Remapping your engine is thought of as an extremely low-cost method of tuning your car.
While the majority of remaps will concentrate on increasing your car’s power or performance, they’re also possible to improve the efficiency of your engine’s fuel consumption with Remaps.
Is a remap really worth the cost, even? This guide will help you decide.
Car remapping takes place when the car’s computer (often called the Electronic Control Unit, or ECU) is altered with new software in order to alter its behaviour.
In the beginning, vast majority of cars won’t possess the engine’s full potential performance, even on sports automobiles. ECUs generally limit the performance of the engine to increase the reliability, emission levels and the consumption of fuel.
Your car’s engine may also be restricted slightly to make sure it can deliver a good balance of efficiency and fuel consumption in conditions that aren’t ideal like extremely hot weather (when engines usually produce smaller power.)
Remaps are typically performed to boost the performance of the engine by getting rid of some of these restrictions. It’s also possible to have a remap focused on increasing fuel consumption as well.
What is the process of engine remapping?
A engine remap is carried out by writing a fresh software program to your engine’s electronics control unit (ECU). It’s a simple technique of tuning. It’s usually performed by plugging your laptop into the car’s OBD port (the same port that garages utilize to determine the cause of your car’s problem when it fails to start.)
However, it’s not quite as simple as download the application online then then doing it yourself. You’ll need to hand your vehicle to a professional who has been trained, however, some companies provide a DIY service.
The new software is designed to optimize the engine’s performance to improved performance.
What are the advantages of engine mapping?
It’s an inexpensive method of improving your car’s performance
Prices for the remapping process vary, however, it could be one of the most affordable ways of improving your car’s performance.
You don’t need to make any physical upgrades
You don’t have to change the physical components of your vehicle in order to gain the performance benefits from Remap. In fact, it’s usually reversed. Many aftermarket products will need an engine remap to make sure that they’re functioning as efficiently as they can.
It’s (usually) reverse-able
In many instances it is possible for a car’s remap to be reversed. Therefore, if you’d rather have the original software installed back on your vehicle, it can be easily done. However, it won’t restore the warranty that you’ve voided.
What are the drawbacks of engine mapping?
It generally invalidates a vehicle’s warranty
While it’s an easy and non-visible method to modify your car’s performance however, the majority of car warranties will be voided when you remap your car. This is still a modification to the car , after all that can affect the reliability of your engine beyond the manufacturer’s control.
There are certain exceptions. For example, Ford worked with specialists Mountune to offer a portion of Mountune’s remaps for the Focus RS without affecting the manufacturer warranty. Always make sure you check your paperwork however.
Your insurance premium could rise.
Any kind of performance enhancement to your vehicle will typically cause an increase in your insurance costs. That applies to remaps too.
If you do not mention itto your insurer, they could annul your policy in case of an accident, and could refuse to payout.
It can impact your car’s reliability.
Even though you’ll see more performance with a remap, it puts more stress on your engine too. This can have an adverse impact on the reliability of your vehicle and the components may fail earlier than anticipated by the manufacturer.
How much will it cost to remap an engine?
Similar to many performance improvements, a remap can cost the same amount or as little as you’re willing to invest. Remaps typically come in a variety of’stages’.
The most affordable remaps are usually referred to as”stage 1″ upgrades and usually consists of a light reprogramming for an increase in performance. These usually cost around the range of a few hundred pounds.
“Stage 2” remaps could require a bit more work to the engine, which is usually with a new air filter as well as some improvements to the exhaust. They’ll naturally increase the cost of the upgrade and often will close to or even exceed PS1,000.
“Stage 3 and up are the most significant remaps. These can be combined in conjunction with major engine overhauls -such as of new turbo systems or internal components, like pistonswhich will extract some serious performance from your car. Because of this, they can cost thousands of pounds.
FAQs: Engine remapping
Is remapping a safe method of remapping?
Remapping a car will add more strain to your engine. Although many are quite safe, you’ll need to be extra careful to keep your car well-maintained.
As a general rule the greater power you gain through a remap process, the more it’ll impact your car’s reliability.
Can you remap any car?
Many modern cars can be remapped. However, older models that have outdated software aren’t able to.
The degree to which the impact of a remap on your car will vary dependent on the model you have and the place you’ve changed.
Does remapping affect insurance?
Remapping your vehicle will almost always raise your insurance rates. You need to report it to your insurer too — failure to do so can result in your policy being cancelled.
Where can I remap my car?
Many dedicated tuning houses offer remaps. Some specialize in specific models, while others offer a wide range of services.
Don’t attempt to modify the software on a automobile’s engine by yourself. Unless you’re a skilled technician who understands exactly that you’re working on.
