FattyCBR

Cool mod, talk about thinking out of the box for 4Runner owners.

Dr.Z using your BR-2 have you noticed any changes in your long or short term fuel trim?

Thanks

Dr. Zhivago

Yes, I did notice a positive changes in the Long Term Fuel Trim to the tune of about 1-2% depending on how much the ECT mod is tweaked. Short Term seemed unaffected.

Peace.
Dr. Z

Dashunde

I'm confused about how the mod benifits SC'd engines...
Would'nt richening the mix and advancing the timing sort of nullify the ping preventing advantages of this mod?

Dr. Zhivago

The Timing Advance is only at Idle itself and in the Off-Idle region. This definitely helps low-end grunt and small, low-load throttle settings. Above 2000 RPM there is no difference in the amount of Advance. In other words, the mod does not affect Maximum Advance. That is built in to the ECU and you will need to either reprogram the internal chip or install a piggy-back unit to get around that.

I can't say for sure that this will help with ping, but I think it might provide some benefit towards either minimizing or eliminating it.

Dr. Z

midiwall

Update...

I had no problem with my rig getting into OD no matter where I set the mod. The range on my install is from 700 RPM/190 ECT to 1332 RPM/124 ECT.

The only thing I noticed is that jamming on the throttle at highway speeds (2200 RPM, 63mph) with the mod fully "cranked" would stop the truck from shifting into passing gear. I wasn't running my BR-2 "live" so I can't mark the point where this started happening.

Side note... The BR-2 is clearly the best $$$ I've spent in a long time. It's quite the tool.

loosehead

WOW! Thats a boatload of good info!
Mark and Galen, good job, big props to you both!

Dr. Zhivago

You could have installed it in your truck and been part of the Beta Group, but NOOOOOOOOO, you were too busy.

Hehe Just kidding Jayson. Thanks dude.
Dr. Z

Dashunde

Ok, Thanks Dr.Z - Good explaination. And I've thought up a few more questions if you have the time.

How is this mod superior to changing the thermostat to a 160deg? Isnt the result somewhat the same?

Why dont the MFG's run them cooler? Emmissions and/or Milage?

And lastly, can the thermostat change and the ECT mod be used together, maybe for additional help with pinging on a SC'd engine? Could both trip the CheckEngine light or keep it stuck on high idle? (Gadget?)

Thanks!

Dr. Zhivago

Well, on a NA Engine, running a colder Thermo without modifying the ECU Programming for Timing and Fuel delivery results in poor fuel economy. On a Forced Induction engine, the lower temp thermo would be the way I would go. But the cost is considerably higher, if that's a concern. The Thermo is about $63 and the ECT mod is less than $10.

Yep, it's mostly for emmissions and efficiency. Although they could tune them to run cooler. But from what I've read, STOCK NA engines seem to benefit from slightly higher temps with pump gas and the like. If you retune, run headers and high quality gas, then the low temp thermo is a viable option for a nice power boost. What really happens is that you can run more timing advance with less chance of ping.

I suppose you could, but I don't think I would do that just beause it seems so redundant. I don't know if the CEL would trip either, but it might if your Fuel Trim got really crazy stacking both the Low Temp Thermo and the ECT mod. You cold always try it and just turn off the ECT mod if things got weird.

YW

These Guys have the best price on the TRD Thermo I believe. That's where I bought mine from.

Hope this helps.
Dr. Z

Dashunde

Thanks for the info Dr.Z
I picked up my truck Wednesday, but it doesnt have the SC'r on it yet... They wanted me to take delivery before they bolted it on. Guess they didnt want to be hung with it if I backed out... so I've got more waiting to do. Ack!

When I picked the truck up I went through the parts Dept and had them add the thermostat to the SC'r package. I'm hoping that the Tstat is all it needs to be completly ping-free. We'll see...
Thanks agian.

ravencr

Just wanting on this thread, becuase there's a ton of good info here.

Chris

HaveBlue

Great info!!!
I'm thinking about doing this on my other car. My 4Runner has the TRD thermo, too, so I don't think I'll be adding the ECT mod.

Again, thanks for the great info!

pfdaxe

Hey Blue:

Did you notice any differance with the TRD t-stat with regards to performance?? I wanted to know to justify the steep price.

Thanks,

Paul:fireman:

HaveBlue

It feels *slightly* snappier than before. It substantially reduced the pinging issues, especially while using the 9lb pulley.

Pros:
Reduced pinging considerably-almost non-existant even with 9lb s/c pulley
Thermo opens sooner and keeps engine temperature somewhat cooler. Might be a plus when off-road...haven't seen any action since I installed it, though.
Another cool TRD mod to list.

Cons:
Reduced mileage. I lost between .9-1.6 mpg.
$$$-I paid $68 all totaled (including shipping). That's a little more than I would normally care to pay for a thermostat. But, it was a cheaper, easier and albeit sloppier way to reduce or illiminate pinging.

ravencr

Hey Alan,

Where did you get the 9psi pulley? How long have you had it on? Have you dynoed your truck? I'm wanting to run the same pulley, instead of the 6 psi pulley.

Thanks,

Chris

Prado

hi...

great mod...
well im new here..
n i was reading thru the mods... n came accross this ECT mod...
i was wondering if this mod would work on my toyota..
i have a toyota prado 3.4 V6.i dont know if u hav these type of toyota there.. as im from australia... it seems that it has the same engine as Dr Z. the engine is a 5VZ-FE 3.4V6..
would the ECU n wiring be the same as urs Dr Z???
would the wire i need to cut be the same as mention on ur instruction..?

lastly... i found this site that sounds similar to ur mod..

here is a link:
http://pages.prodigy.net/keman/tempr.html
do u think its the same..?

thanks

Dr. Zhivago

Hi Prado,

I answered your question in the Landcruiser forum. The mod you linked is not the same mod. That is the IAT mod and as I mentioned over there, it does nothing for our trucks.

I'll go check the other thread and see if you have seen my reply to you by now.

Peace.
Dr. Z

Dr. Zhivago

Prado, I just realized I needed to expand my answer to include your other question about the ECT Wire. Like with the IAT sensor, it is most likely a different color on your truck than on mine. If you check out Mark's ECT page that is linked to in my ECT Article, you can see how easy it is to find the appropriate wire. Remember, it is most likely going to be Green and possibly have a stripe on it.

Hope this helps.
Dr. Z

Prado

thanks Dr Z...

yeah i saw ur reply...
thanks for clearing that up....
its so good that i saw this forum... coz im after things i can do to my rig.....

do u have any other mod i can do to get more hp for my rig..?

Bumpin' Yota

Dr. Z,

As I am on the verge of doing this mod in the next few days, did you find a way around the 2ng gen, auto tranny's problems of not shifting into O/D until completely warned up?

Im hoping the ECU uses a different senor for this but....