Volvo XC90 Performance Upgrade

6 messages, Last post on May 17, 2008 at 4:35 AM

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What is this discussion about? Volvo XC90, SUV

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#5 of 6 RE: ECU Upgrade [jim314] by kylechoffman May 16, 2008 (7:59 pm)
Replying to: jim314 (May 16, 2008 3:15 pm) 2006 2.5T Engine - 24K miles, the car was put into service in March 2006 so just over 2 yrs 2 months old. As far as the mileage, sadly this is my commuter car. I drive 16 miles each way to work (Half on the highway, avg speed is 35 mph per the computer). I live in san diego, so the landscape is flat. As far as the ECU upgrade, only reason Im asking is bc my buddy has had his two audi's updated and saw a very large increase in MPG, Torque and HP. Im not so much after the HP although it would help as the 2.5 is underpowered for an XC. Hopefully this is ok to reference third parties: http://www.eurosporttuning.ca/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PP- C-Volvo&Category_Code=VL-S40-V50-en http://www.ipdusa.com/Volvo-XC90/Performance/ECU-Upgrades/p-105-635-2195/ Replies to this message: jim314 (May 17, 2008 4:35 am)
#6 of 6 RE: ECU Upgrade [kylechoffman] by jim314 May 17, 2008 (4:35 am)
Replying to: kylechoffman (May 16, 2008 7:59 pm) Basic scientific and engineering principles assure that performance tuning of turbocharged engines can increase max available torque and power, but increasing efficiency (higher mpg) is an altogether different matter. I do not think that one can reasonably expect higher mpg after performance tuning. The IPD site makes no claims about improved efficiency. The other site states [Q.] What about the fuel consumption after PPC tuning? [A.] This depends on your driving habits. If you are using the extra power from the PPC upgrade you will use a lot more gas. If you are making more power you are going to be using more fuel. But during normal cruising fuel economy will usually be the same as stock or even improved. Optimized software in the ECU means that you will get more power and less fuel consumption in general. There are two ways that mpg could be improved (1) Improving the inherent efficiency of the engine, the so called brake specific fuel consumption or BSFC. There is no reason to think that performance tuning could do this. (2) Change the fuel delivery program so that at lower power demand (i.e. light accelerator pressure) the tuner program delivers less fuel than the stock program, i.e. leans out the fuel-air mixture. This might have harmful consequences for the engine, such as higher exhaust gas temperatures. Do these tuner manufacturers suggest that the highest octane fuel be used with their ECU programs?

#5 of 6: RE: ECU Upgrade [jim314] by kylechoffman; May 16, 2008 (7:59 pm)

Replying to: jim314 (May 16, 2008 3:15 pm)

2006 2.5T Engine - 24K miles, the car was put into service in March 2006 so just over 2 yrs 2 months old.

As far as the mileage, sadly this is my commuter car. I drive 16 miles each way to work (Half on the highway, avg speed is 35 mph per the computer). I live in san diego, so the landscape is flat.

As far as the ECU upgrade, only reason Im asking is bc my buddy has had his two audi's updated and saw a very large increase in MPG, Torque and HP. Im not so much after the HP although it would help as the 2.5 is underpowered for an XC.

Hopefully this is ok to reference third parties:

http://www.eurosporttuning.ca/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PP- C-Volvo&Category_Code=VL-S40-V50-en

http://www.ipdusa.com/Volvo-XC90/Performance/ECU-Upgrades/p-105-635-2195/

jim314 (May 17, 2008 4:35 am)

#6 of 6: RE: ECU Upgrade [kylechoffman] by jim314; May 17, 2008 (4:35 am)

Replying to: kylechoffman (May 16, 2008 7:59 pm)

Basic scientific and engineering principles assure that performance tuning of turbocharged engines can increase max available torque and power, but increasing efficiency (higher mpg) is an altogether different matter. I do not think that one can reasonably expect higher mpg after performance tuning.

The IPD site makes no claims about improved efficiency.

The other site states

[Q.] What about the fuel consumption after PPC tuning?

[A.] This depends on your driving habits. If you are using the extra power from the PPC upgrade you will use a lot more gas. If you are making more power you are going to be using more fuel. But during normal cruising fuel economy will usually be the same as stock or even improved. Optimized software in the ECU means that you will get more power and less fuel consumption in general.

There are two ways that mpg could be improved

(1) Improving the inherent efficiency of the engine, the so called brake specific fuel consumption or BSFC. There is no reason to think that performance tuning could do this.

(2) Change the fuel delivery program so that at lower power demand (i.e. light accelerator pressure) the tuner program delivers less fuel than the stock program, i.e. leans out the fuel-air mixture. This might have harmful consequences for the engine, such as higher exhaust gas temperatures.

Do these tuner manufacturers suggest that the highest octane fuel be used with their ECU programs?