megasquirt???

xxdarkstar719xx · Postby **xxdarkstar719xx** » Tue May 29, 2012 9:14

can someone explain what megasquirt is and does???

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Tue May 29, 2012 9:14

Without being too lengthy it's a DIY standalone engine management system (EMS) that replaces your factory engine computer. It controls fuel and ignition timing, along other features, to tune your engine.

The advantages of the MegaSquirt is its exceedingly cheap since its shipped as a circuit board and you solder it together yourself (with instructions). The software is also unique in that it's open source, so the user base is constantly tweaking it for the best performance and features.

That being said, its not usually for the faint of the heart due to the assembly and often crude software interface. But if you own a car that no popular plug-n-play EMS is available, it may be your only option.

G-Man · Postby **G-Man** » Tue May 29, 2012 9:14

Chickenwafer is right.
Most people think of it as a replacement fuel injection system - either to completely replace a carburetor or to improve and older or limited fuel injection system.

I`m Batman · Postby **I`m Batman** » Tue May 29, 2012 9:14

"megasquirt"
hmmmm... sounds like pr0n to me... LOL.

xxdarkstar719xx · Postby **xxdarkstar719xx** » Tue May 29, 2012 9:14

where can i get one

Brigdh · Postby **Brigdh** » Tue May 29, 2012 9:14

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=megasqurt

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Tue May 29, 2012 9:14

I would advise to tread carefully. The MegaSquirt is for people who know exactly what they are attempting to accomplish. I'm. It saying you don't, just be careful. Incorrect fuel mixtures or ignition timing will blow an engine in short order.

White TII · Postby **White TII** » Tue May 29, 2012 9:14

chickenwafer wrote:I would advise to tread carefully. The MegaSquirt is for people who know exactly what they are attempting to accomplish. I'm. It saying you don't, just be careful. Incorrect fuel mixtures or ignition timing will blow an engine in short order.

You also need to weigh the long-term cost seriously. I started with a MegaSquirt for my RX-7 to try and save a few bucks but it was a total nightmare. I ended up spending a lot of time (and money) trying to sort it all out. You have to really be the type of person who is very "hands-on", curious, and enjoys highly technical things that require many hours to learn/figure out for yourself. I'm not that type any more. In my experience the support for the product was kinda weak too, so if it breaks, you're pretty much on your own to figure it out.

In the end, I ditched the MegaSquirt and went with a fully supported EMS; I'd recommend AEM if it's available for you. It will cost you more money up front, but will save you lots of money and headache in the long run. When it comes to engine management, don't cut corners!

geo2maz · Postby **geo2maz** » Wed May 30, 2012 9:14

Thread title disgusts me.

xxdarkstar719xx · Postby **xxdarkstar719xx** » Wed May 30, 2012 9:14

Ok cuz I'm looking into turboing my can and read on a forum that I should get megasquirt if I turbo it

D Walker · Postby **D Walker** » Wed May 30, 2012 9:14

Megasquirt is not typically a solution

Brigdh · Postby **Brigdh** » Thu May 31, 2012 9:14

Talking generalities here:

Putting a turbo on a car radically changes the intake system to the point where the stock ECU will be unable to compensate. As a result, you need a non-stock ECU. One possibility would be to get a factory ECU of a turboed version of your car, assuming its available. Another possibility is to get an aftermarket offering that is able to tuned to your specific car, as each modified car tends to be unique.

Since you did not recognize the name of one of the most well known aftermarket ECUs, I highly suggest you take your car to a shop that deals in aftermarket ECUs, have them install the turbo, an ECU, wire it up, and tune it. Doing so will likely cost you at least $10k, but it'll be done right and won't blow the engine the first time you put your foot down.

D Walker · Postby **D Walker** » Thu May 31, 2012 9:14

it actually would not cost 10K, unless a shop wants to bend you over.

Adding an aftermarket ECU to something like the MX-3 I assume he is talking about goes something like this-

AEM EMS (will use the one for a Honda application, as it is the easiest to adapt, and they are cheap) 1,500
Adaptor harness to mate AEM ecu to OEM wiring harness- $250- yeah, its high but there is no off the shelf application and not just anyone should attempt these sorts of things
MAP Sensor- because MAF's suck- $170
IAT Sensor- because you need one- $65
Labor to install ecu, includes setting up crank triggers and calibrating to use stock sensors- probably 8 hours, which here would be $800-ish
Tuning- initial tuning to make the car run and drive, probably 2-3 hours ASSuming the car works. Usually it doesnt and some sensor or the other will need troubleshooting and replaced., but figure $500 for initial tuning
Dyno tuning- MOST AEM tuning takes me about 2-3 hours to get solid power, so figure about $600 in dyno and tuning cost.
So thats what, about $3800-4K? Obviously YMMV but installing an aftermarket ecu is not THAT big a deal.

Yeah, its a pile o cash more or less all at once, but it sure beats having to take the bus to work because your megasquirt didnt and left you carless... again.

Brigdh · Postby **Brigdh** » Thu May 31, 2012 9:14

Not knowing the model, age and condition of the vehicle he was referring to, I was also factoring in a brand new engine harness and the turbo parts, but as you say its possible to get the job done reasonably for less than my 10k estimate, however its certainly not a $200 buy it, plug it in, and turn it on.

D Walker · Postby **D Walker** » Thu May 31, 2012 9:14

Brigdh wrote:$200 buy it, plug it in, and turn it on.

It never is :-p

megasquirt???

megasquirt???

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