DTUK tuning box

Jul 29, 2013
859
1
Essex
So I knew I would end up with a box or remap for my car before I ordered it and after a lot of thinking I finally opted for a DTUK CRD-t tuning box.

I should say now, it's probably best for all the remap vs box debate chat to stay in this thread: http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=390117 so that we can keep this one for those who are thinking of or do opt for one of these and wish to discuss.

Anyways, I opted for the box I did because I trust the tech and the company and the output is proven on my engine as they run a mk3 vrs themselves which the box maps were developed on and tested at shark performance.

The box and loom is great quality and the instructions are clear and comprehensive:

2a3ahyby.jpg


Fitting takes 10 mins tops with both connections on the top of the engine and easy to get to (much easier than the old 140/170). There are logical cable routes and a ready made space for the box between he battery and air box:

2y9yha8e.jpg


There are 4 maps which are all documented in the instructions with the shark RR figures. You then have the option of 6 levels of tuning (3+, 3-).

I read a lot on the vw and skoda forums about the settings on this engine and the consensus is that 4 + 1 is the sweet spot. I went with 4 + 0 to start with to be safe and all was good, noticeably more pull and still eqully smooth. More noticeable in the first 3 gears. I then switched it to 4 + 1 and sweet jesus this is exactly what I was hoping for! The power delivery is as per stock you just get more of it and quicker - traction is a real issue with 490nm, it will easily lose traction at 30mph in second in the dry when pushed.

I'm lucky enough to have access to some private roads at work and I thought a good test would be a 4th gear pull. 40-100 covers the usable rev range and did take 13 seconds, it's now 10 seconds which is pretty impressive.

I have lots more to test but initial signs are great. Real world ecconomy is the next big test.
 
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Nath.

The Gentlemans Express
Jan 1, 2006
8,620
16
EASTLEIGH, HAMPSHIRE
Interesting, I'm thinking of getting one of these for my CR170 MK2. let us know how your regens go. I'm also interested in how your clutch copes.
 

Nath.

The Gentlemans Express
Jan 1, 2006
8,620
16
EASTLEIGH, HAMPSHIRE
How do you know if a regen went ok?

You need to do some reading up on regens mate. When the car is doing a regen it will normally tick over faster, sound a little rough and smell funny. Also the radiator fans will normally be on. If a regen doesn't finish correctly, after a few attempts the DPF light will come on.
 

Nath.

The Gentlemans Express
Jan 1, 2006
8,620
16
EASTLEIGH, HAMPSHIRE
Here are the basics that any DPF equipped car owner needs to know.

There are 2 types of regeneration, passive and active

During long motorway journeys, passive regeneration will occur. This needs no intervention from the engine control unit. Due to the raised exhaust temperatures on a long journey
(temperatures between 350 and 500°C), the procedure occurs slowly and continuously across the catalytic-coated (with platinum) DPF. The catalytic-coated DPF is situated
close to the Engine, therefore the exhaust gas temperature is high enough (500°C) to ignite the soot particles.
Due to this soot is burned-off and is converted into a smaller amount of ash.

Active ‘regeneration’ is when the ECU intervenes when the soot loading in the DPF is calculated to be 45%. The procedure lasts for about 5 – 10 minutes. Specific measures are taken by
the ECU to raise the engine exhaust temperature to above 600°C, these include switching off the exhaust gas recirculation and increasing the fuel injection period to include a small
injection after the main injection. The soot particles are oxidised at this temperature.

The ECU will trigger a regeneration process, if for some reason this is aborted, ie. customer slows down, stops etc, the process will be resumed when
regeneration conditions are once again met, above 60km/h (38mph). This will continue for 15 minutes.
If after 2 attempts of 15 minutes, a successful regeneration has not been possible, the loading will increase. At 50% soot loading, the ECU will continue to
maintain maximum exhaust temperatures of 600°C to 650°C to cause a regeneration process. The system will try to run a regeneration process for 15
minutes. If unsuccessful, the system will repeat this process for a further 15 minutes, if still unsuccessful, the DPF light on the driver display panel will then be lit.
 
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madduffyx

Active Member
Dec 21, 2009
348
0
Hey Dean, really tempted by either a remap or a tuning box so keep me updated on your progress with it. I'll probably wait until summer before getting anything so I'll wait and get a 6 month review off u lol
 
Jul 29, 2013
859
1
Essex
It's worth noting that currently there are no remaps available and when there are it will more than likely involve cutting the ecu out of its cage and opening it up.

I was a bit worried about the torque and the imminent onset of snow and ice. You get a blanking plug which allows you to deactivate the system while maintaining the wiring in place but I found eco mode works perfectly well at toning it down until you really put your foot down.

I'm leaving it on 4 + 1 for a 200 mile trip today where I will test the economy.
 

madduffyx

Active Member
Dec 21, 2009
348
0
That was my concern at the moment with regards to the torque. With the roads never being dry, I can rarely get full power down anyways, never mind with a bucket load more of torque. How ever, like you said, eco mode would probably curb this due to the poorer throttle response. Let me know how you get on with the mpg today as that is half the reason I'd consider one :)
 

Darth Revan

Active Member
I'd be interested in how your economy is... I run a DT-UK box on my CR170 which I love, but I'm only getting 37 mpg average. Granted my daily mileage isn't great. I'm going to use the blanking plug on my next fill up and see what happens.
 
Jul 29, 2013
859
1
Essex
Geeky I know but I thought I would try and correlate what I experienced in the real world on the 4th gear pull with the paper based data from DTUK.

So DTUK tested their vrs at shark performance and had a peak whp increase of 42bhp / 30% (141 to 183)

I know that a 4th gear pull from 40 - 100 uses the rev range 1.6k - 4.2k. If you then look at the vrs RR graph you can take the average whp from the 12 data points between those revs. This works out as 107bhp standard and 137bhp tuned - a difference of 30bhp or 28%.

What this tells you is that the average % increase tuned vs. standard is broadly similar across that rev range as the peak figure % increase (30% and 28%).

What follows is sound maths/physics completed with non perfect figures - don't shoot me down.

Because I know the the start speed, end speed and duration I can work out the average acceleration. When I know the average acceleration I can work out the distance travelled.

I know my car weighs 1300kg so I can work out the acceleration force then I use that and the distance travelled to work out the work undertaken. Once you have that you can get the power by work done over time.

Still with me?

On the original 13 second run this works out as 406m travelled and an average of 113whp

On the tuned 10 second run it's 313m travelled and an average of 147whp.

These are pretty close to the dyno figures adding 34bhp rather than 30 and they are at 5 and 7 % higher respectively (the maths does not account for drag remember so forget the numbers it's the increase you want).

Guess what, 147 from 113 is a 30% increase in the real world compared to the 28% increase in the average whp between 1.6k and 4.2k shown on the graph.

So you can be relatively comfortable in saying that because you know the average whp increase is correct the peak should be too. Based on this I'm pretty sure if I stuck it on a dyno it would show the same 180whp / 230 engine hp as the DTUK graph.
 
Jul 29, 2013
859
1
Essex
So I just done a 175 mile trip I normally get mid 50's mpg on the trip (over reads by 2 I find). Trip said 61mpg but brim to brim worked out at 53mpg.

Thing is this time the car was rammed with people and stuff, easily 200kg so I'm quite happy with that. I dont have experience of the difference the extra weight makes but it certainly appears to be up and I was always going to be happy with it staying the same.
 

madduffyx

Active Member
Dec 21, 2009
348
0
Cheers for the feedback Dean! An extra 200kg will certainly make a massive difference to the mpg! So it looks like without the extra weight you'd be making a decent increase in economy! Do you know if DTUK recommend how long a car should be run before fitting one of these? I'm just a bit warey as mine has only done 2,700 so far.
 
Jul 29, 2013
859
1
Essex
I'll know for sure in the new year when I do my normal commute as I know exactly what I get for that.

As for running in I think the main bit is the first 1000 miles but Andrew at DTUK will advise.
 

madduffyx

Active Member
Dec 21, 2009
348
0
1,000 miles would make sense as that's when the car is deemed "run in" Yeh, looking forward to seeing some more economy figures off you. Bet you can't wait to the summer so you can get all that extra torque and bhp down :) Also, DTUK are based only 30mins away from me so might be worth a visit at some point.
 
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Jul 29, 2013
859
1
Essex
It was awful weather tonight but still really usable for the overtakes. 6th at 40 is no problem now for example. Sure if you boot it in 2nd at 20 in the rain you will have the traction control ģoing nuts but it does not really catch you out. The map I have on keeps its quite linear, some of the others make it more diesel of old like with a huge torque spike low down.

I can confirm the traction control is just as smooth too. I did wonder if it would bugger that up.
 

gamer555

Active Member
Dec 6, 2008
133
0
Brussels
it would be really useful to put the car on a dyno, but it seems the box delivered as expected in your case. big up for the courage of being one of the pioneers :D
 

shnazzle

Glass-Half-Full Member
Sep 9, 2011
3,483
6
Northumberland
I'd be interested in how your economy is... I run a DT-UK box on my CR170 which I love, but I'm only getting 37 mpg average. Granted my daily mileage isn't great. I'm going to use the blanking plug on my next fill up and see what happens.

37?!?! Crikey I thought mine was low at 43-45. Do you absolutely boot it everywhere you go?
You know I'm no slouch but 43 is quite effortless. Don';'t do many miles either
 

madduffyx

Active Member
Dec 21, 2009
348
0
+1 Shnazzle! Something definitely wrong if your getting only getting 37mpg.

Dean, spoke to Andrew on the phone today, seems like a very knowledgeable guy. He was saying that they've had their tuning box on the Octavia since it was 500 miles old and have had no problems.

As they are only 30 minutes away, I'm going to pop in after Christmas and New Year and have a chat with him :)

Any more feedback on your box? I think I'd normally be happy with 180bhp, but my mate has just bought a bmw 330d which chucks out 245bhp! One drive in that and it's got me wanting more lol!
 
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