Apexi Power FC ECU

[Des]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between an Apexi Power FC ECU, and an Apexi Power FC ECU "PRO"?????? If there is a difference, which one would you recommend fitting to a R33 GTR with stage one mods. I've heard things about launch control and anti-lag but i dunno what to believe. Cheers.

[Bubble]

I have the "PRO" version and instead of cutting the fuel when you reach the rev limiter, it cuts the ignition instead. I was lead to believe that it is safer to cut the ignition, rather than the fuel and run lean.

The "PRO" also has "Launch Control" where you can set your own rev limit when the car is stationary. With your foot flat to the floor on the throttle, the revs will not rise above this preset level. This feature enables the turbo to spool up, before you dump the clutch when drag racing. As soon as the car moves, the preset rev limit is ignored and defaults to the upper redline rev limit.

It also produces lots of pops & bangs, which makes children giggle and old ladies drop their shopping

[Des]

Cheers mate, i better get the pro one so!!! Couldnt't miss out on the pops n' bangs for the world!!!

[Jim27]

Originally Posted by Bubble

I have the "PRO" version and instead of cutting the fuel when you reach the rev limiter, it cuts the ignition instead. I was lead to believe that it is safer to cut the ignition, rather than the fuel and run lean.

The "PRO" also has "Launch Control" where you can set your own rev limit when the car is stationary. With your foot flat to the floor on the throttle, the revs will not rise above this preset level. This feature enables the turbo to spool up, before you dump the clutch when drag racing. As soon as the car moves, the preset rev limit is ignored and defaults to the upper redline rev limit.

It also produces lots of pops & bangs, which makes children giggle and old ladies drop their shopping

I too have a "Pro" (oo-er missus). To me (a self-admitted ignoramus) the launch control facility is just like sitting stationary at part throttle and holding at a chosen rpm, then when the lights change, releasing the clutch and putting your right foot down. Or am I missing something...?

So go on then - can someone explain how you set this thing then?

[Bubble]

Originally Posted by Jim27

I too have a "Pro" (oo-er missus). To me (a self-admitted ignoramus) the launch control facility is just like sitting stationary at part throttle and holding at a chosen rpm, then when the lights change, releasing the clutch and putting your right foot down. Or am I missing something...?

So go on then - can someone explain how you set this thing then?

It is like sitting stationary at part throttle and holding at a chosen rpm, BUT, your foot is flat to the floor. This means that the throttle body(s) are fully open and flowing a lot of air, which spools up the turbo(s), so you shouldn't bog down with the turbo(s) half asleep.

As for setting it up............. from memory you have to go into the settings menu on the hand commander, it may be the ECT. menu. I haven't got my car here and have a bad memory, but I think it is the second line down rpm limit that you can lower for the launch control, the first rpm figure being your set redline limit.

Have fun

[Jim27]

Hold on. Lots of air...? Surely then the only way it can hold at, say 3k rpm, is to restrict the fuel going in then? Which means leaning of the mixture...???

Can someone explain how that works?
(cheers for the info, Bubble )

[Bubble]

No it cuts the ignition to hold the revs. So you get lots of unburnt fuel exiting the exhaust, pops, bangs and the odd flame

[Jim27]

Ooooooooo

...must...

...try...

[Jim27]

Originally Posted by Bubble

I have the "PRO" version and instead of cutting the fuel when you reach the rev limiter, it cuts the ignition instead. I was lead to believe that it is safer to cut the ignition, rather than the fuel and run lean.

The "PRO" also has "Launch Control" where you can set your own rev limit when the car is stationary. With your foot flat to the floor on the throttle, the revs will not rise above this preset level. This feature enables the turbo to spool up, before you dump the clutch when drag racing. As soon as the car moves, the preset rev limit is ignored and defaults to the upper redline rev limit.

It also produces lots of pops & bangs, which makes children giggle and old ladies drop their shopping

I've been chatting to a friend who has an Evo 6 with a Power FC Pro on it. He takes it to a very reputable and knowledgeable Evo tuner who in turn has advised against using the launch control facility (or 'anti-lag' as they also refer to it). The tuner cautioned that, whilst 9 times out of 10 the unburnt petrol/air will be propelled down the exhaust resulting in harmless pops and bangs, if you lift off before that unburnt mixture has been fully expelled you can get suck-back into the engine (like the dreaded sucking of a shattered turbine blade back into the engine on lift-off). The unburnt mixture ignites in the hot exhaust/turbine and toasts the valves & seals as well as not being very nice to the turbo seals.

So, in short, use it very, very sparingly. One lad with a good condition Evo had it fitted and left it turned on constantly - his engine lasted 3 days.

Sooooo now that I know I've got this function on the PFC I wanted to ask how many people on here actually use it, and have there been any instances of it killing turbos or necessitating a top end rebuild?