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motec vs Power Fc

Maxx

By Maxx,
in Engines & Forced Induction

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MattSR Community Regular

MattSR

Posted
Posted

MoTeC M4 is worth around $2200 without any options.

In terms of idle quality, build quality and performance, Power FC and MoTeC are on par. The advantage that MoTeC has is that you can configure it to do more things - such as control a shift light, run traction control, wideband lambda, and in extreme cases use it to trigger and air shifted gearbox...

In my opinion, PowerFC is ideal for a street car and most weekend track cars, but for a more dedicated race car that needs laucnch control etc, etc... go for the MoTeC.

The probblem is that the M4 is designed with 4 cylinder engines in mind - it only has 4 injector and ignition outputs. For a 6 or 8 cylinder engine, you need a M48 or even metter an M800..

Cheers,

Matty

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Sydneykid Grand Master

Sydneykid

Posted
Posted

Hi Maxx, whilst MattSR is correct, you can still run a 6 cylinder car with an M4. You just parallel up 2 injectors and 2 coils and thus use 3 (of the 4) Motec driver circuits for each of igntion and injectors. Very common way of using an ECU. The results are very very marginally lower (economy mostly) than using 6 drivers on a 6 cylinder engine. It certainly wouldn't put me off, if the price was right.

Hope that helps

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  • 3 years later...
silva33 Mentor

silva33

Posted
Posted

I have used both computer and have found the M4 a fantastic computer for street use, (used on a Mitsubishi GTO) but have also found the Power FC to be brilliant for a street driven nissan.

I think in the long run the PFC being plug and play will be the cheaper option as the options on the Motec are quite expensive

R31Nismoid Grand Master

R31Nismoid

Posted
Posted

To get the Motec upto a decent level of tune, it'll cost a packet load as you start with nothing

Nothing wrong with a PowerFC, its one of the best ECU's for the cash considering you get all sorta extras that save time with tuning.

Tangles Grand Master

Tangles

Posted
Posted

I have a R34 GTT Power-fc with boost control kit and hand control, perfect working condition, $1300 firm.

was going to use in Stagea, decided to do a basic chip remap and keep using piggybacks.

stolen_s15 Mentor

stolen_s15

Posted
Posted

As above, the MOTEC has more features and is (on paper) the superior ECU. But it depends what you will use the car for, if if you can justify the extra (purchase/install/tuning) costs of the M4. Which will be significantly more than the PFC.

I would go PFC simply because unless your car is track orientated you wont know the differnce, and the extra cost is not worth the 'i run a motec' bragging rights.

Nick

abu Grand Master

abu

Posted
Posted

I'd go Apexi pfc simply because

Plug and play - no cutting into loom so its good for EPA or if you are putting the car back to stock for whatever reason

Cheaper to buy - usually always a demand if you want to resell plus they aren't being made anymore so the more rare they get the more they will be worth in some sense

Cheaper to tune - over-all you will save on buying the ECU it self then the tuning as well plus on installation which the MOTEC will need for sure

More tuners available - I don't believe a lot of work shops can install and tune motec

Does the same shit in the end, not like its a full race car

Plus Apexi PFC is proven to work well on skylines, theres millions of people running one :yes:

SKYPER Enthusiast

SKYPER

Posted
Posted (edited)

Motec ECU can plug in like the PowerFC but needs a custom adaptor loom

that has the correct plug for engine loom on one end and plug for Motec

ECU on the other end.

The good part about Motec ECU is it can fit in any car with the right

adaptor loom.

PowerFC is more of a one engine only type of ECU unless adapted to fit

on other motors like R32 RB26 PowerFC on a R32 RB20.

Also I think Motec ECU has higher resolution maps which helps with fine

tuning the shape of the power graph and extra features like what

everyone else has already said.

Motec ECU can be used on a Methonal or Nitro engine.

Edited by SKYPER

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