Questions for those who run EMS

[JTizzle]

So I know a few of my local Coloradins are running AEM EMS and I was thinking of doing so myself. I've been researching it a little but could use some help and so here I am! I drive my car daily and am currently running a GT35R. My plans are to build the motor next season (not this upcoming one) but I was debating whether or not to stick with map ecu or run AEM's standalone system. I'd love to have some of the features that EMS has but... At the same
time I also didn't want the reliability of my car to go down to S*** for daily driving. By the end of the month I wanted to get a re-tune for meth injection and an intake manifold. So please, If anyone could give me some feedback, advice, experiences with EMS, ANYTHING! I would appreciate it SOOOOOO much! Thanks again, and all comments and criticism is welcome!

[tobz]

Why do you want to switch from the stock ecu while so many people make great, safe power on these?

[JustDSM]

If you're running MAP ECU as a piggy-back, you might as well just run the AEM.

[Joshsevo]

With my 35R and the AEM EMS I get a cool little thing with my meth, I can turn it on and off so I am not running through it like crazy. I think I have gone through about a gallon of meth in the last 2 months of actually driving the car.

[DWalker]

Originally Posted by JustDSM

If you're running MAP ECU as a piggy-back, you might as well just run the AEM.

Agreed- the MAP ECU, while a good product, is far far eclipsed by the AEM EMS. We do a LOT of AEMs, and have installed and tuned them in every platform they offer, even the newer Nissan boxes, and I have great faith in them for everything from daily drivers to dedicated track cars.

You do however have other options besides the AEM EMS, such as the Apex'i Power FC, which is very much like a stock ECU only it gives you the option of true Speed Density and is virtually as easy as reflashing a stock ecu. Its also cheaper than the EMS, but does not have near the flexibility of the AEM either. Not everyone needs the AEM's awesome platform and options, so the Power FC is a pretty good "middle ground", as long as you are aware of its limitations.

EDIT: As far as experiences with the AEM drivign it every day:
My personal DSM made 500whp on low boost on pump gas and got upwards of 28mpg. You just cant do that without the AEM.
I have a customer who just sold his Evo in CA. He has had the AEM in his car for over 2 years, driven all over the country- literally from coast to coast, and has never even plugged into it since I tuned it 2 years ago.
Another customer with a 3KGT VR4 has had his AEM in for over 1.5 years. Drives the car daily and gets excellent gas milage and power from the car.
I could go on, but the simple fact of the matter is that properly tuned and setup the AEM is the way to go, best bang for buck going.

[BAMBAM]

I have a qeustion what about passing emmisions on that EMS I heard it is very hard to do?

[DynoDude]

Originally Posted by tobz

Why do you want to switch from the stock ecu while so many people make great, safe power on these?

Running that big of a turbo he is almost better off switching to AEM and converting over to speed density. Getting rid of the stock MAF and doing the SD conversion allows the ECU to properly read the exact Air Temp and Manifold Pressure that the engine is using. By doing this you can run a much safer and reliable tune with a bigger turbo. Sure, the stock MAF is great for the stock turbo, intercooler and I/C pipes but why would you want to measure the air temp before it goes into the turbo when you are working with a heavily modded Evo?

Jtizzle - I have tuned several Evos (VIII's & IX's) running 91octane, 100octane, 91octane+alky/meth, C-16 and even E-85. All of those Evo's made 500+whp. If your looking to go AEM and you need more answers feel free to contact me and I would be happy to answer all your questions.

[JTizzle]

Well so far it seems like everyone likes AEM, dynodude I know you have EMS on your IX. Have you ran into any problems at all? Do you like how it's running on your car?

[DWalker]

I did the Beta testing on the E9 box, and can tell you that it has the most complete basemap ever offered by AEM and you should have no issues getting it to run your car just fine.

EDIT: There was initially a main relay issue with the E9 box as the development car was obviously a CA car, and there was a slight difference in the way the ECu controlls the main relay. this was corrected before the release of the box so again, you will have no issues with the E9 box

[JTizzle]

Originally Posted by Joshsevo

With my 35R and the AEM EMS I get a cool little thing with my meth, I can turn it on and off so I am not running through it like crazy. I think I have gone through about a gallon of meth in the last 2 months of actually driving the car.

Josh do you have to hook up the lab top for this or can you just simply switch it on and off? I'm getting meth and would LOVE to know!

So just a recap so far, looks like most people are in favor of EMS and everyones input/advice is definitely helping me make my decision. I appreciate it and please, if anyone has any questions for me, or anything else they'd like to add, please do.

[DynoDude]

Originally Posted by JTizzle

Well so far it seems like everyone likes AEM, dynodude I know you have EMS on your IX. Have you ran into any problems at all? Do you like how it's running on your car?

The start up maps have okay cold start maps, every Evo is different and they all need to be adjusted properly. With heavily modded Evos things change quite a bit. I had my cold start map almost perfected when I was on 91 octane. Now that I am on E-85 it's a whole different story. The more I adjust it the better it gets. That is the only problem that I have experienced so far.

[JTizzle]

Yeah that was a huge issue I was thinking about was the cold start. Thanks for touching base on that. So no regrets? I wanna make sure before I drop another load on the evo again!

[DynoDude]

Regrets? Not really, you will have full control. Josh has a pretty wicked alky/meth setup but I will let him chime in.

[ProjectEvo04]

JT! Do EMS already! Lol...hopefully it works well! I still put my Autronic up as a superior to it but that's just me! If you can just plug it in and it starts right up I will give you $20 for me being wrong lol. But honestly, I wanna see it so do it son!

[xMiSSEVOx]

haha we should have a brawl!