The Truth About Jackal Motorsports 3.0T Tuning | 034Motorsport Zero BS Fact Check

This is the 034Motorsport Zero BS Fact Check of Jackal Motorsports' EA837 3.0T ECU and DL501 TCU Calibrations.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
4:44 How did we get here?
9:40 Knock Sensors Desensitized
22:03 Torque Safety System Disabled
24:41 Torque Safety Systems TCU Limp Mode Disabled
26:19 Boost Pressure Safety Systems Disabled
29:09 Fault Monitoring Systems Disabled
31:38 EGT/Catalyst Safety Systems Disabled (Major performance/safety difference)
36:06 Tuning Strategy Dissection: Torque Reporting
43:04 Underscaled Torque & MAF Scaling
49:00 How Does Improper Torque Reporting Affect Drivability
51:15 Competitor X Video
53:51 Shift Quality of Jackal Motorsports ECU + TCU Tune
59:42 Examples of Other Jackal Motorsports Tuned Vehicles Shifting
1:06:35 Conclusion

[rossimac]

I've had an APR stage 1 ECU tune on my car for 3 years now but at the time the tuner couldn't flash my TCU because of a hardware/connection issue or something. In the end, they flashed "their" TCU tune and while I've had zero problems with it, I do wonder am I missing out on a better TCU tune. On a local-to-me car forum, I suggested 034 as a potential tune, as I can flash it myself and the hardware will work and not fail to flash the ECU. Someone suggested Jackal as a much cheaper alternative (and with the promise of free upgrades, should I ever decide to go to Stage 2) and it did seem too good to be true. To find this level of detail on why that's the case, is just excellent. Well done.

[evorealtime]

Since you invited comments from other tuners or ECU engineers, a few comments without any commercial relationship with 034 or Jackal. These are meant to be constructive and progress the maturity of VAG tuning offerings which are still to this day of highly variable quality. Overall I have to say I agree with many of the points, with some qualifications.

1. Knock sensitivity
I also don't go around collecting and analyzing many competitor tunes, but every time I have I'm also dismayed to see heavy offsets or multipliers of knock noise factor tables in large parts or entire tables from multiple providers to the point where I consider it is unfortunately the default of most VAG tuners including in multiple of the competitors you name where you don't seem to think this is an issue. It is everywhere. Furthermore, most do it on engines that I know do not false knock when given adequate octane in the specs the tunes are designed for. We have tested that the OEM knock noise factors in some Bosch ECUs can be left stock whilst adding over 100 HP per cylinder (accepting that torque is more relevant than power here) with good timing and EGT with E85, yet many well known tuners by default adding a fraction of this power modify the noise tables. This is also ECU architecture specific, but when noise factors are relatively insensitive to load in OEM tunes, that is a giveaway to the nature that these are usually adaptive and relative, not absolute. In other words, raising them at all unless there is proven false knock that is not responsive to octane is actually massively heavy handed and it isn't often a justification to do so simply because there is more boost or the load is increased. Not always, but if this was the starting point for VAG tuning, many engines would be saved as the failure rates with tuning are an order of magnitude too high and our data suggests that it is related primarily to this issue, followed by: not running excessive boost, not running lean and not stretching inadequate fuel systems. I think the video accepts too easily that mangling knock noise factors without cylinder pressure monitoring (which is how Bosch for example recommend they are setup, accepting the video is about a Continental/Siemens ECU) is justifiable at all when the default should be that it isn't necessary at all.

2. Limits
I also prefer minimal, necessary, targeted and justifiable interventions to limits, but it can be legitimate to push some limits out of the way. Even on similar engines, OEM calibrations may have similar tables with different limits pushed out of the way because there are so many of them that can be used to do a similar thing, and this occurs for torque, load and pressure. However, there needs to be a cohesive strategy that protects the driver and components. Without full context, a criticism of individual tables may be considered a hatchet job, or it may be a fair criticism.

3. EGT/lambda
Similar to limits, depending on whether there are real EGT sensors and how many modifications are on the vehicle, there are multiple valid strategies, some of which are more fixed/deterministic than others. What matters is controlling the real EGT and protecting components in all possible circumstances. Whilst acknowledging that you state you are not perfect and also improving, your company has richened up some tunes and has raised multiple eyebrows about how lean some lambdas have been at high boost levels, along with various claims of engine damage.

4. Torque scaling
Agree on most points about torque scaling, except that any ECU from the last 25 years actually has ample computational power to inverse lookup to allow one translation map between torque and load, and any Tricore over 150MHz can laugh at the computation. BMW do it regularly. It is syntactic sugar since any competent tuner should be able to make a mathematical inverse between a pair of tables.

5. Patches to code
German ECUs tend to need fewer application software patches to overcome limits than Japanese, but usually there are one or two that are useful in relation to limits to allow proper scaling and correct/easier calibration as you point out. These and their development as well as the tools to properly disassemble code and log RAM are by no means unique to one company, and are also sometimes traded through file services or tuning products, but I would agree that most file service fodder uses kludges in this and many other areas.

[edwardwerley]

Thank you for doing this peer review. There are many of us enthusiasts that are not technical enough to catch these issues. We rely on companies to do their due diligence and be honest and forthright. Another reason for someone with these same personal core values to do business with 034 and OTHER companies that share this philosophy.

[dviper]

Love how nerdy and technical this is…I’m all about it. Very revealing & with quantitative analysis. Never been a prouder customer of 034!

[yankumarrah]

Real engineers, thanks for making this it’s as detailed as nefmoto. Love it!

——

Forgot to mention that the fact 034 is willing to share and compare and contrast part of their calibration shows that the correct calibration is not just plugging numbers in. It’s actually requiring study and effort and balancing applied principles in tuning to satisfy the needs of all customers on this platform.

I’ve earned so much knowledge and experience tuning as a hobbyist and I give these guys full respect for doing this. I tuned my B6 A4 1.8T and it took me 5 years to read the Bosch Function Book (FR) and apply the correct strategies to tune my built motor.

I can go on and on, I hope that 034 is a company I select in the future for my future Audi. I went with IE for my 3.0T B8 S4. If they did this video some years ago I would have went 034.

[machogy]

So glad you guys did this. Great format and data as always. I hope you don't have to do many more under these types of circumstances but I think we all know this is the world we live in. Nice job!

[sheentrisal]

Been rocking with yall for years with my 3.0, happy to see this breakdown 😁👊

[leosrule]

034's products and transparency are industry leading. Keep up the great work guys.

[Combs]

I’m a die hard 034 guy. They made my car something I love more than any other car. You guys are incredible. Keep up the good work.

[shieric]

034 motor sports: Ima end this man's whole career

[NeedBuilt]

Thanks for shining the light on this team. Keep up the great work!

[silviodante]

Very interesting finds here. Me and my friend have had 034 ecu and tcu tuning and tried out jackals as well, the jackal tcu tune made my dsg start slipping to the point I could no longer drive it. Had the dealer preform a dsg adaptation along with dsg service with no luck fixing the issue. My friend who also went with jackals ecu and tcu file ended up having piston failure after few months after switching to jackal. I can’t 100% say that this is because of jackals files. but just to add to the point, these b8.5 s4’s were both fully maintained ahead of receiving these tune files and had no issues prior to tuning.

[evan]

Excellent data driven approach with real world examples by 034. I'm seeing Jackal users accepting the bypassed safety, but justify it by saying "where are all of the blown motors?", "It can't be that unsafe", or "Jackal wouldn't exist if wasn't safe". All of which are patently ridiculous and fallacious statements to make. Appreciate 034's willingness to share this information publicly and continue to be a leader for the B8 platform and other platforms.

[Mattdub]

See yall soon! 034 really talking to us like father figures out here.

I'm here for it.

[rideswithseb]

I will stand by 034 everyday of the week. Fully trust their product as their transperency has always proved true!

[midlifemods]

THIS right here is why 034 is the best in the business. So glad I chose this company for my mods.

[sebastianlorenzo]

Nate looks pissed. usually a mild mannered dude. he takes pride in his work and is defending his hard work compared to someone taking short cuts. You go Nate!!!! Thanks 034 for all your great products across so many platforms.

[jeffhughes]

I watched this after becoming aware of the drama via B8 groups on FB. Obviously you have your own opinions and want to sell your own product, but everything you say here is reasoned and backed up with data or evidence. I actually sold my (stock tune) S4 a couple of months ago, so have no bias here, I just appreciate your approach.

[ByteSizedSociety]

@54:00 wow it's incredible how much the clutches are slipping for that S4. Almost like you're driving on ice, but you're not right?

[KineticArt]

We need more companies and people in general who aren't afraid to speak the truth and will ACTUALLY back it up with real data like this. (If only our government and politicians would do the same 👀) It took some big cajones to post this, mad respect. Also completely coincidentally I flashed to your stage 2+ file early this afternoon before seeing this video 🤣 - knew I made the right choice sticking with you guys.