tuning the JTD

M

Mr.Cambio

Member
Messages
7,096
Hello fellow members. After one week in my MiTo, i am starting searching for tuning kits. After a google and ebay search i found that there are a lot of ecu upgrades. Has anyone tried any of them? And..is there anything more you can do apart from a chip? Some replace the diesel filter. Any thoughs are much appreciated.

Nikos
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,626
Hey Nikos, welcome to the Alfa side.

Don't know muck about tuning the modern Alfa but LJ will be along shortly, he's very up on doing this.

How are you finding the car, needs more power by the sound if it?
 
M

Mr.Cambio

Member
Messages
7,096
Hi Matt. It has a good engine and it is great for the everyday ride, even if trips are included. But, having a 1.3 diesel instead of the 350 hp S3, is quite different.
The mito does good overtakes, but a light tuning like an ecu remap would be a must.
 
LJ_GQV

LJ_GQV

New Member
Messages
240
Not really sure how far you want to go with it but heres what i have done.

I had a MiTo QV and done a couple of bits to that which made a difrence, i know it wasn't the 1.3 engine but it was a good place to start... i changed the air filter to a bmc panel filter and there was a funny shaped plastic 'diverter' in the airbox. not sure what it done but i took it out, a couple of weeks later though i heard the noise a k&n cone filter made so got 1 of those instead. it felt better with both types of air filter (panel and cone) and they are cheap and easy to do at home. i had a tmc tuning box on that too and it was good but from what ive read all it is really is (the same with most, if not all tuning boxes) just a resistor that fools the sensors it plugs into and gives the car false readings so it gives you more boost. it was ok though and certainly made a difrence but not like a remap at all

On my Guilietta QV though i have done it difrently, i have had the exhaust changed and the biggest problem on the standard 1 is the downipipe straight out of the turbo. its too restrictive (instead of being round and open as the exhaust gases come out it was pretty much a flat bit of metal so nowhere for it to go) they use it to get the temperatures up for the mot's they have in europe where they test from cold (i think thats what its main use was for) i had a proper remap for this car too so it is 'made' to take into account the other mods ive done to get the best from them instead of just putting up the boost pressure like the tuning box. i can really recomend Fred at http://www.proalfa.com in watford for doing the remap and answering any questions you might have about it. He really knows his stuff and he has worked for Abarth doing the mapping for the 500 Abarth's in europe. He worked on their rally team too. He won't just get a load of high numbers on a dyno printout for you as he will only do what he thinks the car is capable of and its his name on the line if it goes wrong which is another reason i used him to do mine, heres a video of him doing his thing :thumb3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BdYk_aW5X8

hope that helps to start with :thumb3:
 
M

Mr.Cambio

Member
Messages
7,096
Thank you LJ. I am not sure if it's the same procedure to tune a diesel vs a petrol engine. But as i've seen around, most people place tuning box and an air filter.

Did you bmc filter produce this "fshhhhhh" sound while changing gears?
 
LJ_GQV

LJ_GQV

New Member
Messages
240
i've never had a diesel car so not tuned them (got a van for work but thats it) but i know a couple of people who have done. id guess it would be the same sort of way to do it though, more air in from a replacement air filter is always going to help. if it was me im not sure i would go with a tuning box again, there are some that say they are better and give more mpg and power others and some that apparently learn the car but if you are paying for something like that (i think they are around £300 + new? unless its a cheap 1 and then theres the thought of why is it cheaper) for an extra £100 or so you could get a remap which is written for your car and by someone who has spent the time to sit down and get it right using a dyno to test it instead of a small box that gives the car false readings to give it more power.

with the bmc panel filter it did make a noise, more than standard any way. it wasn't overly loud but sounded good :)

here it is-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v_iHnwk9DQ

but then when i changed it to the K&N it had a lot more noise from it which i quite liked. never got bored of it :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gIz7Rmy5yY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ii9uiIOZhk
 
M

Mr.Cambio

Member
Messages
7,096
Ok chaps..installed a parallel ecu from italianspeed. Stunning result.

Not a fan of methanol Alfatuner. I believe it pushes the engine far from their limit.

So, what's next? Of course sound system improvement. Any thoughts?
 
lisknik

lisknik

Member
Messages
5,524
I knows a place for a quality stainless exhaust, in fact my 33 is going there for one tomorrow ;)
 
ALFA TUNER

ALFA TUNER

New Member
Messages
24
Mr.Cambio said:
Ok chaps..installed a parallel ecu from italianspeed. Stunning result.

Not a fan of methanol Alfatuner. I believe it pushes the engine far from their limit.QUOTE]

I think you got it a bit wrong,water meth inj aids combustion temps.
Click to expand...
 
Maser Sod

Maser Sod

Member
Messages
1,965
Mr Cambio has an Alfa - cool!

I may trade in my Kia diesel at some point for a Mito diesel. My neighbour bought one this week and they look the mutz nutz.
 
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