AEM Wow
02-12-03, 05:03 AM
#1
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Wow
Anyone else as impressed as I am with this thing? The documentation alone is brilliant.
Where are all the other users? Surely there're are more of us out there using this box than the few that posted in here so far...
Maybe I'll have to start evangelizing.
Where are all the other users? Surely there're are more of us out there using this box than the few that posted in here so far...
Maybe I'll have to start evangelizing.
02-12-03, 05:56 PM
#3
No it's not Turbo'd
I have one, but I'm deathly afraid of blowing my motor, so I'm going to wait 'till someone from my shop (Rotary Power) can get to it and tune it for me... Beside I'm concidering a wideband O2 sensor, but they're $500.00 for a basic kit and I'm not sure if I want to throw another 500 after the 1.3K I allready spent... So probhably by summer I'll put it in and I'll post results and hopefully, get a nice HP Gain.
Derek
Derek
02-14-03, 09:42 AM
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So you guys really, really like this unit. I don't have an upgraded ECU yet and this is one of two I am thinking of. The other is the PFC.
Easy to install?
Good base maps?
I'll be adding a downpipe this spring, already have free flow cat and 3" stainless after the cat. RB cold air intake, K&N filter. So I know after the DP install I need the ECU upgrade.
Thanks for any info on the AEM.
Tom
Easy to install?
Good base maps?
I'll be adding a downpipe this spring, already have free flow cat and 3" stainless after the cat. RB cold air intake, K&N filter. So I know after the DP install I need the ECU upgrade.
Thanks for any info on the AEM.
Tom
02-14-03, 05:38 PM
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Mines not actually installed yet. I wanted to read all of the documention (~250 pages) and get well caught up with all the latest improvements and discoveries, and everyone else's experiences at http://www.aempower.com/bbs . Now that I've finally done that, of course, it's started raining.
This isn't quite as plug and play as the PowerFC. With a PowerFC, if you've only got a couple mods, you're generally ready to go right out of the box. Lots of people don't even bother tuning, they just throw it on and drop the hammer.
The AEM isn't set up for that. The setup "calibration" (AEM speak for "maps" and "settings") is good for starting the car and very, very easy driving. That's about it. And even then it will need lots of little tweaks to various settings to get the car to behave properly. After that, tuning is a requirement. If you haven't got a wideband, you'll need one, or lots of dyno time. And an EGT gauge.
Or, at least, that's the impression I get from reading the docs and what the others who are using them have said. I'll find out personally once the skies clear up.
The reason I dig so much more than the PowerFC is because of the software and the corporate support. The software is unbelievably complete. Every single little tweaky thing you could possibly want is available. And the firmware is upgradable. AEM decides to implement a new feature, and, presto, new software, new firmware, new feature. Which takes us right through to support. They run a forum on their website, and actually have techs on it answering people's questions and posting new information. I've never seen any support from certain other companies, except for some messages from years ago stored on Cirian's site where one Apex'i guy said two or three things before the unit even came out. And PowerFC users have had to rely on third parties to get real access to the guts of the ECU they've got, because of Apex's bizarre decision to limit access to their own software.
They're both fine boxes, and both targetted at completely different user groups. PowerFC is a good fire and forget solution for slightly, mildly, and moderately modified cars. AEM is a good solution for moderate, heavy, and extensively modified cars, and users who want to get their brain's dirty figuring it all out.
That's maybe not a valid comparison, after all, there are plenty of highly modified PFC based cars.
How about this. At one end of the spectrum of programmable ECU's is the PowerFC. Totally plug and play. At the other end of the Haltech. Significant setup and significant learning curve (to go along with massive configurability). Somewhere in between is the AEM EMS. Plug and play install, with some expandability (extra inputs/outputs), and a significant learning curve.
This isn't quite as plug and play as the PowerFC. With a PowerFC, if you've only got a couple mods, you're generally ready to go right out of the box. Lots of people don't even bother tuning, they just throw it on and drop the hammer.
The AEM isn't set up for that. The setup "calibration" (AEM speak for "maps" and "settings") is good for starting the car and very, very easy driving. That's about it. And even then it will need lots of little tweaks to various settings to get the car to behave properly. After that, tuning is a requirement. If you haven't got a wideband, you'll need one, or lots of dyno time. And an EGT gauge.
Or, at least, that's the impression I get from reading the docs and what the others who are using them have said. I'll find out personally once the skies clear up.
The reason I dig so much more than the PowerFC is because of the software and the corporate support. The software is unbelievably complete. Every single little tweaky thing you could possibly want is available. And the firmware is upgradable. AEM decides to implement a new feature, and, presto, new software, new firmware, new feature. Which takes us right through to support. They run a forum on their website, and actually have techs on it answering people's questions and posting new information. I've never seen any support from certain other companies, except for some messages from years ago stored on Cirian's site where one Apex'i guy said two or three things before the unit even came out. And PowerFC users have had to rely on third parties to get real access to the guts of the ECU they've got, because of Apex's bizarre decision to limit access to their own software.
They're both fine boxes, and both targetted at completely different user groups. PowerFC is a good fire and forget solution for slightly, mildly, and moderately modified cars. AEM is a good solution for moderate, heavy, and extensively modified cars, and users who want to get their brain's dirty figuring it all out.
That's maybe not a valid comparison, after all, there are plenty of highly modified PFC based cars.
How about this. At one end of the spectrum of programmable ECU's is the PowerFC. Totally plug and play. At the other end of the Haltech. Significant setup and significant learning curve (to go along with massive configurability). Somewhere in between is the AEM EMS. Plug and play install, with some expandability (extra inputs/outputs), and a significant learning curve.
02-15-03, 06:45 AM
#6
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quick question
I'm new to all this ecu/tuning stuff. Just a simple question. How many ways is there to tune a car?
Sounds like there's more than one way to do it with the "or". Could someone please elaborate to a newbie?
If you haven't got a wideband, you'll need one, or lots of dyno time. And an EGT gauge.
02-15-03, 08:39 AM
#7
No it's not Turbo'd
In a sense you're right to tune a car is relatively simple, you want the most bang (Combustion) for your buck (Gas and Computer) but more than that I wanted to be able to have my car Dive-able as well as Race-able, So I chose the Aem, because it was taughted to be Pulg and Play.
I didn't want to pay for an electritian to wire my ECU up or do it myself (Haltech), and I wanted to be able to upload a Drive (Street) Profile, and a Race (Track) profile. So that I can extract the maximum of power when I'm competing, but I don't need to put undue wear and tear on my seals to blow away some Civic ricer on the freeway. But that's exactly why I go to the track, I don't want to endanger myself or others on the road.
Derek
I didn't want to pay for an electritian to wire my ECU up or do it myself (Haltech), and I wanted to be able to upload a Drive (Street) Profile, and a Race (Track) profile. So that I can extract the maximum of power when I'm competing, but I don't need to put undue wear and tear on my seals to blow away some Civic ricer on the freeway. But that's exactly why I go to the track, I don't want to endanger myself or others on the road.
Derek
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02-15-03, 09:58 PM
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Hex, there's two ways to tune a car. You can tune it well. Or you can tune it poorly... Heh heh...
I'm green when it comes to tuning. I'm still learning so I can't really give you any specific advice. But, essentially, start with "conservative" timing for your setup (and finding out what conservative means can be real, real difficult, it takes lots of reading of what other people with your setup are doing), then do run after run after run logging your air fuel ratios with a wideband and adjusting the fuel so that you hit your target A/F at each point (and, again, that target A/F is going to vary from setup to setup, and how risky you want to be, and what sort of has you're using), and then finally start advancing your timing until your exhaust gas temps are in the "sweet spot" (same deal), and you've increased power without adding knock.
Look through the Single Turbo and PowerFC forums (and maybe the Haltech forum, but I don't really go in there much so I couldn't say for sure) for threads about tuning. Most of the good ones will be marked with a lot of stars. Also, study all the maps you find, keep printouts of them, along with a list of what was on the car that had the map on it, and any comments the originator of the map had.
And, finally, get the "EFI Basics" manual that comes with the AEM EMS (it's on their website somewhere, or a lot of people have it hosted on their websites), and read it. It's specifically for the AEM EMS, but it's a nice general explanation of the sorts of things you need to know, as well.
I'm green when it comes to tuning. I'm still learning so I can't really give you any specific advice. But, essentially, start with "conservative" timing for your setup (and finding out what conservative means can be real, real difficult, it takes lots of reading of what other people with your setup are doing), then do run after run after run logging your air fuel ratios with a wideband and adjusting the fuel so that you hit your target A/F at each point (and, again, that target A/F is going to vary from setup to setup, and how risky you want to be, and what sort of has you're using), and then finally start advancing your timing until your exhaust gas temps are in the "sweet spot" (same deal), and you've increased power without adding knock.
Look through the Single Turbo and PowerFC forums (and maybe the Haltech forum, but I don't really go in there much so I couldn't say for sure) for threads about tuning. Most of the good ones will be marked with a lot of stars. Also, study all the maps you find, keep printouts of them, along with a list of what was on the car that had the map on it, and any comments the originator of the map had.
And, finally, get the "EFI Basics" manual that comes with the AEM EMS (it's on their website somewhere, or a lot of people have it hosted on their websites), and read it. It's specifically for the AEM EMS, but it's a nice general explanation of the sorts of things you need to know, as well.
02-17-03, 10:57 AM
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Originally posted by Goblin
Mines not actually installed yet. I wanted to read all of the documention (~250 pages) and get well caught up with all the latest improvements and discoveries, and everyone else's experiences at http://www.aempower.com/bbs . Now that I've finally done that, of course, it's started raining.
This isn't quite as plug and play as the PowerFC. With a PowerFC, if you've only got a couple mods, you're generally ready to go right out of the box. Lots of people don't even bother tuning, they just throw it on and drop the hammer.
The AEM isn't set up for that. The setup "calibration" (AEM speak for "maps" and "settings") is good for starting the car and very, very easy driving. That's about it. And even then it will need lots of little tweaks to various settings to get the car to behave properly. After that, tuning is a requirement. If you haven't got a wideband, you'll need one, or lots of dyno time. And an EGT gauge.
Or, at least, that's the impression I get from reading the docs and what the others who are using them have said. I'll find out personally once the skies clear up.
The reason I dig so much more than the PowerFC is because of the software and the corporate support. The software is unbelievably complete. Every single little tweaky thing you could possibly want is available. And the firmware is upgradable. AEM decides to implement a new feature, and, presto, new software, new firmware, new feature. Which takes us right through to support. They run a forum on their website, and actually have techs on it answering people's questions and posting new information. I've never seen any support from certain other companies, except for some messages from years ago stored on Cirian's site where one Apex'i guy said two or three things before the unit even came out. And PowerFC users have had to rely on third parties to get real access to the guts of the ECU they've got, because of Apex's bizarre decision to limit access to their own software.
They're both fine boxes, and both targetted at completely different user groups. PowerFC is a good fire and forget solution for slightly, mildly, and moderately modified cars. AEM is a good solution for moderate, heavy, and extensively modified cars, and users who want to get their brain's dirty figuring it all out.
That's maybe not a valid comparison, after all, there are plenty of highly modified PFC based cars.
How about this. At one end of the spectrum of programmable ECU's is the PowerFC. Totally plug and play. At the other end of the Haltech. Significant setup and significant learning curve (to go along with massive configurability). Somewhere in between is the AEM EMS. Plug and play install, with some expandability (extra inputs/outputs), and a significant learning curve.
Mines not actually installed yet. I wanted to read all of the documention (~250 pages) and get well caught up with all the latest improvements and discoveries, and everyone else's experiences at http://www.aempower.com/bbs . Now that I've finally done that, of course, it's started raining.
This isn't quite as plug and play as the PowerFC. With a PowerFC, if you've only got a couple mods, you're generally ready to go right out of the box. Lots of people don't even bother tuning, they just throw it on and drop the hammer.
The AEM isn't set up for that. The setup "calibration" (AEM speak for "maps" and "settings") is good for starting the car and very, very easy driving. That's about it. And even then it will need lots of little tweaks to various settings to get the car to behave properly. After that, tuning is a requirement. If you haven't got a wideband, you'll need one, or lots of dyno time. And an EGT gauge.
Or, at least, that's the impression I get from reading the docs and what the others who are using them have said. I'll find out personally once the skies clear up.
The reason I dig so much more than the PowerFC is because of the software and the corporate support. The software is unbelievably complete. Every single little tweaky thing you could possibly want is available. And the firmware is upgradable. AEM decides to implement a new feature, and, presto, new software, new firmware, new feature. Which takes us right through to support. They run a forum on their website, and actually have techs on it answering people's questions and posting new information. I've never seen any support from certain other companies, except for some messages from years ago stored on Cirian's site where one Apex'i guy said two or three things before the unit even came out. And PowerFC users have had to rely on third parties to get real access to the guts of the ECU they've got, because of Apex's bizarre decision to limit access to their own software.
They're both fine boxes, and both targetted at completely different user groups. PowerFC is a good fire and forget solution for slightly, mildly, and moderately modified cars. AEM is a good solution for moderate, heavy, and extensively modified cars, and users who want to get their brain's dirty figuring it all out.
That's maybe not a valid comparison, after all, there are plenty of highly modified PFC based cars.
How about this. At one end of the spectrum of programmable ECU's is the PowerFC. Totally plug and play. At the other end of the Haltech. Significant setup and significant learning curve (to go along with massive configurability). Somewhere in between is the AEM EMS. Plug and play install, with some expandability (extra inputs/outputs), and a significant learning curve.
Thank you for the great explanation. I have downloaded the basics manual and began to read it. The 250 pages you speak of comes with the unit??
I have been to the AEM site, but need to look around there more before making a decision.
Please keep us advised of your findings as well as likes and dislikes. I think more people here are more familure with PFC. Not as much discusion on the AEM.
Thanks again, Tom
02-18-03, 03:41 PM
#11
No it's not Turbo'd
The Problem with the basics manual is that it's totally geared for Piston Driven engines, and talk about valves and cams and what happened during the intake, compression and combustion strokes, which sort of applies to us, it would just be great for someone to talk about rotary tuning specifically, about Top Dead Center, advances in timing what knock is and how it occurs in rotaries, and why it's so deadly to them.
A couple of these I believe I know, correct me if I'm wrong, but Knock is when the combustion chamber (Rotor Housing and Rotor) get so hot from burning fuel, that the gas entering into the combustion chamber burns (Combusts) before the spark plug fires, creating a decent amount of back pressure on your apex seals, and possibly fracturing or breaking them. as well as the fact that timing is there for the engine to function as a unit and the explosion of gasoline is totally random, prior to the plug igniting whatever was left.
I hope someone who knows how to tune can clue us more into what is needed to get whatever effect you may want from your setup with a rotary engine and a programmable FC.
Derek
A couple of these I believe I know, correct me if I'm wrong, but Knock is when the combustion chamber (Rotor Housing and Rotor) get so hot from burning fuel, that the gas entering into the combustion chamber burns (Combusts) before the spark plug fires, creating a decent amount of back pressure on your apex seals, and possibly fracturing or breaking them. as well as the fact that timing is there for the engine to function as a unit and the explosion of gasoline is totally random, prior to the plug igniting whatever was left.
I hope someone who knows how to tune can clue us more into what is needed to get whatever effect you may want from your setup with a rotary engine and a programmable FC.
Derek
02-18-03, 03:50 PM
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Derek,
Yes, you're on the right track with the pre ignition thing. The air fuel charge explodes prematurely and begins a pressure wave, then the plug fires adding to the whole mess. The forces are in fact strong enough to slam the rotor into the housing causing an apex seal to break.
I will follow your progress. Please do post any new information here. It seems as though you and Goblin are the pioneers here.
I'm sure you have been to the AEM site. Right? They have a great discussion board there.
Tom
Yes, you're on the right track with the pre ignition thing. The air fuel charge explodes prematurely and begins a pressure wave, then the plug fires adding to the whole mess. The forces are in fact strong enough to slam the rotor into the housing causing an apex seal to break.
I will follow your progress. Please do post any new information here. It seems as though you and Goblin are the pioneers here.
I'm sure you have been to the AEM site. Right? They have a great discussion board there.
Tom
04-01-03, 07:14 PM
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I installed my AEM serial # 0001 last fall but removed it as my stock o2 sensor could not give me readings that I could work with. I have since (over the winter) built a DIY wide band O2 Sensor controller from Techedge and I have my SSDP off right now adding a second bung for the new O2 sensor to fit in. I just finished the infamous hose job replacing all the vacuume hoses on the motor.
I have done alot with Motec and Porsche piston motors but I am now trying to transfer what I know to the rotary.
I will keep you posted with progress as I go along...
I have done alot with Motec and Porsche piston motors but I am now trying to transfer what I know to the rotary.
I will keep you posted with progress as I go along...
04-03-03, 05:42 PM
#16
No it's not Turbo'd
I started with the AEM, since I didn't want to pay XS Engineering to tune my ****, the same reason I don't buy Apple computers, I like the fact that competition drives the price down, and the quality up (In Theory 
)
But mainly I wanted to see and tweak my own maps or have it done by a pro, but I want a choice...
Derek
P.S. If you're going to the San Diego meet this weekend (5'th of April) I'll bring it (AEM with FD Attached to it ) to the meet and install it and let people look at the graphs and see what you can tune and check out....
)But mainly I wanted to see and tweak my own maps or have it done by a pro, but I want a choice...
Derek
P.S. If you're going to the San Diego meet this weekend (5'th of April) I'll bring it (AEM with FD Attached to it
) to the meet and install it and let people look at the graphs and see what you can tune and check out....
04-03-03, 11:01 PM
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Serial #0001? Nice to meet you, I'm serial #0002. I have no idea how I managed to get that number. Ordered from the RX-7 Store here just about two months ago, I guess. Maybe he'd laid in a stock of them...
So, you guys are actually up and running with the unit? Mind giving a brief overview of what you did? I could get mine to idle with version 0.94, but that was it, and it wasn't idling well.
Car's been in the body shop for a month thanks to a careless Jeep that smacked into me, but I should be getting it back soon, and I'd like to get the computer to work...
So, you guys are actually up and running with the unit? Mind giving a brief overview of what you did? I could get mine to idle with version 0.94, but that was it, and it wasn't idling well.
Car's been in the body shop for a month thanks to a careless Jeep that smacked into me, but I should be getting it back soon, and I'd like to get the computer to work...
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