Active Autowerke N51 Tuning Review

[Kgolf31]

So, as well all know the N51 engine does not have much data points when it comes to the tuning game. Search all you want, there is some trouble when it comes to finding a N51 engines.

So, with the help from Active Autowerke, they've helped me tune my N51 for SCCA STX.

The engine is stock with the exception to a muffler delete.

Now there has been much speculation when it comes to the actual potential of a N51 engine. People say that they cannot make as much power as a N52...yada yada. I'll put that to rest.

Active Autowerke has been outstanding with communication and answering all my questions. I presented them with some questions that I've experienced with a stock tune and they've figured it out.

Now lets just make clear, this is the first iteration of many tunes to come. I've made some observations from my dyno and I'll present those after AA has given me the approval to do so. But let me tell you, the car is 100% driveable, and no codes/SES/error lights are being thrown.

So, my questions to AA about what they can tune is as follows:

1. Can you actually really tune a N51 DISA Manifold?
2. There is a delay when you get on the throttle and off throttle for the N51. It is around a second of delay and it is VERY frustrating especially when you're driving the car at the limit.

AA took it under their wing and I'm confident to say that they've fixed both of these issues. On throttle is VERY responsive and still retains OEM sensitivity (AKA there isn't 100% throttle when you move the pedal 1% of travel).

As well, when you get off throttle the car starts decelerating instantly.

And last but not least, they've nailed the N51 tuning game. The engine hauls in low end RPM. The shutter at low RPM with high load is now gone...the car use to fall on its face at this point...AA has made the car pull like hell through this. It is absolutely crazy the difference.


So, like I mentioned before, I'll post the dyno graphs when I'm given permission and get my questions answered...but I'll post the numbers

Dynojet:

Horsepower: 218 HP
Torque: 200 ft-lbs

In the end, the dyno tells the story. The car is completely stock engine wise besides a muffler delete and I'm ALREADY approaching numbers of N52 DISA cars.

[MarkkyyMan]

Nice write up. Can't wait to see the dyno graphs!

[Taskmaster]

SAE?

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

SAE?

I don't think you can convert STP to SAE?

[Taskmaster]

STP? You can convert STD to SAE by right clicking on the graph - it will give the option for Conversion factor and smoothing.

[631twentyeighteye]

Sounds like the difference between stock n52 and manifold+tune n52. I didn't imagine they would be drastically different, the compression difference is negligible.

Good to see support growing for the n51.

[TheSt|G]

I wasn't aware of the throttle response issue of the N51. Any background to the reasoning for that?

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

I wasn't aware of the throttle response issue of the N51. Any background to the reasoning for that?

From conversations with AA, it seemed to be from an efficiency standpoint.

It was very apparent once I got my muffler delete. When you got off throttle there would be a second delay and then you would hear the pipe gurgle and pop.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

2. There is a delay when you get on the throttle and off throttle for the N51. It is around a second of delay and it is VERY frustrating especially when you're driving the car at the limit.

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

From conversations with AA, it seemed to be from an efficiency standpoint.

It was very apparent once I got my muffler delete. When you got off throttle there would be a second delay and then you would hear the pipe gurgle and pop.

I never noticed any off-throttle delay, but I have no on-throttle delay what so ever. Or are you talking the transition from on to off throttle? Still, I've noticed no such delay.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

I never noticed any off-throttle delay, but I have no on-throttle delay what so ever. Or are you talking the transition from on to off throttle? Still, I've noticed no such delay.

It was very apparent on mine. Go to second gear and get up to 4,000 RPM and let off the gas and there is a LONG delay (around a second or so) before the car actually decelerates and drops RPMs.

As well, there is a lag in the gas pedal when accelerating. Now, once you press the gas you're instantly raising the RPM.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

From conversations with AA, it seemed to be from an efficiency standpoint.

It was very apparent once I got my muffler delete. When you got off throttle there would be a second delay and then you would hear the pipe gurgle and pop.

Sounds simply awful. Thanks California.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

It was very apparent on mine. Go to second gear and get up to 4,000 RPM and let off the gas and there is a LONG delay (around a second or so) before the car actually decelerates and drops RPMs.

As well, there is a lag in the gas pedal when accelerating. Now, once you press the gas you're instantly raising the RPM.

I'll see if I can duplicate it when I get home.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

I'll see if I can duplicate it when I get home.

Yea, it is hard to realize it until you know it is there.

It is terrible especially for me and autocrossing because you go to let of the gas to brake and the car is still accelerating...which causes you to totally change the braking zone.

[TheSt|G]

Frankly, it just sounds dangerous.

[Fume]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

Yea, it is hard to realize it until you know it is there.

It is terrible especially for me and autocrossing because you go to let of the gas to brake and the car is still accelerating...which causes you to totally change the braking zone.

Hmm, I feel like I might have experienced this behaviour before because I swear I had that happen but thought it was in my head. I'll pay more attention next time. That might make me consider a car tune as my next mod when I was thinking originally thinking of doing that last/not at all.

Thanks for the write up here though. Question: did you have the chance to do a baseline dyno test to see the difference?

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Frankly, it just sounds dangerous.

It is, I've caught myself a couple times in 2nd gear cruising in traffic only to let off the gas and expect to slow down and only come closer to that car in front of you.

Originally Posted by Fume

Hmm, I feel like I might have experienced this behaviour before because I swear I had that happen but thought it was in my head. I'll pay more attention next time. That might make me consider a car tune as my next mod when I was thinking originally thinking of doing that last/not at all.

Thanks for the write up here though. Question: did you have the chance to do a baseline dyno test to see the difference?

No, no baseline dyno.

I may in the future go and throw the stock map back in and run it. But for now I'm sure it is pretty well known the baseline on the N51/52 engines

[Kgolf31]

So, here are the graphs:

Keep in mind, this is STD/STP.

Conversion from STP/STD to Dynojet is approx 5%

Rich A/F at high load is contributed to long 4th gear pull and the ECU adjusting A/F to save the cats and cool them down from high exhaust temp gases.

Of course, the video I took on my phone became corrupt, so I cannot upload it. I didn't know my muffler delete was so damn loud at high RPM...dear god

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

Yea, it is hard to realize it until you know it is there.

It is terrible especially for me and autocrossing because you go to let of the gas to brake and the car is still accelerating...which causes you to totally change the braking zone.

I did:
1. Steady state cruising in 2nd from 2k to 6k RPMs in 1k intervals. Fantastic throttle response with one caveat: At lower RPMs, as expected, hesitation if I just "mash" the throttle. Easing in to the throttle produces smooth, instant acceleration. Anything over about 3.5k to 4k is just a serious, instant grin.

2. Deceleration in 2nd through 4th from 2k to 6k RPMs in 1k intervals. RPM drop mirrors the load on the engine. At 2k in 4th slowly dropping and at 6k in 2nd dropping much more precipitously.

FWIW, SULEV DOB 23 Jan, 2013.

[chris82]

Since I have the AA tune in my N51, I think I'll go see if I have that throttle delay issue. I don't think I do, but then again I've been driving this so long that i'm not sure. Anyways, really great results. I wonder if I am making the same power as you . . .

[Huecifer]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

It was very apparent on mine. Go to second gear and get up to 4,000 RPM and let off the gas and there is a LONG delay (around a second or so) before the car actually decelerates and drops RPMs.

As well, there is a lag in the gas pedal when accelerating. Now, once you press the gas you're instantly raising the RPM.

I spent 30 minutes trying to recreate this with no luck. I've never felt a lag off the gas, and every time i did this, from 2500 to 6000 RPMs, I felt nothing but immediate response from the car when getting off throttle (as in I could hear it in the engine, see it on the tach, and feel the car literally slow down as if I were hitting the brakes. Is it possible this only happens on some cars? Is it a product of something else people have done to their cars?

[Kgolf31]

I must be drinking juice because myself and a multi-national champion SCCA driver noticed it.

The one big thing about the tune I've noticed quickly off the bat is that the car doesn't fall on its face in low RPM (below 4k). Before the car just sucked and couldn't pull. It is a VERY strong pull from the low RPM now...I'd say it is pretty close to my S54 from that instant throttle response and low end grunt feel.

[Huecifer]

No one is questioning that you all are (were) having this issue, we're just wondering why it's not consistent. Sorry...