another question, how powerful of a laptop do i need? can i just go to a local computer shop and buy a used $200 pII or am i going to need something decent?

 

Jason says to run the highest possible grade of gasoline, do you need to do this even after the car is tuned, for daily driving?

 

I have a slightly detuned map that I took 2 deg of advance out and hotter plugs for the winter. I haven't had any pinging with 87. I run 89 usually just to be safe.

 

Kind've wondering why somebody would buy a Can Zoomer, to tune the engine (advancing timing & AFR ratios) only to put in lower grade gas, that will turn down timing ? Recommended premium fuel 91 octane. Stock ECU can use 87, but the result will be a retardation of timing in aggressive driving cancelling out any benefit of the CZ unit.

 

Not as difficult as you might think to understand.....With the cold weather...I am using hotter plugs......helps keep them from fouling as fast..Also winter....just drive to work......So instead of taking out the CZ for the winter...I detuned it a bit on the advance side...with the result that it doesn't ping with 87. As a matter of fact it usually runs better on good regular (Shell, Chevron) when its cold out. What's so hard to figure out?? :D

Also...if it doesn't ping...it won't be affected by the ECU...no knock...no adjustment!

Plus...it's fun pissing around and doing different maps....makes the brain work, and it's better to be in the car, or the garage than in the house with the 4 kids :D

 

Ok, sorry here in sunny California were not too worried about cold weather...ha, ha. Actually just because it doesn't ping/knock, doesn't mean your ECU didn't retard the timing. I included an article on this on another thread. Engine management is so sophisticated these days that the engine does not need to detonate before it adjusts quickly. Quite simply the engine adjusts to the lower octane before the engine audibly emits pinging. In the article (Car & Driver), cars that had 91 recommnded/required lost from about 6%-10% of their power running 87 octane (a BMW M3 & Saab 9).

Interesting concept of tuning the CZ unit multiple times depending on weather.

 

I tuned my map for 89 octane because 89 octane is cheaper and I get better gas milage in day to day driving with 89 octane... it also keeps the cat temps down. If I want to go to the track I'll just load up a different map.

Also, I have winter tires on now so going to the track isn't an option anyway...

 

how much better?

 

The CanScan logs the advance curves...if it arbitrarily was retarding the spark...it would show up in the log. It does seem to alter the timing when the car is cold, and just after starting.

 

Depends on which version of excel you own. Check the box of MS offie for the minimum requirements.

 

Since the CZ is essentially an emange, could you use this:

Greddy E-01

to tune without a laptop, although you could probably pick up a used laptop for the price of that sucker.

 

I got one of the earlier units, then had it updated. It now has a USB input/ output. How do I know if my unit doesnt have the coil issue? Serial number, or just from the fact that its had an update? I am not sure if there were multiple updated for the early runs...