An overview of what ProECU does

ProECU lets you overwrite the information held in an engine management ECU with improved data that can emancipate performance and add many extra functions.

But, to be clear, Tuning with EcuTek involves no dodgy 'piggybacking' (the practice of altering factory ECU parameters by hijacking and altering signals to 'trick' the ECU) but instead is a considered, detailed reworking of the engine management strategies.

There's strictly no piggy-backing with ProECU

When you set about working on a car with EcuTek ProECU you deal directly with ROMs (ROM files, to be specific, 'ROM' being an abbreviation for Read Only Memory).

These read-only files are the coded sets of detailed instructions that an ECU uses to manage (operate) the engine. The basis of that management relates of course to fuel and air metering, and ignition timing, but since the early days of simplistic electronic engine management systems, the extent of control has burgeoned to encompass a multitude of additional engine-running parameters.

So much to consider

Obvious examples of these are turbocharger/supercharger boost control, compensations for altitude, fuel quality and type, variable valve control, exhaust emissions systems, integration with automatic transmission behaviour, traction control and vehicle dynamics systems and, of course, self-diagnostics.

The ECU’s ROM file carries all of these instructions, finalised sets of which are best described as ‘calibrations’ but are more commonly referred to as maps. The maps are effectively complex look-up tables, graphs and three-dimensional ‘relief maps’ – for want of a better description.

ProECU map

All about the maps

The ROM calibrates the ECU to maintain efficient control of the multitude of parameters involved in engine running under numerous different operating conditions, and the overall calibration consists of scores of different maps for different functions and circumstances.

Many of the standard factory-supplied maps are a far-from-perfect compromise and are deliberately restricted in their potential – usually for reasons related to marketing and emissions regulations.

So not only do most standard ROMs hold plenty of scope for being improved to provide better performance, drivability and even fuel economy, they can also be carefully modified to allow the engine to work efficiently with fundamental changes to its hardware – such as the addition of forced induction and many other components that emancipate its ‘breathing’ efficiency.

And when tuning for very high-power outputs (namely, but not exclusively, for motorsport purposes) additional or larger fuel injectors can be fitted, the ProECU software allowing complete, accurate recalibration of the fuelling to compensate for this.

Stock ROM safeguard

So when you tune a car with EcuTek Tools, you make a number of changes to increase the efficiency of engine operation through the use of modified maps that are better applied to their function, provide finer control and fewer limitations.

However, you do not turn your back on the standard factory calibration, which remains the foundation of the new ROM, and which we safely preserve so that it can be reinstated if ever the need arises.