Stillen G3, FI CBE and EcuTek Reveiw
 

Hey guys,

I just had my stock 2012 370Z Roadster equipped with Stillen's Gen 3 Long Tube Cold Air Intake, Fast Intentions Cat-Back Exhaust with 18" SS Resonators and the NEW EcuTek Tune. Just wanted to give some quick facts to those thinking of doing the same set up. I know this would have been helpful to me a few months ago. I will post another review in a week or so going over what I have experienced with daily driving, spirited mountain driving and a track day. Don't think anyone wants to read a novel in one sitting lol.

Stock Dyno run: 276HP/227Tq (Wheels)
Mid Mod Dyno Run (CAI and CBE only): 298HP/244Tq (Wheels)
Post Mod Dyno Run (CAI, CBE, EcuTek): 308HP/252Tq (Wheels)

Gain = 32HP/25Tq

Dyno Sheet attached (i think). I did not attach the baseline since it is relatively common knowledge VQ will lay down about 265-275 RWHP.

Dyno Sheet Key:

Blue = CAI and CBE only
Green = Conservative 91 MAP
Red = Aggressive 91 MAP

I think one of the most interesting things on the dyno sheet is how much smoother the powerband is with EcuTek.

ENJOY!......I know I will.....

Awesome gains.

This is with stock crap cats?

Yes sir!

Great gains
Who did the tuning

Very nice!

Nice.....what gear did u do these pulls on?

The Dyno sheets say Specialty Z. Must be Seb.

LOL didn't even see that on my ipad the first time..

My fellow dudes....SEB IS THE MAN (Specialy Z)

I only have the results. I will be picking the car up 9/25. I'll post another review after driving the car for a week or so, so stay tuned!

Sorry, I'm not sure which gear the pull was done in. I will ask when I pick it up.

Yep he is the only one that works on my car!!
ill be down their next month getting my headers put on and retune to the ECUTEK

dyno was more than likely done in 4th like he always does

I had my first weekend with the new mods and thought I would share my first impression city driving. Haven't had a chance to do a mountain run or track day yet. It goes without saying how nice the Stillen G3 and FI Exhaust combo is. I'll stick more to the whole mod all together.

Specialty Z (Seb) worked on the car and did an amazing job. Hats off to the team there.

This is the first time I have ever done something like this to a car so i was naively expecting the pull to be brutal and fast like a V-8's pull (M3, C63). You don't get that but instead you get a bit more "thrust" but that power keeps going strong all the way to redline for each gear. Stock owners know there is a little lull around around 5K RPMS but picks up again around 6.5K. In other words the power is solid and smooth through each gear. Doesn't feel like there is more or less power on either end, just consistent power from beginning to end. If you'll notice on the dyno sheet the base run before the tune (with mods) shows that dip in power. You really feel the difference around that engine speed after the tune.

Stock owners also know the Z off the line is SLLLOWWWW until you get to about 3.5K RPM. With the throttle remapped you definitely feel more of a jerk off the line and with the ability to ADJUST traction control you can get just enough wheel spin while maintaining power without the car cutting power a bit.

I have a 2012 so i have that "little" "oil cooler" they say comes with it. I have noticed that my oil gets a little warmer than it usually gets while climbing my daily driven hills. Used to be around 190F now its 220F.

I have a 7AT, when you hit the gas (in D mode) it pops to the appropriate gear WAY faster than before. In Sport (paddle) mode its about the same as before just more power and responsiveness.

I do notice a little drone in the cabin with the FI CBE 18" Resonators. Its very mild but is is there, especially at 2-3K RPMS. At cruising speeds for 70-80pm the drone is very low but, still, you do hear it (very low)

Thats really all i have for now (3 days into driving with mods)...more to come...

Congrats! Does Seb do the eTune stuff as well?

Still new to this stuff so i don't know what you mean by "eTune". But he does do the ECU Flash via UpRev and EcuTek. There is a digital file that is uploaded to the Z's ECU that remaps several things. If thats what you're talking about then yes, and he does a wonderful job!

If i had to describe it in one word it would be "surgical" :)

eTune is typically referring to remote tuning services

If you have a cable, you can drive the car and log data to a computer. Then you email the tuner the logs, he makes changes, and then he sends you a new tuning file to upload to the car using the cable. This often happens a number of times as the tuner dials in the tune.

OH! I believe he does that. Don't want to speak on behalf of Specialty Z. There was one small adjustment we had to make so I sent him my codes and he sent me a new file.

I thought that's what it may have been but anyway, thank you for clarifying.

i bought the ECUTEK cable from Seb when i was down their in July. we had to dump my uprev and then flash i back to stock and then do a dump to ECUTEK for when i get retuned in October..
so yes if you don't live close by get the cable.. you can always log the data and send it to him if they come out with any updates..

2/3 reviews complete. 1st city driving now spirited mountain driving. the real review will be the track in the coming weeks.

The car def feels a bit more responsive, downshifts a bit better and maintains power a bit more efficiently.

Oil Temps never exceeded 220F. stock "oil cooler"
Elevation 0-6000 feet
Outside temp: 70 +/- 5 degrees

You can't tell much of a difference between the conservative 91 tune and the aggressive 91 tune that you can toggle.

Truthfully not much more to report beside the amazing sound for the FI CBE echoing off the mountains...and the sound in the tunnels....ohhh the tunnels...

More to come..

hi chuckie - when you say log the data - what does that all involve?

Typically just a tuner cable, a laptop with the software installed, and some drive time :driving:

So, as promised for those interested I now have the last leg of my review (Track Day)

Just to give you an understanding of what I have:

Stillen CAI, F.I. CBE, EcuTek Tune, Potenza S-04 tires, Redline 75W90 Diff fluid, Motul Dot 4 brake fluid, stock sport package brakes/LSD (new stock pads and stock rotors), Fresh fluids including Nissan's Ester Oil. NO OIL COOLER.

To start off, my oil temp oil only reached 260 with ambient temps 65-70. I feel like a lot of people who SWEAR you need an oil cooler must have crazy mods that generate a lot of heat or is just a straight track monster. For reference my average time at AutoClub Speedway in Fontana, CA was 2:09 with 4, 20 minute sessions.

Review:

I wish I had a lot more to say about how the CAI, CBE and EcuTek tuned changed my track days forever. A few key things I did notice:

Slightly higher front straight track speed, about 5mph
Can get on the throttle a bit harder out of the apex with the EcuTek traction control mod
With the CBE making a much louder sound, it is a lot easier to rely on listening to your engine instead of watching the tachometer. With a stock exhaust it is very hard to hear your engine through your helmet.

I must be honest though I did not see a staggering difference on the track. Although the CAI, CBE and tune are your basic mods, the real track difference you will see hands down will be from brake and tire upgrades.

I hope this help someone who has a stock Z and trying to figure out what to buy or do first. Also, hopefully it will shed additional light on who REALLY needs an oil cooler and who doesn't.

Like always, just my 2 cents.

:tiphat:

Honestly, you are right on the line at 260F and the ECU is probably holding back a bit at that temp. For reference, I run ACS Roval at 2:08 with no power mods (stock intake and exhaust). My temps peak at 230. We're in January, but you can imagine running ACS in July when it's 90F ambient -- you would hit full limp mode (3000 RPM restriction) very quickly.

Totally agree! high ambient temps will definitely change your oil temps for sure. I only like to track when its cooler out though, better on all aspects of the car in my opinion.

Def should put that note in there though that you will need one tracking during the summer. Or could you imagine chuckwalla in the summer with it being over 110 degrees sometimes.

Yeah, the first time I ran Buttonwillow, it was 103F, I didn't have an oil cooler, and I buried the needle at 300F! I had to limp back to the paddock at 30MPH, LOL!

LOL! That's kinda like the "walk of shame" but for cars