it isn't made for the car and isn't carb approved or whatever, then it's not legal to put on the car. Either that or I don't know of any shops willing to do that kind of technically illegal work. I know the price of the AEM, my preference is the PFC for reasons stated above.
Old 01-05-11, 11:36 PM
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Magnaflow cats come with CARB cetification. They even have a little card in the box to keep in the glove box.
REMOVING a cat is illegal, REPLACING it is not. Main cats are especially easy to replace with high-flow replacements that meet CARB, so check around.
Old 01-05-11, 11:42 PM
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Originally Posted by D Walker
Magnaflow cats come with CARB cetification. They even have a little card in the box to keep in the glove box.
REMOVING a cat is illegal, REPLACING it is not. Main cats are especially easy to replace with high-flow replacements that meet CARB, so check around.
They may be carb legal but here in california the cat also has to match car, meaning every car has cats that have serial numbers that match that car, legally those are the only ones you can use. Trust me, there is no way to legally get a bigger cat installed. However there is one thing that can be done to make this work, and I had forgotten about this, you can get away with modifying the cat to have wider pipes, which is what I plan on doing.

@Banzai-Racing: I was reading another guys post and it said the PFC doesn't work with the Auxiliary Ports and VDI in a 6-port, is this true? If so is there a work around to make them work?
Old 01-06-11, 05:35 AM
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You don't have VDI and your Aux ports are exhaust pressure accuated on an S4.

On the S5 if someone wanted to, they could keep the VDI and AUX ports working by configuring a couple of the FD sequential twins solenoid outputs.

Last edited by Banzai-Racing; 01-06-11 at 05:40 AM.
Old 01-06-11, 06:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Banzai-Racing
You don't have VDI and your Aux ports are exhaust pressure accuated on an S4.

On the S5 if someone wanted to, they could keep the VDI and AUX ports working by configuring a couple of the FD sequential twins solenoid outputs.
Clearly I have missed that detail. Well that's good, I won't be losing the low end torque that I'd like to keep.
Old 01-06-11, 06:19 AM
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Just be careful of the exhaust system you put on, if there is not enough back pressure it will not open the Aux ports and you will lose top end power. However that has nothing to do with the ECU.
Old 01-06-11, 06:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Banzai-Racing
Just be careful of the exhaust system you put on, if there is not enough back pressure it will not open the Aux ports and you will lose top end power. However that has nothing to do with the ECU.
I'm quite aware about the exhaust system, overall the exhaust system will not exceed 2.5" while in non-turbo form. The header will be a Corksport header which will bolt onto the stock main cat. This setup shouldn't loose that much back pressure to activate the aux ports.
Old 01-06-11, 06:53 AM
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My $.02 since I run an S5 NA car and an RTek 2.1.

The RTek is great for what it is, which is a chipped stock motherboard controlling the stock sensors. For someone in Cali it would be excellent, because it doesn't delete any of the factory emissions equipment.

Downsides are that the fuel and ignition maps are pretty coarse... I can see this when datalogging on the dyno. It's not as sophisticated as modern aftermarket EFI systems. Another downside is tuning is pretty clunky (you use a Palm for it), map storage is clunky.

Realistically - for an NA car, they're not that sensitive to the tune so it is perfectly fine. I wouldn't spend the extra money on a MoTeC, Haltech, et al because you're just not going to see much extra power or driveability. Turbo car, different story.

Regarding the cats, I have a SDJ header, shortened, connected to a 3" ceramic pre-cat and a 3" metallic main cat (with air tube). Haven't had any issues, but I only have 2,000 miles on the car since doing all the work.


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