Hello, I am new at this forum and have many questions. I hope that I have chosen the correct forum.

I have ordered a new MK1 Octavia 1.8T Elegance front-wheel drive. To my knowledge it will have the AUM engine with the bigger injector and K03sport turbo.

Does this engine have any significant difference to the RS engine (AUQ)? Cooling, maybe? Air intake, exhaust pipe, dump valve, etc (unfortunately I don't know much about engines).

The Octavia Combi (I think it is called Estate in UK) is a family car and I would be happy with the RS performance. Can I just have the chip flashed to the original RS chip? My logic is that this program would fulfill emission requirements in my country and would be compatible with occassional low quality fuel when travelling. Moreover I would only need to send the ECU for a re-flash, instead of custom tweaking with a dyno, and expect it to work without surges and maybe even without changing the air filter.

I have read opinions on many tuning chips for the 1.8T and they all try to achieve maximum hp and torque. However I have some doubts, especially about the endurance of the original 5-speed gearbox in the long run, with such big amounts of torque, and the emissions.

Can I have the RS gearbox installed as well? Is this an expensive operation?

I live in Scandinavia.

Please correct where the logic is flawed, and looking forward to your opinions

Hi and welcome to Briskoda. :wave: There are no significant differences between the current AUM and AUQ (vRS) engines which would affect what you want to do. But I can't think of any of our members who have flashed the vRS's ECU programme onto their AUM/ARX ECUs since - with the exception of you -most want (and get) far more bhp for their money! That said, if you can find a tuner who can flash your ECU for you then you should be OK. Let us know how you get on.

PS Can you find out the 3 letter code for the gearbox fitted to your new car?

I have read opinions on many tuning chips for the 1.8T and they all try to achieve maximum hp and torque. However I have some doubts, especially about the endurance of the original 5-speed gearbox in the long run, with such big amounts of torque, and the emissions.

Go for something like a Revo with SPS3, Jabba with boost controller or similar and you can set where between stock and 'maximum' you actually want to run e.g. set ~ 1/2 boost for a day to day ~180bhp, save max 210+hp for those special sundays!

I looked at these chips:

http://www.giacusa.com

http://www.goapr.com

http://www.upsolute.com

http://www.neuspeed.com

http://www.revotechnik.com

http://www.mtm-online.de/

http://www.jabbasport.co.uk/

http://www.chip-tuning.com/

To my knowledge Wetterauer, APR, Neuspeed, Jabbasport and GIAC are not available in my region, unless you send them the ECU. If I understand correctly, you need the VAG-COM program (or similar) and the cables to start the engine after an ECU swap?

The Apr program (not easily available to me) is nice, it can be controlled via the cruise control, with the help of a dongle that has to be installed to the ECU (if I understood correctly).

Upsolute and Revo are available in my region. I don't think that they have dynos though. It is possible to try them before buying, which is nice.

MTM is available nearby, they have a dyno, and they probably know what they are doing, but the software update also costs 1300 euros.

Upsolute is 460 e and the remote switch (150 e) is nice if you have problems with the tuning. You can only choose between stock and tuned, and the receiver is easily detected.

I think Revo is much more expensive than Upsolute, at their www page the price was

I guess you could swap EEPROMs but not ECUs as these are specific to the car....some security code IIRC.

No doubt someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Where abouts are you in Scandanavia? One of our members came all the way from Norway to have his TDi remapped by Jabba.

Actually I plan to visit London by car some time. But it would be difficult to get any adjustments done afterwards, so I'm not sure if it is a good option for me.

Edit:

I found out that APR is available here.

I made a couple of phone calls, and Revo and MTM resellers both said that there would not be any problems with the gearbox or clutch, and no problems with emission tests. Have you heard of such problems? I have seen one post (in my own language) about a broken gearbox and I think that I've read somewhere that the 5-speed gearbox was built to last 280 Nm. I'll post a link if I find it, although service manuals would be more reliable sources than the internet.

With Revo I could have a box that would reset the engine to stock settings when necessary, for a total cost of 1300 e.

I will do some more research

Does anyone know if programs for (RON) 95 octane fuel are available for the Octavia 1.8T?

I've been told that the vRS program can not be used with 150 hp Octavia, since the electronics box is completely different. Furthermore, I've learned that the difference in horsepower between 180 hp and 150 hp engines is only due to different electronics, as the mechanical differences, including exhaust pipes, are non-existent.

Some chip resellers have told me that I can use 95 oct fuel with the chip but would get a smaller amount of torque and hp; some have told me that only 98 may be used. I have got the feeling that the timings will not work very well with 95 fuel, even with the knockout sensor, unless the program was designed for 95?

AFAIK, gas price is rising fast due to an increase in global consumption, so 95 will have to do...

Edit: Found out that Revo has a program for 95 oct. Looking for other options as well...

Edit2: Has anybody tried the AmD one-click system? Is it available for the Octavia? It seems that they would also be available at DMS.

Does anyone know if programs for (RON) 95 octane fuel are available for the Octavia 1.8T?

I've been told that the vRS program can not be used with 150 hp Octavia' date=' since the electronics box is completely different. Furthermore, I've learned that the difference in horsepower between 180 hp and 150 hp engines is only due to different electronics, as the mechanical differences, including exhaust pipes, are non-existent.

Some chip resellers have told me that I can use 95 oct fuel with the chip but would get a smaller amount of torque and hp; some have told me that only 98 may be used. I have got the feeling that the timings will not work very well with 95 fuel, even with the knockout sensor, unless the program was designed for 95?

AFAIK, gas price is rising fast due to an increase in global consumption, so 95 will have to do...

Edit: Found out that Revo has a program for 95 oct. Looking for other options as well...[/quote']

I have Revo on my car and there is no problem with 95/98ron fuel or upgrades for the 150hp engine. Revo remap by ECU no. but my 150hp 4x4 was no problem. At the time of remapping you can choose either the 95ron or 98ron map I believe but with an SPS2 or SPS3 device you can switch between them whenever you want. I believe the results Revo quote are 'typical' figures for 95ron fuel so you should gain further with 98ron. APR have similar technology. Jabba can also remap 150hp engines and set the engine up to whichever fuel you specify.

The Octavia Owners Handbook specifies unleaded RON 98 petrol for the RS model, but also states that unleaded petrol 95 RON can be used although engine output in this case is slightly reduced.

I asked about 95 octane fuel at the Upsolute forum. The moderator explained here a little bit about the situation in practice.

Of the ones you've mentioned as being available in your area, I'd say either Revo or APR would be a good bet. Either should give you significantly more than the standard VRS map.

AMD One-click is for the PD engines, not petrol, AFAIK.

If you have your engine set up for 95 RON, the ECU should be able to adapt slightly when it is run with 98RON although maybe not as much as a map actually designed for 98RON. At least so I have been informed by a well respected engine tuner (see below )

HTH

I know you're right. And thanks for the info about the One-click system.

It is just that Upsolute is 400 euros, with a zero insertion force chip replacement (can switch back to stock when necessary), and Revo and APR cost 1000+ euros and no dyno runs (but have a tested map for 95 octane). The Upsolute map can be adjusted to more conservative timings, but it has not been tested.

When using a socketed chip I guess it is possible to have problems due to oxidation of the contact surfaces (unless they are gold plated). For this reason programming via the OBD port might be a good idea (Upsolute 460 e).

I found a chip from Ebay for 140 e. I was a bit curious and made a phone call to the seller but had a communication problem. My German is quite bad. He has made the program himself, but I did not find out much more.

And I still have to wait for the car for a month

i can only recommend revo as thats the only one i've used,its switchable betwen 95 and 98 and as i live in the countryside can't always get 98 ron,it works well within the limits of the engine (mines auq)as i am told.very very effective to my needs.

can't recomend it enough

I was told at the Upsolute forum that I could use 95 octane without any problems.

I still got the feeling that I might well lose 3 % in economy if I use 95 octane fuel with a map for 98. A well-tested map for 95 would cost me so much more that it would not save any money, and I would also get slightly lower performance.

So, finally I have come to a conclusion

My experience:

I have this ARX engine on my 4*4. About A year ago I asked upsolute to provide me the same chip (map) as it would for a vRS. They did it in a half hour with the ZIF EPROM. Now after 30000km I am happy with it.

They claim 210+bhp perfomance but I could not find anybody else that have done the same and had the chance to get a dyno run.

It is true that I feel that the torque peaks at 3200rpm and decrease a little after - but I think thats what you can get for a standard remap and 300e +VAT.

I've been running my vRS on 95ron since day one. I had it rolling roaded the other week and was suprised to find 186bhp in 30degC heat ! I may try some 98 soon for a few tanks then get it re checked.

Andy

My experience:

I have this ARX engine on my 4*4. About A year ago I asked upsolute to provide me the same chip (map) as it would for a vRS. They did it in a half hour with the ZIF EPROM. Now after 30000km I am happy with it.

Ok, so it is possible to use the same software for the vRS 180 hp and 150 hp engines. Thanks for the info.