Wolf 3D V4 vs PowerFC

[N I B]

Yes.

[Zoix]

****, where can i get me a wolf 3d???

[Al]

Originally posted by JimX

I'm sure the Wolf has been discussed before, but only recently have people started speaking of the version 4 for Skylines. I was wondering about some of the more fundamental differences as they apply to Skylines, rather than the maximum amount of power you can get from each of them. Does anyone know anything about the following questions?

1. Does the Wolf do closed loop mode as efficiently as the PowerFC? I know that in the past most other ECUs couldn't compete with the PowerFC in fuel economy (cruising) mode.

Yes, Wolf does do closed loop.  I was getting better fuel economy with this feature turned off, than my friend is getting with the Pfc closed loop feature turned on.  I have just retuned the Wolf with closed loop and now my economy has gone worse.  I am certain it is only a tunner/programming problem and am taking the car back to get re-tuned.  

2. Does the Wolf work properly with the climate control and HICAS etc?

Has no effect at all with these features.  Mine is working like a charm .

3. How do the hand controllers of each compare? I've not really seen either of them, so which one is easier to use, and do they both show you enough on screen to make for a useful additional dash gauge?

The Wolf has 2 very detailed screens and 1 simplified screen.  The detailed screens numerically shows absollutely everything that is going on with the engine, in real-time.  The simplified screen only shows the revs, duty cycle, oxygen sensor, and i think the load (not 100% sure on the 4th item).  These are shown as horizontal bar graphs, great for quick peeks as you are doing a few laps at Calder Park raceway .

YES, it makes a great dash addition, just look below.

PS:The wolf also has P.I.N. security, so the ignition will not start without the pin number.  You can turn this on and off at will, so you mechanic doesn't have to know the number

 

4. If you have an older Wolf, can you upgrade it to a V4, and if so how much does it cost?

Don't think so.  

5. Does either of them have any fundamental advantages over the other? I know that the current Wolf has more load points, but looking at cars tuned with PowerFC's power curves, the amount the PowerFC seems to be more than adequate. I think having more tuning points would just mean more work.

Don't know anything about the Pfc features, but if you look up the links provided previously you should make a adiquate evaluation.

Just remember, that a ecu is ONLY as good as the people who tune them.  It has been far from smooth sailing for me, but it's getting there.  

6. How much is the Wolf with hand controller?

As previously stated  

That's about all I can think of now. Thanks in advance!

PS: I have modified (seperated the screen and the keypad) myself, to create a neater install .

[Al]

Originally posted by Clint32

The memory catridge would be good, have one map set for low boost pump fuel and another for high boost and better fuel, only take a few mins to change over, not like a full reprogram for Fc

You can actually keep the cartridge plugged into the ecu and change from one map (ecu's internal map) to the other (cartridge) in a matter a seconds (3 presses of a button). Great for cruising and saving fuel, then if you want to have a little fun just switch maps.

I myself only drive my car on weekends, so i always want to have some fun .

(unfortunately i sometimes don't have time to take it out then )

[Al]

Originally posted by [sweN]

the Wolf3D sounds like a really good deal. Is it a straight swap for the factory ecu like the PFC is??

and could you get an external knock sensor for it for tuning?

Yes and Yes

[[SweN]]

thanks Al

are there many good tuners in qld, mainly brisbane for the wolf?? ive heard there are plenty in WA, and that the PFC is the preferred one of the eastern states....

what about self tuning? basic tuning, not pro stuff, just for getting it to a safe lvl to DRIVE to the pro tuner shop?? planning on some upgrades which wont be done near a tuning shop and havent touched on the tuning side of things at all.

p.s. utter I.T. geek here, learning software/interface is no challange

[JimX]

Originally posted by Steve-SST

You will be happy with your PFC  but expect high dyno costs or wait till the Datalogit is ready for GTS Skylines before tuning.

Well, dyno costs will be high no matter what ECU you have - workshops charge for time spent on the dyno rather than $X for X type of ECU. I plan on keeping those costs down by doing as much road tuning as I can before taking it into the workshop for fine tuning - but without a knock sensor on the Wolf I wouldn't be able to do that unless I bought the external knock sensor. How much does that cost and how does it interface with the Wolf? Do you think in the next version they will allow it to read the factory knock sensors?

[rob77]

On the road tuning? famous last words How can you tell your af ratio, unless you have an af ratio gauge. I know the base timing on the powerfc is quite advanced, probably due to the 100+ron pump fuel available in japan. be very careful. The ecu will always only be as good as the tuner, steve's been tuning wolf's for ages and due to that doesnt need a great deal of time to tune the car.

[JimX]

Well, I'm sure that any cost savings that Steve could give me on programming the Wold would be more than negated by the travel costs between Sydney and Perth

I won't be able to tell my AF ratio with a road tune, but I will have the knock sensor to keep it safe. Then when in the rough area of making good power without pinging, I'll take it to Unigroup or somewhere for fine tuning. Hopefully should cost under $200.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

JimX, I think your reliance on the factory knock snesor is a little bit misguided, when you have your PFC you'll see what I mean. It shows a knock level, that means virtually nothing, and it's up to the user to determine the safe knock level.

I think Steve was suggesting that tuning a Wolf is much quicker than the PFC with HC. Wolf comes with laptop software which is excellent, and really reduves the time it takes to tune. Even with the Datalogit ($1000?) which is a huge improvement over the HC the PFC will still take longer to tune.

I believe that the lastest range of Wolfs are coming out with a base map, how good it is I have no idea, maybe Steve can share his thoughts.

[rb20-calais]

i am so glad i bought the wolf 3d v4 now, YES!

Evan

[Cubes]

It appears that the boost controller is quite advanced.

Looking at the software you can trim boost with regards to air temperature, engine temperature, throttle position and also select different boost levels for different rpm positions.

Here's the screen grab.. 30k.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Joel, Yeah it really good, we have set mine up to chase a higher boost at low rpm, then taper off to a safe boost level at higher rpm, provides much better mid-range response that way:D

[SHUTO-BOY]

Wolf 3d or Motec are the best. period

[Cubes]

That could work really well with a standard ceramic turbo as not to overspeed it at the higher rpms..

So how does it control boost? Does it come with its own solanoid?

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Joel, You can either use the factory solenoid, buy one from Wolf, or buy an aftermarket one.

[Squizz]

Using a Turbosmart Singe stage BC and the wolf you basically wind the boost controller all the way out which would normally give stupid amounts of boost but instead of having the aircraft switch it plugs into the wolf and it turns the soleniod off and on at a super quick rate to control the boost level.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

You can do some pretty neat stuff with the wolf, including mapping boost vs rpm, and boost vs throttle position:D

[Cubes]

The R32's don't have any sort of solanoid standard as they don't have a staged boost like the R33.

So for all those R32 owners you have to out lay another $198 for the wolf solanoid.

Or is it really as simple as using a Singe stage bleeder? Surely the solanoid wouldn't last very long switching on and off super quickly as it is no designed for it.?!?!

[Busky2k]

I'd get a laptop programmable ECU if I was going aftermarket. Nothin beats muckin with the ECU with a laptop on the passenger seat 2F2F style! LOL