Common cheese!
Anyone have a reply to my question (one that's worth reading)?

 

>>Of course I read this AFTER having the pully done by Randy, but on (the mostly UK site) MINI2.com there was a post that said doing the pulley without doing the ECU could cause damage to the engine. It wasn't specific on why. Is this claim right? Would the cause be because of the rich mixture? I know a rich mixture can damage the cat converter, but the engine?

No problems here and have not heard of any. A few sets of soiled pants maybe.
:smile:

 

I think I read that thread too and it was more speculation than fact. The statement was predicated on the hypothesis that you would run the engine too lean with the extra boost thereby getting into dangerous detonation conditions. It was later pointed out that the engine runs remarkably rich which negates that concern.

Regards,
Jim

 

There is at least one company who is selling a smaller pulley ONLY with additional software, and they are using scare tactics to try to force people to get software. This, while providing zero evidence to support their claims. Incidentally, they are also using a pulley with a vastly different coefficient of expansion from the shaft on which it is mounted.

 

>>Common cheese!
>>Anyone have a reply to my question (one that's worth reading)?


Does this mean that my reply wasnt?

 

OK here's the skinny on powerchip:

$495 for the program for the Mini without the pulley, but with intake and exaust.

$990 for the pulley AND the programming for the pulley. I repeat, this includes the actual pulley, but no installation of it.

$840 for the programming for the pulley, but with no pulley. You provide the pulley.

They mentioned absolutely nothing about a "$500 deposit" for the computer.

I don't think their software has proven as well as Randy's has, but that's not to say it won't in the near future. The cool thing about them is that they send you the computer and you do the upgrade yourself and never have the car shut down for days. The bad thing is that they haven't really been that professional or communicative of a company to deal with, and their software costs more. Randy's is the way to go, unless you just like bucking the wagon. Hell, I might be inclined to tip Randy another 20 spot just for his dedication.

Chris

 

<<Randy's is the way to go, unless you just like bucking the wagon. Hell, I might be inclined to tip Randy another 20 spot just for his dedication.
>>



Sure why not???? I tipped my MINI Motoring Advisor & tip my mechanics all the time!

 

>>Common cheese!
>>Anyone have a reply to my question (one that's worth reading)?

Can you read a dyno graph or do a search on the forum? This has been discussed ad nauseum so don't be suprised that people don't just jump in and answer your question.

Basically, the car runs as rich if not richer stock than with the pulley which you can clearly see from my A/F ratio graph in this thread! Turner Motorsports is the comany saying that you must have the ECU with the pulley. I'm shocked at their blatant disregard for facts and because they are a reputable company.

So, no, you don't need an ECU upgrade for that "richness issue"; although it sure makes the car faster :smile:

 

I'd venture to guess that the leaner mixture at higher rpm's is creating higher cylinder temps and is therefore more risky than is the pulley without the chip.

 

>>I'd venture to guess that the leaner mixture at higher rpm's is creating higher cylinder temps and is therefore more risky than is the pulley without the chip.>>

Well except for the fact that the pulley doesn't run much leaner than stock and the ECU upgrade actually runs LEANER than the stock ECU for better performance. So running the pulley without an ECU upgrade really IS NOT a MINI "health hazard".

Let's finish this and move on:

The MCS runs very rich. Add the pulley and it still runs almost as rich. So no potential heat damage or "lean" damage. Period. The pulley w/o ECU upgrade WILL NOT DAMAGE the engine.

ECU upgrade makes it run LEANER. Yes, LEANER. But it still runs a tad on the rich side, I believe so an MCS with pulley and ECU will run leanest of all and STILL not damage engine. So the richer-running stock ECU certainly won't risk heat damage.


That's the summary so far, are we all on the same page now?

 

hi , I just did the pulley/ecu at renntech in fla, I'm very pleased with the new power, i'm waiting to put it back on the dyno till I get the cold air intake but the power now is big fun. Randy is top notch, he can do the pulley change right with no problems and after finding the stock rich condition on the dyno and it is linked boost to fuel pressure I wanted the ecu corrected, cause extra boost= extra rich... but I'm hoping
the cold air will even lean it more... now it feels like fast mini ...... ws