Megasquirt 2 vs. MS3 / MS3X Questions
 

I'm looking to purchase a Megasquirt EMS to run my car. It is a full track car that im looking to make ~400whp with.


S5 N/A Block
GM-1/RHC6 Borg Warner turbo
Walbro 255 drop-in, Bosch 044 inline
4xID2000 injectors


I've been doing some research on the diyautotune site and have some questions before I start purchasing. What are the big differences between the MS2 and MS3 boxes? I don't want a list of features of how many input/output channels or injector drivers. I'm looking for information like "doesn't need a zeal board to run the 2nd gen CAS" or "can use all factory sensors".

This brings me to my next question. What are the big gains switching from the FC 2nd gen CAS setup to a FD 3rd gen pickup trigger /w wheel setup?

Is it worth the effort to install GM sensors instead of using the stock sensors?

Its to my understanding that the Stock FC coils are actually pretty good. Would it be a good idea to use 2 sets of trailing coils for the spark on the car? Or would I be better off just upgrading to LS2 or truck coils.

Lastly, I am very interested in the "MS Shadow Dash" software that just released recently. The chassis wiring is completely destroyed on my car so most of the cluster doesnt work. How accurate is the program for real-time monitoring? What is the delay from the ECU to the hand-unit?



I'll ask more as I go, but I can't find any of this directly answered anywhere and am really just looking for the best bang for my buck.

I can suggest a v3.0 microsquirt,the new vr circuit works perfect with the 13b cas and you can run up to 4 coils so you can run cop with ls2 truck colis.For the shadow dash I think it will be a challenge to see the dash on a sunny day...

Um, the big differences are the amount of I/O and the number of injector drivers. However, MS3X doesn't need a Zeal card to run the CAS, nor do you need to solder in pullup resistors or the BAC mod, since it uses the 3.57 board. Of course you can use the 3.57 board with the MS2 and that's what I'd recommend.

Both can use standard sensors, but why? They are old, harder to find and use non-standard connectors.

Note that the MS3 is high impedance only for injectors unless you want to run resistors.

There is no compelling reason not to use MS3X at this point.

More stable timing. Keep in mind that requires a front cover swap, an FD front hub, needing FD torrington bearings and related, with FD water pump, etc.

Stick with 2nd gen coils. One leading coil pack, one trailing coil pack. With the amount of trouble many people have with LS2 coils, I don't know if it's an "upgrade".

No idea. :) But the output from the ECU to the laptop is typically real time with probably less latency than mechanical gauges.

Aaron, DIY told me the MS3X will run high/primary and low/secondary for injectors.

Just so happens I planned to start with stock Tii high 550s for primary and GSL-SE low 680s for secondary.

-billy

I've been emailing the guys over at DIYAutoTune. A gentlemen named Matt has been working with me.

He did not steer you the wrong direction. It will run the low imp injectors but with a resistor box.

It looks like I'm going to be going with the ms3x with 3.57 board.

Aaron, you said I should use aftermarket sensors. I plan on using the GM closed tip IAT sensor. Are their good GM alternatives you would recommend for water temp and oil pressure? I plan on using a sandwich plate for the oil feed for my turbo.

According to what I've read on their site, I can run the innovative lc1 controller directly into ms3x.

Now its to my understanding that if I am planning on running the ms3x, I need to purchase the ms3x harness AND ms3 harness. With bother harnesses, I'm going to run the fuel injectors and coils off the ms3x and the rest of the electronics connect to the ms3 harness.

I'm still getting info as I go, but I believe I understand the system.

Why closed? Normally one would use the open element sensor.

The standard GM CLT is used in a Megasquirt install (check my writeup).

Oil pressure, I don't know. I'd imagine any aftermarket sensor would work as long as you set up the voltage divider correctly. Why are you measuring oil pressure? Not saying it's a bad thing, it's just something that isn't normally done.

Correct for the most part. One VR sensor goes to the MS3X harness, the other to the MS harness. And you have your choice as to where you connect the BAC, e-fans, etc.

I would run as many outputs as possible from the ms3x.

Ken

What would be cool would be seperating the engine loom from the body loom, ie all connections to the engine can go through 1 loom, and everything else through the other. Sort of how the factory do it so you can just pull back the whole engine loom into the bay when removing the engine.

From what I can see on this side of the keyboard this would be possible with MS3 and MS3X asside from the CAS.

Arran

Just wanted to throw my opinion in here for future readers. I am on my 9th megasquirt build, install, tune.



If you have a lot of individual components to be driven, then MS3x is amazing.
You can run 8 coil packs and 8 injectors individually, plus have plenty of room for fans, pumps, valves and relays. This enables amazing control over an engine. I recently installed and tuned a 4v ford modular engine with MS3x and wow was it much easier.

When you have fewer injectors, coil packs, and components to control, MS3x loses its edge.

This is just my opinion.

I would use ms3+ms3x even if you don't have a lot of things to control. MS3 is faster, has more accurate ignition timing, SDCard logging, etc... and we are still updating it with new features. MS2 is in more of a holding pattern as far as features go and is not really getting used in any more new designs.

Ken

You were talking about using the stock trailing coils, I've been thinking of the same thing and using the COP mode.