TDI Tuning for beginners

[woodyTDI]

Hi guys. I have had my new Leon now since November and I am loving it! But I am looking into the options of tuning the engine up.

When I was at the dealers they said it could be taken up from 140 to 170 and they could do this for 400 quid, is that expensive?

As I am a newbie to TDI's as well as wanted to tune my beautiful new car I have no idea what the prices should be, or what to do at all!

I thought it would be helpful to me as well as all newbie’s to post this thread.

I was wondering where are the best places to go? The best things to do to the engine? does it decrease the mpg? How much does it all cost? And any other useful tips?

I’ve seen that some of you have thousands of posts which must = years of knowledge and would love it if you could give me some top tips with this and also anything to do with TDI's.

I’m sure this will help me, as well as all the other newbie’s and maybe even some veterans

I looking forward to get as much info as poss in the crazy new TDI world

Woody

 

[sssstew]

me personally it got worse, but thats cause i used a cheap tuning box, and mines an older style on PD TDI.

but yours will do well with a remap from many of the big names, custom code, revo, all of which will be cheaper than the £400 you got quoted.

So yes, your first step looks like a remap, the theory is it wont decrease mpg as it provides you with more torque so you dont have to squeeze the throttle so much or change down as much, assuming your going the same speed, usually a remap leads to harder driving thus worse mpg.

 

[BeezerDiesel]

Diesel tuning involves throwing extra fuel into the engine to be blunt. Most tuners claim increased MPG as there is generally much more torque available at lower and middle revs, so they say you can change up a gear earlier. If you use the extra ooomph you will see a marked increase in consumption.
Some drivers claim they see improvements but I've now had four modified TDIs and all have shown an increase in fuel consumption to varying degrees.
Still don't regret tuning any of them and the increase is not enough to get paranoid about!

 

[Sisson]

my mpg got better... i could get 60+ on my daily commute. before remap it was only mid 50's

so mine mpg increased...

 

[WW_VRS]

MPG when not driving hard is improved, when caning it it gets worse. Overall it improved on my daily drive though

 

[woodyTDI]

i normally avrg around 47 mpg, i use bp ultimate. Does the mpg improve the more miles on the clock? im coming up 2 4k now?

what are the typical costs if i get it tuned?

 

[D-Power]

yes your mpg will increase with the mileage, up to a point! (sure someone can advise when?)

 

[UncleFester]

Under all normal driving circumstances it's better than before, however the chances of you driving around 'normally' once you've been remapped are pretty slim

 

[woodyTDI]

lol i bet!, i have read a few things about millers? is this stuff any good? worth buying?

 

[devonmikeyboy]

what are the typical costs if i get it tuned?

£8,000 and counting.

 

[woodyTDI]

8k christ what you done to it lol! id like an areo frnt bumper on mine, duno how much they cost tho, and to tune it. Just want it all at once!

Also is this millers addative any good?

 

[Triple D]

well at 150 mph tonight i was doing about 12mpg (private road of course)

 

[timbotdi]

This is how my car's performed in it's various different states:

Standard PD115 - avg. 45MPG - reasonably hard driving + commutes
PD115 w/tuning box - avg. 40MPG - reasonably hard driving + commutes
PD115 w/Revo (150BHP) map - avg. 35MPG - alround hard driving, 45MPG was still possible with uber Granny-driving!
PD115 w/Allard (220BHP) rebuild - avg. 45MPG - alround hard driving / commuting in traffic - can go as low as 25MPG if you're booting it, but I've seen nearly 60MPG on a long Granny-drive...

Basically if you drive like a granny, then more torque enables you to use less throttle, and less revs to get the same place, at the same speed. Floor the throttle to 4.5K and your mate with the 1.8T will get better consumption...

As far as tuning costs go, check this out...

http://www.allardmotorcompany.com/pages/products/products-cat6.asp?cat=6

Must surely be the most posted link on this site!

T

 

[muddyboots]

My mpg improved by 1-2mpg if I kept to my normal driving style.

So over a couple of years at my annual mileage, I like to think my remap will have paid for itself (that's how I justified it to the other half anyway )

 

[Housey80]

All comes down to how you drive it and what sort of map you get as some will probably be suited to cruising at different speeds or different driving styles (may be wrong?).

I found that after the remap my mpg could be slightly better but my loud peddle seems to get lower more often now!

But bear in mind that as long as you're not flat out all the time it's still a diesel so you're going to get decent mpg anyway.

Driving like a granny I can get mine above an indicated 70mpg before and after the remap!

 

[sssstew]

yes your mpg will increase with the mileage, up to a point! (sure someone can advise when?)

yep, generally it seems to improve till about 30k after which it levels off and you wont see any change for at least another 120k +

 

[woodyTDI]

Sounds like i will do it then when i have the cash. i sent a email to revo and got this reply

Hi Dean,

Yes, we do have software for your car.

The performance gains are as follows:

Standard

140bhp/237lb.ft

Performance

185bhp/290lb.ft


The programming is quick and easy, there is no ECU removal, the programming is done from inside the car by plugging in to the ODB2 Port (Diagnostics Port), the flashing takes around 30mins .

We have worldwide dealers who sell are product and do not do any flashing here in Daventry, where about in the Uk are you located?

The cost of the software is £499+VAT

The software also has the advantage of being switchable, which means you can switch between the standard and the revo maps, using a Select switch. The select switch is £149+VAT and is around the size of a mobile phone. You plug your switch into the ODB2 port and turn the knob to STOCK, and wait for the beep. Now in stock mode you can have your warranty work and other garage work done without the Seat Garage knowing you have the software on there.

I hope this helps

how does that sound? a reasonable price?

 

[timbotdi]

Revo are a reliable mapper - each dealer will charge the same price, and it really is very quick and simple.

I had a Revo remap on my PD115 - the difference was instantaneous - erradicated the weak spots in the rev range and gave it a big 'whoomph' factor throughout the revs.

You will get similar results with a private tuner like those who advertise on the forum - their remaps start from around £300. Many of these will modify the map for you in the future if you have any further upgrades which need to be taken into account.

As far as the switching ability goes - 99% of the time you will want it on - I'd only get it if you do a lot of commuting and would benefit from the increased MPG of having the map intermittently off.

T

 

[EdButler]

Mine went up 2-5mpg with CC

Just went on a 45 mile "spirited" drive to Matlock and back to Sheffield last night which is very hilly and quite a slalom - attained 53mpg which was awesome! If i tried i could have broken 60 easily.

 

[woodyTDI]

i do a lot of milegae at the moment, i travel to essex and manc regular so will go for it i think