Background:
This post continues a comparison of several Mk7 GTI Stage 2 ECU tunes.
In this post, an IS20 Stage 2 tune from Integrated Engineering (IE) is installed on a Mk7 GTI and engine and vehicle performance data are recorded for comparison with other stage 2 tune options.
Integrated Engineering is a United States-based tuner that offers remote tune installation services. I have an IE flashing cable and used that to install their IS20 Stage 2 software onto my MK7 GTI.
Test procedure:
Information about the data collection procedures is found on the main test page.
An overview of one data collection session is shown below:
Integrated Engineering Test Results:
The next four charts show the typical changes in engine operating variables as engine RPM increases during multiple third-gear full-throttle pulls.
The air-to-fuel ratio is shown with the red lines and the intake air temperature with the pink and purple lines.
Boost (red lines) and turbocharger wastegate duty cycle (pink and purple lines):
The Ignition Timing Advance (red lines) and occurrences of ignition timing retard (yellow, green, and pink lines):
Low-pressure fuel pump duty cycle (red lines) and fuel rail pressure (pink and purple lines):
The next chart shows an overview of a series of pulls with a row assigned to each engine cylinder.
The red line is the boost pressure and the white lines are occurrences of ignition timing retard.
This data is used to calculate a Knock Retard Percentage (KR %) which is discussed in detail in the Stratified OTS IS20 Tune Datalog Refinement post in the section titled “KR Percentage”.
Over a total of 25 pulls, a portion of which is shown above, an occurrence of timing reduction during a pull was recorded during 62% of opportunities.
The next chart shows trends between all of the tunes that have been tested.
The average boost pressure that the tunes operate at between 2900 to 5000 rpm is plotted along with the Knock Retard percentages.
The next chart shows a subset of pulls made to calculate an estimated peak wheel horsepower.
Aftermarket Tune Comparison:
The following charts compare the Integrated Engineering tune with other aftermarket tunes I previously tested.
The number in parenthesis (x) is the number of individual samples making up the average.
Conclusions:
The Integrated Engineering Stage 2 IS20 tune for the Mk7 GTI was tested to record engine and vehicle performance variables to compare with other aftermarket Stage 2 tunes.
The Integrated Engineering tune produced acceleration times over the custom time interval and estimated peak wheel horsepower comparable to the other IS20 Stage 2 tunes recorded thus far.
Peak WHP trailed the top measurement (Eurodyne) by 3% WHP and the Dragy acceleration time trailed the top measurement (Eurodyne) by 4%.
A good potential addition to future tune comparisons could be an image reference for how identical spark plugs read on these different tunes (pulling a fresh set right after a few hard pulls) to show chamber temperature differences from these different tuning styles. It’s possible it may show something unexpected, and would back up whether any knock sensitivity changes are hiding a difference… and will also help to show that there aren’t any unexpected injector flow differences (due to the car not having the injectors cleaned before each test, which I’m sure isn’t feasible or necessary at this level) not being picked up by the communal afr reading yet affecting the knock readings.
Not the most critical of additions no doubt, but just something I feel could be mentioned as useful.
I agree there might be some value with that information. I don’t have the IS20 turbo in the car any more and don’t have plans to reinstall it.