Re-mapping

[ayrstu]

I have a 2006 163 auto is a remap really worthwhile??

[Shadeyman]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

It's the way in which the fuel is burned that makes the difference - cars leave the factory in a state of tune to meet the emissions regulations, and that's not just about CO2 it's nitrates and all sorts of other stuff too. To do that the car is programmed to burn a certain amount of fuel in a specific ratio with a certain amount air that will give the desired balance of low emissions of certain key pollutants. This is usually not the ratio that gives the best power/economy - in Petrol engines it usually means effectively running them slightly lean. Hence we have a strange situation where the lowest polluting engines aren't necessarily the most economical....

By adjusting the fuel/air ratio, on some cars it is possible to gain some improvement in combustion efficiency and hence power and MPG. There is also the factor of increasing the engine power at lower RPM by supplying more fuel and boost means that for the same power output the frictional losses in the engine/gearbox are lower and it is turning slower. A driver of a more powerful will shift lower and autoboxes will shift lower too as the shift points are calculated from engine speed, throttle position etc.

The difference to MPG though? Probably not even 10%.

Petrol and Diesel both leave the factory with a weak/lean mix. Remapping will "richen" the mix increasing performance but degreasing MPG. Only careful driving will result in lower MPG.

Originally Posted by Curly59

Spot on Shadey. Now driven 50k on shark remap. No obvious difference. Do shift up the gears early to use torque but this is countered by using the performance at other times and you really do want to use the performance!

Eco remaps only work if the driver is careful with the throttle and gear changes so why bother, just go "all out" and enjoy ...

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by Shadeyman

Petrol and Diesel both leave the factory with a weak/lean mix. Remapping will "richen" the mix increasing performance but degreasing MPG. Only careful driving will result in lower MPG.



Eco remaps only work if the driver is careful with the throttle and gear changes so why bother, just go "all out" and enjoy ...

Volvo still quote the same MPG and emissions for the Polestar version, except they say you can use the extra torque to reduce fuel consumption. They don't publish any figures though.

Volvo have been remapping and tweaking the D5 for about 13 years remember, and the mpg is still pretty much the same as far as I can see. Has dipped with some early 185 bhp versions it's true but not by much.

[Shadeyman]

Originally Posted by RoyMacDonald

Volvo still quote the same MPG and emissions for the Polestar version, except they say you can use the extra torque to reduce fuel consumption. They don't publish any figures though.

Volvo have been remapping and tweaking the D5 for about 13 years remember, and the mpg is still pretty much the same as far as I can see. Has dipped with some early 185 bhp versions it's true but not by much.

Its impossible to increase power without burning more fuel. Its how the extra power is used by the driver that increases or decreases MPG.

Someone who opts for a Polestar remap(far better than others as it adjusts gearbox torque limits too) will not be "Mr Lightfoot" so MPG will suffer.

On the other hand, "Mr Lightfoot" may be convinced to have an Eco Remap(extra torque low down) as his careful driving habbits may benefit MPG.

But regardless of who has a remap or who provides the remap, ultimately it is the way the driver drives that increases or decreases MPG, not the actual remap.

[GJB]

Have had polestar on my last 2 cars and can confirm that the extra power is great but will effect the MPG if used all the time but if soft peddled can be economical . Just nice at times to have the extra power to overtake etc.

[don kalmar union]

Originally Posted by ayrstu

I have a 2006 163 auto is a remap really worthwhile??

A software upgrade from MTE, written in Sweden, costs £395 including VAT.

That will give you enhanced outputs of 195bhp with 420nm of torque.

You may judge that as worthwhile in that it gives you usefull increases over those outputs achieved with Volvo's original calibrations. Certainly I would commend that as worthwhile vis a vis the high cost of Volvo's p* branded calibrations available only from dealers.

You install MTE's product yourself using their unique Softloader device as an interface between your car's OBD port and an XP equipped laptop. I loan that device against a fully returnable deposit of £155.

Don.

[RoyMacDonald]

Here are all the original maps for the D5 2002 to 2015 with the Polestar remaps.

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showpo...1&postcount=29

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showpo...7&postcount=31

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by Shadeyman

Its impossible to increase power without burning more fuel. Its how the extra power is used by the driver that increases or decreases MPG.

Someone who opts for a Polestar remap(far better than others as it adjusts gearbox torque limits too) will not be "Mr Lightfoot" so MPG will suffer.

On the other hand, "Mr Lightfoot" may be convinced to have an Eco Remap(extra torque low down) as his careful driving habbits may benefit MPG.

But regardless of who has a remap or who provides the remap, ultimately it is the way the driver drives that increases or decreases MPG, not the actual remap.

If you look at the maps Shady, the power has gone up with an decrease in fuel consumption. Of course it could just be the way consumption is calculated because a lot of people moan that they can't get the fuel consumption of the Euro 3 D5. Unfortunately they never put the Euro 3 in the XC60 to compare. Maybe the V70 would be the one to compare. Drivers can be so variable though. Other tweaks to the engine may be causing the mpg to improve though.

If you look at the maps, the maximum torque is being developed at such low rpm it's going to be impossible not to be using it nearly all of the time.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by don kalmar union

A software upgrade from MTE, written in Sweden, costs £395 including VAT.

That will give you enhanced outputs of 195bhp with 420nm of torque.

You may judge that as worthwhile in that it gives you usefull increases over those outputs achieved with Volvo's original calibrations. Certainly I would commend that as worthwhile vis a vis the high cost of Volvo's p* branded calibrations available only from dealers.

You install MTE's product yourself using their unique Softloader device as an interface between your car's OBD port and an XP equipped laptop. I loan that device against a fully returnable deposit of £155.

Don.

Is it possible to map the 163 BHP D5 through the OBD port or does it need a "chip change"? I've been told by a Quantum dealer that it's a chip change?

[don kalmar union]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

Is it possible to map the 163 BHP D5 through the OBD port or does it need a "chip change"? I've been told by a Quantum dealer that it's a chip change?

The MTE software is installed by the owner by connecting a laptop to the car's OBD port, no need to remove the ECU. You do need to use an older XP equipped laptop and connect it to the OBD port with MTE's unique Softloader interface exactly as I described earlier.

Net cost after returning the Softloader for return of £155 deposit is £395.

Don.