DTRONIC - use in Prado? anyone running this or other combo (excluding nissan)?

Yeah, I wonder about that too. Toyota would spend more on toothpicks in their factory canteens than some 'chip' company would spend on all their research and development. what gives??? what am I missing here?

Ok, I will fill you in on what you are missing.

The prado is a good example of this, as any european diesel engine.

Euro 3 emissions are a law manufacturers have to meet, we dont have it here, but Aus isnt a big enough market to warrant its own spec of vehicle from manufacturers.

Because of the tight emissions on dieasels in Europe, they are set to meet emmissions below 2500 rpm, and then "can" be rich over that where emissions dont count, to counter what is happening below that which can also effect economy.

What things like dtronic do is fix the fuel and timing curves of the engine to not only make more power, but in some cases like the prado, improve oil sooting so oil and filter dont get as contaminated between services, improve economy where they have been made rich from factory to cover where they need to meet emissions, and the added benifit is they also make more power down low, and as everyone knows, with a turbo, the sooner you make more exhaust gases, the sooner the turbo spools, the more exhaust, the more boost faster, so a small increase down low can make the car pull better through the whole rev range as it multiplies itself.

BEcause the dtronic is the only "chip Im aware of which has seperate timing control on a prado, as well as fuel, timing can also be changed from the "emissions" friendly setings, to better power and torque settings, without being detromental to engine life.

Short as I could make it, but Im sure you get the idea.

Hmmmm....clear as mud ;)
cheers for that, but surely the australian market is large enough for toyo to adapt something so cheap and easy. once $ designed, its physical value must be about a buck.

Aus is hardly a blip on the radar for the large car makers, otherwise we would get some specs more suitable for the aus market. ;-)

Steve - thanks for the reply. Good first hand feedback. can you clarify your ps. were others unhappy too?

They did a couple of dyno runs that showed only minor improvement, failed to answer many direct questions, and explained how the Dtronic changes the amount of actual throttle input seen by the computer. This is why people think they have made a huge difference, the computer thinks you are using a lot of throttle when your foot only feels you are just off idle, making it seem much more responsive than it is. Safari openly admitted this on the open day.

My Prado is now 5kmh slower top speed than standard. If I now have 120kw insted of 96kw how is this possible? Save your money and use it to buy a winch or something that is useful.

Steve.

scary! you may have saved me lotsa money.
cheers

Steve,
I was at the day too, never heard your questions, and every question I did hear was answered.

Now, your car may be 5kph slower top speed, because the dtronic will actually help try and save your engine if things like intake charge, or coolant temps rise above safe levels, and in severe cases, willa ctually pull the ecu back past "factory" settings to try and save the engine.

In all the dtronic and non dtronic vehicles I have driven, a very noticable difference becomes apparent, with up to 40% increase available down low, 20% total, and if you arent finding any difference, should speak with the supplier of yours about it to ensure it is installed,a nd working correctly, and there isnt any other problems with your vehicle which may be causing what you may be experiencing.

If you were there you would have heard Dave? (think thats his name) dodge questions about vehicle warranty and legality, and seen the dyno run of the patrol that after fitting had a HUGE hole in the power graph (about 20kw) at midle rpm, with their lame excuse of it being because of the wastegate. The Dtronic does not directly monitor any of or interact with any of the factory sensors (in the Prado case) other than to change the values of their outputs seen by the computer according to a preset amount at the 200 odd load and rpm points set in the Dtronic. It certainly does not stop it from blowing up, as the factory ecu has final say in what happens and even it is not that clever.

Steve.

So what you are saying Steve, is that because the dtronic changes the outputs, it cant change them enough to try and save the engine, [even enough to make the settings come back past the factory ecu settings if requried] if it senses an output that is not correct for water temp, or inlet temp etc? yet it can change them to make more power and torque???

As for warranty and legality, does the tyre shop give you a straight answer on fitting larger tyres, , or the suspension shop on lift laws, arent you supposed to make those desicions when you make a purchase?

I dont think anyone would expect your warranty by the manufacturer to be a problem, unless they could prove the accessory caused the problem, but, of course, you can always spend 10 minutes and remove the item, if going in for warranty ;-).

And, as for nissan, what do you say, that huge hole in the graph is not uncommon with the nissan set up.

Let us know how you go with your supplier, if you think yours isnt working.

Not sure where your info is coming from, but the Dtronic is not that clever. It simply reads X rpm and Y throttle opening/load and gives an increase in fuel volume and timing at that point, according to what is preset in the unit. It has no idea if your car is getting too hot or too much boost etc. That's the factory ECU's job. This was explained on the day by Safari technitians. I don't mean to say that they are a total waste of money and time, but just feel the average person would expect a better seat of the pants improvement from the claimed 25% more power. They do work, but don't expect any miracles.

Steve.

If its so somple to fit, does Dtronic give the opportunity to try before you buy, or atleast a trial period? Steve, are you going to keep yours now you have it?

Steve,
you may wish to research this better before replying, a dtronic doesnt just "monitor" it see's what the ECU see's, and adjusts what the ECU see's to make the changes.

Your supposed 5kph less top speed you have mentioned would be proof it works, unless your trying to tell us the dtronic makes less power at top speed than it did without?

A simple dyno run with and without would show this.

But it sounds like yours must be working, and your perception of 25% increase may be what needs adjusting by the sound of it?

I know I wouldnt drive a 3.0 td prado, especialy when you run 285 tyres without one, and when towing, climbing hills etc is where you see the most difference.

I have seen hills I had to do in low 2nd with 285's now done in high first, because of the extra low down grunt, and keeping up with the traffic in town is much easier and less work on the gears, easily the best accesory for the prado, because you get to use it every time you drive the car.

Steve,

I have one on a 120 Prado and the difference is there. While I was getting it fitted and other accessories I was driving around in a Petrol and didn't notice the diffence ..........until 1. I put it on a dyno which I organised myself and 2. took it out and reverted it back to standard.

The dyno showed increases in power and torque in line with the manufacturers claims.

Mine is auto and that zaps a lot of power.Things like driving lights blocking the vents for the intercooler will zap power, fitting larger diameter tyres also will zap the power. Steel bull bar and winch the same. Lifted suspension. All this things are 1% type items insignificant by them selves but added up they make perhaps a 10% difference which could negate some of the benefits.
Have you made any alterations to yours since fitting the D-tronic?
Anyway for $100 you can get a dyno run with and without it fitted. If there is no difference you got a faulty unit so you should get warranty.
Don't bag the product until you have factual info on your car. ie the dyno printout. Let me know your results.

Brisbane - also known as Paris of the north!

ARB for the 90 and 120 prado [not sure which you are talking] improves approach angle, and you can lift more than 30mm, mine I have lifted 80mm, and you need to keep about 60mm droop minimum.

I also did a 80mm lift on a 120 series prado before my Double crossing Simpson desert trip which came with me [one of 17 cars] and that car was down the Otways yesterday with me, and it rides extremely well, and handles very nicely with the set up I installed, certainly not the cheapest suspension option on it, but the owner is more than happy with it.

GO OFFROAD - One bloke here put a link to a photo of his lifted silver 120 prado on big wheels - looked the goods, but I'd swear it was the the exact same photo and car as on the dtronic site (with numberplate blotted there) under prado120. GO OFFROAD? - Is this your car? ;)

Nope belongs to Steve Rowlandson, is for sale on Overlander forum I believe currently.

I have a 90 series, not the 120.

GO_OFFROAD,

You say you "id an 80mm lift on a 120 series prado",do you do this for a living or just a hobby as I am in Melb and am looking for a reliable place to do a 50mm lift on my 80 series L/C.

Thanks
Tony.

I do work on vehicles for a living, and suspension is an area that is widely changed and widely misunderstood.

Generally, before working on just a "lift" I assess your load requirements, load when travelling, load around town if daily commuter, the unsprung weight [ie larger tyres and rims] and put together components that suit, and fit to the owners budget.

50mm on an 80 is a borderline height for castor, to keep the car driving nice, wheel to centre when turning etc, and if the car is loaded heavily to be 50mm higher, the lift can be more than 50mm when unloaded.

you can email me at darrenm@bigpond.net.au if you would like any more details, or have any questions.

I have no prado....yet. just assessing (i have grown soft) - wondering if its worthwile sticking dtronic on a secondhand prado. I see the claimed increases on 90 and 120 are identical anyway. the 120 appears to need a lift though.