Can US owners purchase J-Spec ECUs?
09-12-2003, 04:23 PM
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Can US owners purchase J-Spec ECUs?
First of all, I don't know jack about ECUs and engine mods. :D
I'm just wondering if it is possible for US RX-8 owners to order parts that are for the Japanese version of the car. If changing the ECU is something thats easy to do, then I would be willing to swap mine just to see if it increases the HP. Does Mazda control who gets parts? Where would I order one?
--DeBug:D
I'm just wondering if it is possible for US RX-8 owners to order parts that are for the Japanese version of the car. If changing the ECU is something thats easy to do, then I would be willing to swap mine just to see if it increases the HP. Does Mazda control who gets parts? Where would I order one?
--DeBug:D
09-12-2003, 05:51 PM
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Im sure if you know someone in japan you can have them buy an ECU for you, it would be very expensive id imagine new from mazda, maybe try to have them find a wrecked RX8 or something.
Also... Japan has 100octane gas (yes its rated differently but still higher than what we can get on pump) so you might run into pinging/detonation with just the base JDM ECU maps
-Chris
Also... Japan has 100octane gas (yes its rated differently but still higher than what we can get on pump) so you might run into pinging/detonation with just the base JDM ECU maps
-Chris
09-15-2003, 10:44 AM
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Thanks
Thanks for the info. I didn't know the octane levels in Japan were higher. I guess I should wait for US companies to come out with some ECU mapping mods....and for my warrantee to expire.
DeBug
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09-17-2003, 12:45 AM
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First off, while you can buy 100 Octane in Japan, that is a different octane rating system.
Secondly, the Japan manuals make the same requirements as the North American ones for octane.
There are two standards for rating the octane level of gasoline.
RON and MON
North America uses a combination of those systems, calculated by the formula:
RON+MON/2
The MON is a measure of the gasoline's ability to resist knock under severe operating conditions. MON affects high speed, part throttle and performance (under load such as in passing). The RON on the other hand, is a measure of gasoline's ability to resist knock under less severe conditions. RON affects low to medium speed knock and engine run-on (dieseling). For a given AKI, RON is typically 8-10 points higher than the MON. As an example, 87 AKI (pump octane) fuel would have a MON of 82 and a RON of 92.
The octane measurements are a little different these days, but different 'in our favour'. Most European and Japanese local manuals say use 91 RON (Research Octane Rating) where most US ratings are R+M/2 or 'pump octane'. Both descriptions mean the equivalent RON number would be higher, so 91 R+M/2 might be around 92-93 RON. All this means that fuel in the U.S. with an octane rating of 87 R+M/2 might around 88-89 RON, getting close to the '91 RON' typical recommendation, but not close enough to be used all the time.
Want to learn a bit more about gasoline?
See:
http://www.cheresources.com/greengas.shtml
Thirdly, are you party to some kind of magic info that says the JSpec ECU part will not fit in the North Amereican units?
Same part #, I found out today.
The new part cost is a bit breathtaking, though. I just found out about an hour ago it is 137,400 Yen ( About $1165 US Dollars) for a Japan ECU board. I have a friend in Tokyo. HE has a phone. We have email and ICQ..
Maybe if we can find a wrecked one over there...
Unlikely as they take much better care in JApan, and have lower accident rates.
More gasoline info on additives, that I can recommend:
Additives that are used to increase the octane of fuel include -
Toluene (methyl benzene) has a RON of 124 and MON of 112 (carcenogenic) in the 70s Shell here used to advertise "Over a pint of Methyl Benzene in every gallon of super Shell"!
MTBE (the usual additive in the US smells like turpentine), has a RON of 116 and MON of 103.
TAME (another 'allowed' additive) is not so good at RON 111 and MON 98.
The highest 'natural' fuel component is probably dicylcopentadiene RON 229, MON 167 (and this only occurs in trace amounts).
Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) has been suggested as an alternative to Tetra Ethyl Lead (TEL) for quite some time now. It doesn't require Bromine or Chlorine scavengers like lead products do, however, it apparently has it's own pollution concerns. It was banned by the US EPA in 1978, but this ban was recently lifted everywhere but California. They are still reviewing it and may re-instate the ban at some future date.
Using a good brand 91+octane gasoline is cheapest in the long run I suspect, and if the pump says "92 pump octane" or similar, at least you KNOW it has that octane rating. Additives are a bit hit and miss, unless you know exactly what is has in it, and at what concentration.
Sorry for being so wordy..
Secondly, the Japan manuals make the same requirements as the North American ones for octane.
There are two standards for rating the octane level of gasoline.
RON and MON
North America uses a combination of those systems, calculated by the formula:
RON+MON/2
The MON is a measure of the gasoline's ability to resist knock under severe operating conditions. MON affects high speed, part throttle and performance (under load such as in passing). The RON on the other hand, is a measure of gasoline's ability to resist knock under less severe conditions. RON affects low to medium speed knock and engine run-on (dieseling). For a given AKI, RON is typically 8-10 points higher than the MON. As an example, 87 AKI (pump octane) fuel would have a MON of 82 and a RON of 92.
The octane measurements are a little different these days, but different 'in our favour'. Most European and Japanese local manuals say use 91 RON (Research Octane Rating) where most US ratings are R+M/2 or 'pump octane'. Both descriptions mean the equivalent RON number would be higher, so 91 R+M/2 might be around 92-93 RON. All this means that fuel in the U.S. with an octane rating of 87 R+M/2 might around 88-89 RON, getting close to the '91 RON' typical recommendation, but not close enough to be used all the time.
Want to learn a bit more about gasoline?
See:
http://www.cheresources.com/greengas.shtml
Thirdly, are you party to some kind of magic info that says the JSpec ECU part will not fit in the North Amereican units?
Same part #, I found out today.
The new part cost is a bit breathtaking, though. I just found out about an hour ago it is 137,400 Yen ( About $1165 US Dollars) for a Japan ECU board. I have a friend in Tokyo. HE has a phone. We have email and ICQ..
Maybe if we can find a wrecked one over there...
Unlikely as they take much better care in JApan, and have lower accident rates.
More gasoline info on additives, that I can recommend:
Additives that are used to increase the octane of fuel include -
Toluene (methyl benzene) has a RON of 124 and MON of 112 (carcenogenic) in the 70s Shell here used to advertise "Over a pint of Methyl Benzene in every gallon of super Shell"!
MTBE (the usual additive in the US smells like turpentine), has a RON of 116 and MON of 103.
TAME (another 'allowed' additive) is not so good at RON 111 and MON 98.
The highest 'natural' fuel component is probably dicylcopentadiene RON 229, MON 167 (and this only occurs in trace amounts).
Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) has been suggested as an alternative to Tetra Ethyl Lead (TEL) for quite some time now. It doesn't require Bromine or Chlorine scavengers like lead products do, however, it apparently has it's own pollution concerns. It was banned by the US EPA in 1978, but this ban was recently lifted everywhere but California. They are still reviewing it and may re-instate the ban at some future date.
Using a good brand 91+octane gasoline is cheapest in the long run I suspect, and if the pump says "92 pump octane" or similar, at least you KNOW it has that octane rating. Additives are a bit hit and miss, unless you know exactly what is has in it, and at what concentration.
Sorry for being so wordy..
09-20-2003, 02:36 AM
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I can see how you would like to get our ecu reflashed with the japanese maps. However with immobilizers and fuel issues you will not want to go with a true japanese ecu or you wont even be able to start your car at all hehe.
I cant wait for some upgraded maps as well they should help alot. Im also not sure how or if the fuel will even be an issue over here if some people are putting other types of gas into their car with no issues so far.
I cant wait for some upgraded maps as well they should help alot. Im also not sure how or if the fuel will even be an issue over here if some people are putting other types of gas into their car with no issues so far.
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