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Maximize
Fuel Efficiency
By Controlling Your Car's Computer
We recommend for everybody
to re-flash if you can
In
the past, it was not necessary to reprogram the computer
on your automobile. Most of the time, you could install
a hydrogen booster and the computer would make adjustments
that would allow you to achieve better gas mileage,
lower emissions and better performance.
With the introduction of high-output hydrogen boosters,
we have the opportunity to achieve better gas mileage
and lower emissions than ever before. Unfortunately,
there are some vehicles whose computer controls make
adjustments that work against the greater efficiency
that a hydrogen booster provides. Programmers such
as Predator, Bully Dog, and Diablo allow you to reprogram
your computer's chip so that you can achieve the best
fuel efficiency possible with your hydrogen booster.
The most common vehicles on the road can be reprogrammed.
Luckily, automobile manufacturers use the same computer
chip in many different vehicles, so one chip could
fit as many as 5-20 different automobiles.
Here are the basics...
Scenario
one.
The Engine Control Unit (ECU) of an automobile can
be reprogrammed with a more efficient curve that will
take advantage of the added fuel from a hydrogen booster.
This can be done with tuning software and a programmer,
which are readily available but may be expensive for
newer cars.
Most cars can be programmed using a laptop computer
or a programmer via the OBD-2 port. Some vehicles
will need to have the chip (ECU) removed and reprogrammed.
Scenario
two.
Some ECU's cannot be reprogrammed. They will need
to be replaced. This used to be difficult, but now
reprogrammable chips are available from a company
called Moates and many others. A ECU can be removed
from the vehicle and replaced with a new chip that
can be programmed (flashed). Then tuning software
can be used. Tuning software uses a bin file called
a definition file. This is the file that needs to
be re-written in order to reflash the chip with a
more efficient curve which will take full advantage
of a hydrogen booster.
Definition files for hydrogen boosting have not been
written yet.
Scenario
three.
Moates and others now sell a plug-in module which
will by-pass the existing ECU in some vehicles. This
is called a piggyback. The new modules are easy to
program and allow you to use tuning software like
Tuner Pro or Tuner Cat. Major modifications do not
need to be made to the vehicle.
Scenario
four.
Just
use a Map device and a EFIE
to control the information that the ECU receives.
This works pretty well and can be removed if you sell
your vehicle. Unfortunately, this will not work on
all vehicles.
Here
is a link
to Autozone so you can find the wiring for your
car.
* Locate your car, year, make and model.
* Select "Repair Info" at the left side
of the screen.
* Then select, "Vehicle Repair Guides" ->
Chassis Electrical -> Wiring Diagrams
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Diesels respond very well to boosting and
most likely will not need to have their computers
reprogrammed.
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We
were surprised to find out that it is legal to reprogram
your ECU in most states so long as it does not operate
out of closed loop mode.
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Reprogramming will lead to lower emissions, which
also could help to prevent global warming.
It's not uncommon for automobiles with a hydrogen
booster to produce as little as 50%-75% of the emissions
that they did before a booster was installed.
For
now....
The easiest thing to do is to buy an EFIE
device and/or a Map. These
work on most vehicles and can allow you to attain
higher efficiency without having to reprogram your
onboard computer.
These devices are fairly easy to install and are easy
to adjust.
For more info, click on EFIE
or Map.
Map
This
device is for your MAP sensor and your Manifold sensor
An
O2 monitor is fairly easy
to install and gives you a visual representation of
how rich or lean your automobile is running. This
is not necessary, but can help when adjusting your
EFIE and/or MAP.
Assembled
EFIE
This recalibrates your O2 signal so that the ECU will
not notice that you are using less fuel. Some have
achieved better mileage by just unplugging the O2
sensor all together and using a MAP device.
The
02 Extender
This Tricks the O2 sensor to allow you to run a slightly
leaner fuel mixture.. Will work on all cars and
trucks but only makes a small difference.
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