I used to be quite skeptical about Obd2 Remaps, often wondering if they were truly worth the hype. However, after hearing numerous positive testimonials, particularly about the remaps provided by Eddy in Richmond BC, my curiosity was piqued. One story that especially caught my attention was about a CDI engine from Chilliwack that clocked over 300,000 km with this tune before unfortunately being totaled in a collision. This and other encouraging accounts convinced me to take the plunge and remap my Canada 1 vehicle.
One of my primary concerns before getting an OBD2 remap was the potential impact on fuel consumption. After the remap, I observed a slight increase of about 0.25 L/100 km. While this is a marginal increase, it’s important to consider other factors. A portion of this change could be attributed to my driving habits with the Canada 1 compared to my previous green and black car. My lifetime fuel consumption in the Canada 1 is now at 3.95 L/100 km versus 4.2 L/100 km in the older car. It’s worth noting that the green and black car was equipped with narrower tires and wheels for approximately 20,000 km, whereas the Canada 1 has always had wider tires, starting from 4,000 km (including snow tires). Furthermore, in my first car, fuel economy was often a deliberate focus, with gentle driving and economy contests being common. The Canada 1, on the other hand, is driven more like a regular car, with upshifts around 4000 RPM and faster cruising speeds.
Driving more economically, I believe the remapped car is likely to be slightly more fuel-efficient than a stock version. This is largely due to the enhanced torque. The increased torque means that downshifts are less frequently needed when tackling hills. If you use a ScanGauge or a similar tool, you’ll understand the fuel-saving benefits of holding a taller gear for longer. Interestingly, my best fuel economy tanks in the remapped car are comparable to the best tanks I achieved with the stock car, suggesting that the remap doesn’t negatively impact potential fuel efficiency.
Having now driven close to 130,000 km since the OBD2 remap, and with 30,000 km beforehand, the engine continues to perform exceptionally well. This long-term experience has alleviated any concerns I had about the remap’s durability.
The claimed power gain from the OBD2 remap was around 25 horsepower. However, based on my driving experience, I estimate the actual increase to be closer to 60 horsepower. The torque improvement is significant and readily noticeable; the car can even produce a small burnout if you accelerate aggressively from a standstill. In terms of quantifiable performance improvements, the 0-100 km/h acceleration times have decreased by approximately 5 seconds, and the top speed has increased by about 20 km/h on level roads.
While I can’t comment on the effectiveness of generic OBD2 plug-in devices, the custom remap I received has proven to be an outstanding investment, especially considering its reasonable cost of $300. For anyone considering an OBD2 remap, particularly for enhanced performance and potentially improved fuel economy in real-world driving conditions, my experience has been overwhelmingly positive.
