Diesel Tuning

Land Rover 90 Hard Top Page 2....

What we did, and the results.

We then did a day of extensive road testing.

As mentioned elsewhere on this site, we don't focus on out and out power, but instead make sure your improved Td5 drives as it should!! We ensure the remap eliminates all the flat spots (where a standard Td5 is lacking). There is no point having a huge power increases if it happens at the wrong point in the engine rev range and your Td5 suddenly becomes un-driveable on the road.

Then the rolling road....

From our point of view, if you drive your new remapped Td5 on the road, and it meets and exceeds all your exceptions then actual power figures are irrelevant... but are still useful to discuss down the pub. It is also interesting to see what other companies claim from their tuning work... and then to see what they actually make.

Results from the day on the rolling road:

First Test:

The Defender was put back to standard (bar the previously mentioned modifications - big intercooler, hybrid etc etc). So 14.7psi boost and a standard Td5 Defender Map.

HP at the flywheel - 117.5bhp

Torque at the flywheel - 204.9lbft

Land Rover Claim 122bhp and 221lbft - so not a million miles off.

Second Test:

Wire in/Plug in box from competitor - Boost still at 14.7psi

HP at the flywheel - 157.3bhp

Torque at the flywheel - 270.7lbft

Third Test:

Wire in/Plug in box from competitor - Boost now at 21psi as per instructed by 'another company'

HP at the flywheel - 155.4bhp

Torque at the flywheel - 257.8lbft

As we can see, it actually loses power. With the increased boost pressure, the engine is now running lean as the plug in box is unable to supply more fuel to match the increased boost pressure.

Interestingly... the company who supplied the tuning parts claimed over 200bhp (214bhp was mentioned) with a similar increase in torque.

We have a feeling they were using a very optimistic rolling road that day!!!

Fourth Test - Full Power Run:

We actually did quite a few more power runs (i.e. a lot more than four) and played around with various boost pressures - and a few other things.

But for now (watch this space for more!!!), actual figures are:

HP at the flywheel - 186.2bhp

Torque at the flywheel - 310.9lbft

So that means we've made 68.7bhp over standard (approx. 60% increase), and gained 106lbft of torque.

To put into a better perspective.... a standard Td5 makes 117bhp max at the flywheel (at 4200rpm), we make that at the wheels at 2250rpm!!!

Smoke limits are still within MOT requirements.

The 90 now drives like an absolute rocket... and will pull from 30mph (1000rpm) in fifth to well above legal speed limits without any moaning. And 3rd and 4th above 2000rpm the 90 just takes off (not a slouch below 2000rpm either!!!)

0-60mph is now 8 seconds (on a stopwatch)

But still more to come!!!