I have read posts of many turbo owners who are or will be upgrading their turbo with FVD ECU's. SOme have mentioned 500hp etc. upgrades. Much of what I have learned about these cars is from members of this board or the turbo board. Many have often commented on the dangers of high boost pressures on our turbo's. Make certian that you are fully aware that FVD boxes commonly put 1.3bar + of boost into your engine. As a matter of fact...nearly everytime you even momementarily accelerate boost will climb to 1.3 bar for several seconds. Some boxes are out there with 1.4 bar also. Contrary to many tuners...and in SHARP contrast to many historical posts on this board, FVD feels that turbo 993's can safely handle up to 1.5 bar of max. boost on everyday driven 993's. I will be removing mine.

Good Luck!!

 

JT -

Your post seems to be a pretty direct attack on me, as I have been one of the posters about FVD. A couple of points before I address what you said:
1) Are you the same Jim that eMailed me a couple of times desperate for information because you had more lag than you expected?
2) You (and others) should be aware that as of yesterday, I now have a business affiliation with Schatzmotorsport - the FVD importer on the west coast. This relationship did not exist when I touted their products -I did so only as a satisfied customer, but I want to be 100% clear about my current relationship and interests.

If you would like, I am sure I can get Mike S to respond to your post - let me know via this board. In regards to boost, as I recall, the standard TT program has an overboost mode and goes to 1.2bar? for a couple of seconds, provided the conditions are right. The FVD ECU gets more power via more boost (and timing and fuel), as does every other tuner. The issue is not, as you imply, that FVD almost doubles the boost beyond safe levels. The fact is that the FVD unit raises boost some 20%, far different that what you imply. The discussion about boost on this board is that some tuners go beyond what the fuel and mechanicals of the engine can tolerate, running for extended perioods in detonation. That WILL damage an engine. I am pretty sure that extended running at 1.2 bar (what the factory ECU generates for short periods) under all the various conditions an engine would see, would do damage. Peak boost, under the right circumstances, whether it is .8, 1.2, or 1.5 is only a problem if the conditions and fuel do not allow for safe running there. You implication that the FVD unit is unsafe seems to have no factual basis. Have you suffered engine damage, or has someone detected knock as has been the case with some other tuners. The factory ECU is programed to account for all sorts of conditions, such as high temperature and less that optimum fuel. As far as I am aware, FVD and some other tuners well respected on this board, also honor that same strategy. Frankly, it sounds like you have a gripe with what you bought, that may or may not be legitimate, but you have chosen to attack the vendor with FUD rather than facts. ALso realize that the advice from many on this board, including myself, has not been FVD, but has been FVD + Schatzmotorsport.

 

Mark,

I have the FVD ecu place in my 96 993tt and what a bang for the buck! On my onboard computer it only registers 0.8 bar--is that because the readout only goes that far and that I'm actually getting more boost? I have not had any detonations. I do notice that the boost gets to 0.8 much quicker and it correlates well to seat of the pants feel. Congratulations on your joining with Schatz motorsports--what a quality and professional outfit. I'll be getting GT1 turbos hopefully for Christmas from him.

Thanks,

Vince

 

Vince:

You're correct--the computer on the 993TT only shows a maximum of .8 bar. I'm glad you're enjoying the FVD ECU--I knew you would.

 

Vince,

The stock boost gauge only shows boost levels up to .8 Bar. In order to see more, you would have to install a mechanical boost level gauge.

Also, not all detonation is audible. Sub-audible detonation can and will cause damage as well.

When you first stomp on it, boost levels indeed go above .8 bar, even in a stock Motronic ECU.

Rick

 

My guess is that the sensor only goes to .8 bar, but the electronics would read higher. I am planning on trying to find a different sensor to see if the boost gauge would give a true reading. I'll post if I ever find one.

 

Hi Mark,

I have designed a new type of boost level readout display unit that is housed in a small enclosure, which can fit on the console or inside of the ash tray.

The display unit will have different colored bar-graph LEDs that start with green, then yellow, and finally red to show levels above 1 bar. It will also have a recall mode and a clear. After a run at the track, you can push a button and see what the highest level of boost was for that run, then clear it.

A new differential pressure transducer sensor will be connected to the manifold "T" connector on the engine. The transducer in the engine compartment will connect to the new display by using a standard telephone cord that's easily routed through the tunnel.

This new display unit has no boost level limit and will be very accurate.

Rick

 

Very cool. Are you selling these are just at the design/plans phase. Drop me an eMail to discuss. I took your advice and bought 18" Fikse's and Hoosiers for the track. Great grip but I am still playing with the handling. Added the adjustable front bar but still not as tail-happy as I want for track.

 

Fo the time being...I will keep my response short and sweet. (After the fact) I was told (by FVD) to use octane booster in my car at every fill up. That should tell you something. I was assured complete reliability for every day driving......I have learned that repeated 1.3 and 1.4 bar boosts for even just e few seconds...in summer heat indexes of 102 degrees with 92 octane fuel is a recipe for disaster. And ANYONE with any brains (which I didn't have) knows it.

In response, FVD told me "thats what knock sensors are for"......I also know that "most of the time" detonation will not be heard....one bad tank of fuel.....and I could have some serious problems...there is absolutely no room for error..

If I am not pushed any further I will leave my HORROR story at this.....

Jim

 

Rick, if your gauge is available please email me as I'd love to get one
did you ever find the intercooler temp gauge?

 

Hey Rob,

It's not available yet, but I do have it working. I need to finalize the enclosure, then select the assembly shop to put them together.

These will marketed through a well-known local source.

I still haven't found that cooler gauge.

Rick

 

I'm upset with FVD too! I was PROMISED that if I went with their ECU and turbos, my Johnson would grow 3 inches, I'd win the lottery and Tyra Banks would ask me to give her one on one private lessons (driving). Instead, all I got was a car that accelerates like a cheetah that has been shot in the *** with a pellet gun!

SCHATZ ROCKS! Don't listen to anybody who says otherwise. Congrats on the alliance Mark!

 

If Shatz reads this board, I'd be very interested in his opinions. I've bought things for my turbo from him in the past and he certainly seems to know what he's talking about! I've been considering changing my ECU; right now I have a boost controller that my Porsche dealer added. Claims 450 hp, but I doubt it. The controller only handles boost; I thought that a new ECu would be better in terms of fuel mix, etc. Is this correct?
Thanks....

 

Rob......Who in the hell said anything about Schatz or for that matter any shop or mechanic????? Unlike yourself, my **** (its not called a Johnson) is big enough, no promises needed. Also...dont recall saying my car was slow or for that matter anything about "promises" anyway. What a F****** intelligent post you made.

I made a very simple factual post on factual numbers - with a simple statement to be aware. In Florida...5 months out of the year the temp. avgs about 91 degrees. On many days 94 or 95 and often a heat index of 101 degrees or more. It is not a good idea to be pumping 1.3 or 1.4 bar almost 20PSI into an internaly stock..... everyday driven 993tt engine - under those circumstances. Even if its for only a few seconds at a time. As a driver...there is no way to control it...unless you have external controls, to reduce those levels. The knock sensors are working overtime to prevent detonation and thats not what they are there for. To top it all off, with 92 or 93 octane.....combined with the hot climate (unlike in germany and the UK) it will most certianly seriousely shorten the life of a 993tt engine. Of course some may not care...and yer box may not have that boost. I dunno.

Instead of flaming me & insulting me why dont you go back in the archives...do a search and pull up all the technical posts and past posts on Octane, boost pressures, operating conditions, knock sensors and other items concerning related issues and posted by many respected people on this board in the past.

PS turn yer boost up to spike at 1.6 bar and It'll run like a cheetah shot in the *** with a shotgun!!! Then it'll die. Of course I mean the cheetah???

PS 2.... By the way, Cheetahs shot in the *** with a pellet gun sometimes die to!!!!!

Jim

 

tc,

I would like to know who that dealership is that sold you just a boost controller to increase HP. There is no way you are going to get 450 HP by adding just a boost controller. In fact, I bet it's over-boosting your engine. How could it not be?

I would have that removed and put a FVD or Rennsport ECU in, and forget about the boost controller. The ecu will take care of the boost, and vary many other parameters such as the advance and fuel flow.

That's about the craziest thing I have heard with respect to getting more out of a TT.

Rick