Is 160bhp realistic with just a tuning chip?

kohler

Hello!

I've found a tuning company (in Sweden) that claims that their tuning chip will increase the 2.2 from 147bhp to about 160bhp ... while not mentioning any other mod.

Is it realistic? Or is it only possible with other mods? will it make any difference at all? what do you think?

thx

JohnnyN

This is not possible in the UK with just a chip/remap. Usually to gain 13/15BHP you would have to change the exhaust (cat-back) modify the airbox, change the air filter for a high flow filter such as K&N panel filter, remove the pre-cat and then have the remap.

The remap itself will smooth out many of the flat spots and help fuel economy only. Other than that, no real gain.

Lightning_Coupe

My 2003 astra coupe already had the pre-cat deleted at manufactre and with a simple replacment panel filter It achived 166bhp with no map on 2 diffrent rolling roads. So Id say with the minimal of mods you could be already there.

vocky

as already stated, to get upto 160 bhp can be done without a remap

remove precat

fit cat back free flow exhaust

fit panel filter

a remap will not give 12 bhp, it will increase power a little, best to leave until other mods are done 🙂

markv

Hmm, I've seen otherwise.. I had somebody to try and remap the ECU in my car. They wrote a new map for it and it worked brilliantly! For 30 minutes 🙁. The ECU self learning wasn't disabled as usually has to be done for these modern ECU's. So after about 30 minutes of driving the ECU regulated the new map back to original..

I did however do a power reading before it started to fade away. I measured approx. +20Hp and +20Nm... This was on an otherwise standard engine.

So I still have hope that somebody will write a half decent map for this engine, because it looks that it is very well possible to get a lot more from it.

Mark

kohler

Lightning Coupé said:
My 2003 astra coupe already had the pre-cat deleted at manufactre and with a simple replacment panel filter It achived 166bhp with no map on 2 diffrent rolling roads. So Id say with the minimal of mods you could be already there.

166bhp?! beautiful =) and you also say you never had no pre cat (another guy with a 2003 also said he didn't have one) I hope I don't have one hmm... interesting =)

the thing is i've got a KN panel filter (my only mod so far) but i don't dare hoping for 166 bhp yet. I feel like trying it on a rolling road now to see what i have haha cheers..

kohler

vocky said:
as already stated, to get upto 160 bhp can be done without a remap

remove precat

fit cat back free flow exhaust

fit panel filter

a remap will not give 12 bhp, it will increase power a little, best to leave until other mods are done 🙂

think i'll spend my money on an catback exhaust then. Then it might sound like more horse power at least ? =)

And about the pre cat on 2003 astras... could it be that none of them have a pre cat?? in that case why? and is it possible to find out by asking opel/vauxhall ?

kohler

JohnnyN said:

The remap itself will smooth out many of the flat spots and help fuel economy only. Other than that, no real gain.

are you refering to the section somewhere between 3000-4000 rpm? Cause it would be nice to get rid of that slow section if a remap can do that...

baldie87

what filter have u got Lightning Coupé?

JohnnyN

kohler said:

JohnnyN said:

The remap itself will smooth out many of the flat spots and help fuel economy only. Other than that, no real gain.

are you refering to the section somewhere between 3000-4000 rpm? Cause it would be nice to get rid of that slow section if a remap can do that...

That is the one. There's a very small characteristic dip on a z22se engine at 2500rpm. Every 2.2 power curve that i've read has the same dip??

notsure.gif

VXJON

JohnnyN said:

kohler said:

JohnnyN said:

The remap itself will smooth out many of the flat spots and help fuel economy only. Other than that, no real gain.

are you refering to the section somewhere between 3000-4000 rpm? Cause it would be nice to get rid of that slow section if a remap can do that...

That is the one. There's a very small characteristic dip on a z22se engine at 2500rpm. Every 2.2 power curve that i've read has the same dip??

notsure.gif

Heres my last dyno graph 🙂

[img]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlZmnNwgFS0
]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlZmnNwgFS0
[/url]

JohnnyN

The 1st dip is the characteristic one around 2500rpm and that i'm suprised at the 2nd dip as it does drop off a fair bit.

This is my last graph from 2006.

Lightning_Coupe

kohler I'm affraid there is no way of knowing if the precat is there or not without undoing the three bolts on the downpipe flange and having a look in. Even when there is no precat, the buldge in the pipe is still there. If your going to have a look buy a replacement gasket first, only cost a couple of pounds.

Come to think of it Kohler, Id strongly surgest you spend the money on a good catback system instead of a remap, The 166bhp did include a remus exhaust system, although it was only the standard pipe diameter. Try and get something with 2.25 inch bore or larger.

Baldie, I have a pippercross foam panel filter, soon to be changed for a dbilas flowmaster system.

vocky

JohnnyN said:
This is my last graph from 2006.

you can see where the inlet manifold is starving the engine of flow at the top end :roll:

kohler

JohnnyN said:

This is my last graph from 2006.

wow thats a smooth torque curve JohnnyN... did you get that from a remap?

kohler

Lightning Coupé said:
kohler I'm affraid there is no way of knowing if the precat is there or not without undoing the three bolts on the downpipe flange and having a look in. Even when there is no precat, the buldge in the pipe is still there. If your going to have a look buy a replacement gasket first, only cost a couple of pounds.

Come to think of it Kohler, Id strongly surgest you spend the money on a good catback system instead of a remap, The 166bhp did include a remus exhaust system, although it was only the standard pipe diameter. Try and get something with 2.25 inch bore or larger.

Thanks for the info Lightning Coupe... but what bulge are you talking about? like a bend or something? and what "damage" does it do? I don't understand.. if the precat is gone, there is little i can do without getting a entire new exhaust system? a bit confused dunno.. (might be having language problems again =) sorry )

Lightning_Coupe

Hi Kohler,
I'm affraid you are having a little problem with the translation. I was trying to explain that the cars that do not have the pre-cat from manufacture still have an increased diameter section in the exhaust pipework where the pre-cat should be. This means that to look at the pipe you cannot tell if you have one or not without actually removing it to see inside.

As for an exhaust system, I recomend a cat back system of 2.25 inches or more to free up a few more bhp.

Hope that was a little more clear.

Adam

kohler

Lightning Coupé said:
Hi Kohler,
I'm affraid you are having a little problem with the translation. I was trying to explain that the cars that do not have the pre-cat from manufacture still have an increased diameter section in the exhaust pipework where the pre-cat should be. This means that to look at the pipe you cannot tell if you have one or not without actually removing it to see inside.

As for an exhaust system, I recomend a cat back system of 2.25 inches or more to free up a few more bhp.

Hope that was a little more clear.

Adam

Yes Adam its more clear now =) but on some pictures here on the forum i've seen (or at least thought i've seen) pictures where it looks like the pre cat is right at the top of the down pipe flange?? this is wrong?

JohnnyN

kohler said:

wow thats a smooth torque curve JohnnyN... did you get that from a remap?

This was after cams, head work, precat removal, 200 cell sport cat and Courtenay Sport Remap.

Lightning_Coupe

No thats right, its at the top where the downpipe and manifold spit.