I have an A4 Avent, 2.0 SE which is coming up to 4 years old. I am going to try out a VAG specialist for servicing and have seen a number of threads discussing improving performance by "fine tuning" the engine ? If this makes sense can some one please advise if it makes a big difference to performance, whether it is expensive and whether it needs to be declared on your insurance. Thanks in advance
Improving performance
- Thread starter peter02
- Start date
- Joined
- May 23, 2004
- Messages
- 3,326
- Reaction score
- 199
- Points
- 63
- Age
- 41
- Location
- Preston
- Website
- www.audi-sport.net
There's not much can be done with newer Audis (and I guess everything else) in terms of 'old-school' tuning (turning the odd adjustment screw here and there etc.), especially as they're all fly-by-wire now.
Most of the stuff that was handled mechanically in days gone by is now a firmware flashed on an eeprom chip (the ECU). Obviously a lot of folks on here have had theirs upgraded/re-programmed (re-mapped) - which without getting too technical reprograms the fuel, air, and spark behaviour of the engine. The biggest gains here though are on turbo petrol and TDI engines (turbo petrol tend to get a bit of fuelling management alteration and the turbo blowing harder and turbo diesel get similar, but more timing alterations AFAIK). Naturally aspirated engines however, such as yours, don't seem to benefit too much in terms of power and torque from a remap - mainly because there's not much point in fuelling it more if you can't force more air in with it) - there is the odd exception to this, if an engine has been 'de-tuned' from the factory to deliver less power than it theoretically could - perhaps for emissions/marketing reasons, but it's rare.
I guess there will be bits and bobs you can do to yours to get a bit more output from it, but likely not as significant as you could if it was a T or TDI. There are a couple of chaps on here with 2.0s though, so I guess they might crop-up with some tried-and-tested ideas...
Regards,
Rob.
Most of the stuff that was handled mechanically in days gone by is now a firmware flashed on an eeprom chip (the ECU). Obviously a lot of folks on here have had theirs upgraded/re-programmed (re-mapped) - which without getting too technical reprograms the fuel, air, and spark behaviour of the engine. The biggest gains here though are on turbo petrol and TDI engines (turbo petrol tend to get a bit of fuelling management alteration and the turbo blowing harder and turbo diesel get similar, but more timing alterations AFAIK). Naturally aspirated engines however, such as yours, don't seem to benefit too much in terms of power and torque from a remap - mainly because there's not much point in fuelling it more if you can't force more air in with it) - there is the odd exception to this, if an engine has been 'de-tuned' from the factory to deliver less power than it theoretically could - perhaps for emissions/marketing reasons, but it's rare.
I guess there will be bits and bobs you can do to yours to get a bit more output from it, but likely not as significant as you could if it was a T or TDI. There are a couple of chaps on here with 2.0s though, so I guess they might crop-up with some tried-and-tested ideas...
Regards,
Rob.
Nickynibbles
Damn it where's 7th gear when you need it?!
I presume by "fine tuning" you mean having the car's ecu program amended (commonly called remapping) to give more horsepower? It does indeed work but the results are more dramatic in a turbo charged car than a naturally aspirated one like your 2.0. You should be getting 128bhp currently from your engine, with a performance air filter, exhaust and an ecu remap you probably could get that up to 140bhp, but you'd be looking at spending £1k to do this. A remap alone would only probably see you up to 135bhp. You have to tell your insurance companies of any modification to the car from standard, although they would normally only start charging if you do performance upgrades like this.
If you want more power then you'd be as well just to sell your car and buy one with the 1.8T engine. The first versions had 150bhp, then later 163bhp, with the later 2004 s-line versions 190bhp, all figures are standard un-moddified and insurance friendly! Cost wise this would be better as you could sell your car & buy a 1.8T for about the same money anyway, plus you wouldnt have to pay out more for insurance!
If you want more power then you'd be as well just to sell your car and buy one with the 1.8T engine. The first versions had 150bhp, then later 163bhp, with the later 2004 s-line versions 190bhp, all figures are standard un-moddified and insurance friendly! Cost wise this would be better as you could sell your car & buy a 1.8T for about the same money anyway, plus you wouldnt have to pay out more for insurance!
Similar threads
imported_AndyB40