EMS w/o Turbo......

[icecubetray]

Anyone in the GTA running a standalone EMS(Engine Management System) or Fuel/Timing system on a fairly stock Mazda 3? Like a Haltech or Microtech........w/o Turbo.

Its a fairly big chunk of coin......but there are some decent gains to be had.....as I understand it.

As I understand it....correct me if I am wrong.....but on a stock 3 a EMS can provide up to a 15% improvement in hp......upwards of 20whp. Is this out to lunch?

I am wondering what kind of improvements could be had running a catback, CAI......headers.......with a EMS.

I'm just curious......personally I'm not really all that interested in Turbo.

Just wondering if you guys might be able to enlighten me on this subject.

Cheers....

[icecubetray]

sorry, this should probably be under the modifications sections -> Performance....

maybe one of the moderators can move this thread......

[midnightfxgt]

I wouldnt bother. Sure you MAY be able to gain 20HP, but at what cost? Reduced fuel mileage? Rough Starts? Bad Cold engine running etc?

I would stick with bolt ons. The ECU in the Mazda3 is great and adapts well, and I think thats why good gains are seen with basic mods.

-John

[icecubetray]

I was under the impression that something like the Haltech ran with multiple fuel maps? So that it could deal with cold starts etc?

But I don't know that for sure.....I thought I read about that in one of the turbo threads....at one time or another....

[midnightfxgt]

It does. Doesnt mean that it is easy to get a perfect tune though. I can almost promise you, you will loose fuel mileage also.

-John

[icecubetray]

I take it you have played around with them before?

ya, I wasn't necessarily looking at trying to improve gas mileage with a EMS.....

Just looking at performance improvements.

Ya, I figured there would be tuning involved.......and I realize they would never run perfect out of the box....

Just wondering if anyone has played with them.....tried them.....pros....cons.....realities of using them etc....experiences

or if anyone has tried them on a non turbo.

[midnightfxgt]

I have played with it before... mine :)

I am not NA though, so I cant really tell you much on that... just the general cons of a standalone on the Mazda3

-John

[icecubetray]

so is yours still running pretty rough?

Did you do any tuning on the dyno......adjusted or play with the maps much?

or are you using the maps that the guys on m3f are using?

I suppose without alot of time on the dyno its going to be hard to recognize any major gains? with a ems?

[midnightfxgt]

Nope, I have a wideband, so you see your changes pretty quickly :)

I am running some modified maps. To be honest, I may be selling in a couple months (ECU, not car :)) to try a new solution to tuning. If your interested, let me know :)

-John

[icecubetray]

I see you have been reading the xfc thread too......

[midnightfxgt]

Yup... But I think it would be more beneficial to us boosted guys. See, the Haltech has a lot more control, and I think to squeeze some HP out of an NA MZ3, you would need that fine tuning. With the XFC, it is almost all dynamic. I think if I tuned entirely with the Haltech, I could get slightly better gains, but the time involved is a lot. Also, one screw-up is costly. I dont care if I have 260 or 270WHP, as long as its easy to tune.... I can give up a few ponies. But on an NA MZ3, the difference between 140WHP and 150WHP is felt more.

-John