APR vs GIAC vs REVO software comparison with datalogs and dyno charts

[parks853]

Purpose
Conduct data logs and dyno testing of GIAC, REVO, and APR resulting in the most appropriate software for my 2005.5 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro 6 speed manual.

Approach

Conditions
The data logs were conducted using a Ross Tech vag-com HEX+CAN USB interface with the Turbo button enabled. A Mustang all-wheel-dyno, located at Vivid Racing, was used for the horsepower and torque measurements. Chevron 91 Octane was used through out the whole testing process. Each software flash was on the car for two weeks before it went to the dyno. The fuel pump installed on the car is the "B" pump. There are no modifications other than the software. All data logs were measured on the same road going the same direction. The logs were conducted in 3rd gear starting at 2500 RPM's followed by WOT until redline (6800 RPM's).

Software
GIAC was purchased at Evolution Motorsports, REVO at 20 Valve Tuners, and APR at Billy Boat exhaust. The GIAC was purchased and soon followed by a full refund with no hassles. 20 Valve Tuners also, refunded the full purchase price with no hassles. The APR was purchased since the timed trial would have expired before 2 weeks were reached (they will refund money up to 30 days). APR was tested using the 91 octane program. GIAC was loaded preconfigured for 91 octane. The REVO flash was set with timing at 1 and boost at 6 (set by 20 Valve Tuners).

Results

Air:Fuel - block 31 (calculated by Lambda actual * 14.7)




Fuel Rail Pressure - block 106 note check scale it is not 60 - 120




Boost - block 115 (calculated by (boost actual - 920) * .0145) note 920 is the pressure inside the turbo at idle here in Arizona.




Timing correction Factors (all cylinders) - block 20




Timing - block 11




All the exhaust gas temperatures were within normal limits at or below 810 degrees C.

Dyno - note all the dyno numbers are uncorrected. Corrected numbers will be here soon as vivid racing fixes there printer.

APR vs Stock


GIAC vs Stock


REVO vs Stock


order top to bottom = APR - REVO - GIAC


Analysis and Conclusions
The testing went very well. There were many miles driven, a lot of time spent, many risks taken and much money blown, but I enjoyed meeting all the tuners and talking with the software companies. I am in no way affiliated with any software company, and did my best to keep the results fair and even. This report is my personal doing that I am nice enough to share with everyone with hopes of creating some very good technical discussions. I drove way to many miles (at least 110 miles each way 5 times) and spent too much money to have a pissing contest because of personal preferences. Not to mention that I beat the piss out of my baby. I went WOT in the last 6 weeks more than most people will in their A4's life. I am sorry baby... please forgive me!

That being said - I want to thank Mitch at Vivid Racing for doing all my dyno runs, Chris at 20 Valve tuners for loading and adjusting the REVO software, Anders at Evolution Motorsports for loading the GIAC, and Eric and Billy at Billy Boat exhaust for flashing my ECU with APR (and thanks to everyone for flashing me back to stock). If anyone is in the Phoenix area please pay these guys a visit - they were all good to me. Thanks again guys!

In the future I plan on testing new software revisions along with some hardware modifications. GIAC and APR informed me they were testing new software products at the time this article was written.

My personal feelings (yes opinions) not meant to start a pissing contest, just what I felt. APR felt very smooth, so smooth I was surprised at the power it made. APR has the smoothest shifts (don't seem to loose power between shifts). The REVO has a blast of torque that can be felt, but doesn't seem to hold its power as long. The GIAC felt similar to stock, but not as smooth (kind of choppy).

My rating
1. APR
2. REVO
3. GIAC

[[email protected]]

What you have done is what we have all dreamed for someone to do with chipping software.

Props to you for doing such tests, logging the data and providing the results for us all to see.

I suggest that people don't go around harping that their software is better than the other guy or pick a chip solution based on the results above.

Choose the software based on the customer service you are going to get instead from the shop that flashes your ride.

[crack]

nice!

[crew219]

Just posting it here so no one gets confused . . . . your REVO settings are very incorrect.

Your tuner did Timing:1 Boost:6

REVO says for 91, Timing:3 Boost:5

Huge difference . . . other than that, good comparison.

GIAC has some explaining to do.

Dave

[bhvrdr]

Originally posted by crew219
Just posting it here so no one gets confused . . . . your REVO settings are very incorrect.

Your tuner did Timing:1 Boost:6

REVO says for 91, Timing:3 Boost:5

Huge difference . . . other than that, good comparison.

GIAC has some explaining to do.

Dave

Some members specify that high of timing settings, but Revo specificies to start out with timing 1 for 91 octane, timing 3 for 93 octane and move them up if there is no retard. That would make sense as that way timing 9 would be for 99 octane. From his timing retard logs you can see that he achieves retard on the timing 1 setting in all four cylinders at the upper rpms. Increasing timing would likely just add to the increasing retard in his case. If he went any higher, I would hope it wouldnt be more than timing 2.

cheers! Mike

[Quartz05]

This is really great work and I congratulate you on the effort.

One observation - you used APR's 91 octane software to, I'm assuming, maintain consistency. Does anyone actually buy the APR 91 product? I personally never considered it and went straight for the 93.

Unfortunately AP Tuning doesn't have a 4 wheel dyno, but my subjective opinion re: the APR 93 product is that it's just plain awesome. I drove out to the middle of Pennsyltucky in one (albeit great) car and drove home in a completely different one.

A cautionary note to those considering the purchase of APR performance software who might be concerned about the dealer/warranty issues - do not be tempted to buy only the performance program. By all means buy the flip-switch package with the performance and stock modes. If you give your dealer an APR'd A4 they will be able to tell immediately just from driving it.

The good news in all this: My wife won't drive my car anymore. She just flat-out refuses. :)

[wizo]

You the man!!!!The time you spent and all that testing on your own car should be really appreciated by the community. In short you the man!!

Now, i wonder if i can convince the S4 guys to hold a similar test. We could come up with the grand champion. Who holds it down for the B7!!

Maybe coming soon, hopefully not me as the guinea pig.

[parks853]

Originally posted by Quartz05
This is really great work and I congratulate you on the effort.

One observation - you used APR's 91 octane software to, I'm assuming, maintain consistency. Does anyone actually buy the APR 91 product? I personally never considered it and went straight for the 93.

Unfortunately AP Tuning doesn't have a 4 wheel dyno, but my subjective opinion re: the APR 93 product is that it's just plain awesome. I drove out to the middle of Pennsyltucky in one (albeit great) car and drove home in a completely different one.

A cautionary note to those considering the purchase of APR performance software who might be concerned about the dealer/warranty issues - do not be tempted to buy only the performance program. By all means buy the flip-switch package with the performance and stock modes. If you give your dealer an APR'd A4 they will be able to tell immediately just from driving it.

The good news in all this: My wife won't drive my car anymore. She just flat-out refuses. :)

I have to run the 91 octane programs. Southwest does not have 93 octane at the pump.

When the testing was finished my car went to the dealership for 5000 mile service with APR still loaded and switched to stock mode. Passed with no problems.

[retrohasen]

This is the info we have all been waiting for. Thanks for all your efforts in putting this together.

[Quartz05]

No 93 at the pump? Wow. That so totally sucks. I was a little concerned when I first started looking into the whole thing, but it turns out that up here in NJ pretty much everyone sells 93. No worries.

[Keith@APR]

Originally posted by Quartz05


The good news in all this: My wife won't drive my car anymore. She just flat-out refuses. :)

Of course you could always just switch it back to stock for her, hehe.

[Quartz05]

I could, sure. But then that would rather defeat the point, wouldn't it? :)

You guys do great work. My car is so fast my windshield cracked. Okay, maybe they're unrelated, but it sounds good.

[LAS]

AWESOME BRO! Thank you for your efforts.

[Keith@APR]

Originally posted by Quartz05
I could, sure. But then that would rather defeat the point, wouldn't it? :)

You guys do great work. My car is so fast my windshield cracked. Okay, maybe they're unrelated, but it sounds good.

Its not out yet so I hate to talk about it, but what I like to do is give my girl the car for the day in valet mode, I'm evil, I know.

Then she calls and is like, "I didn't do anything to your car I promise!"

[F16HTON]

BWHAAAA

My GF drives my car on VP MS109 on 25 PSI...then again she is not your ordinary chick either.

[Jwilliams]

Nice job dude, very helpful!

[Straz S4]

Great Job...thanks for the results.

I wish GIAC would have used their X-Chip instead of the sport one used in your testing. Should be out soon though.

Go APR!

[BoostedA4tQ]

Great Comparisons and thanks for taking the time and doing this.... Would any one known what would be the setting for someone running 93oct with Revo Software?

T=?
B=? I would appreciate it.

Fernando

[Fobia]

and that is why i probly am gonna go with apr. thanks dude awesome job!

[ECA4]

Awsome write-up!

I think i'm still going to give Revo a try, being the closest APR dealer is about 72 miles away.

[parks853]

Thanks guys for all the comments!

[DenverNoob]

on a side note, great writup and very comprehensive. i wish info like this had been available when i bought my b6.

[Fobia]

Originally posted by ECA4 being the closest APR dealer is about 72 miles away.

ouch

[awahl63]

wow great write up and thanks for spending your money so we don't waste ours

[gods_kitchen]

Wow, been waiting a while for this, thanks for the effort! You did a great job!

[flyinb501]

Very nice job. There must have been something wrong with the GIAC flash. You should have went back to evo and asked them what the deal was.

[FINA4]

This is a very useful post so keep it clean guys. Useless posts were removed.

[allcool]

Very good test
I can see Lots of time and effort went into this ...thanks Parks

Couple of questions

1.
How/why did REVO dealer choose the settings he did? Did you have any say in it, or was the settings all his decision?

2.
After the flash did the chip dealers want to test or log the car?

These questions are not meant to bash or condemn any tuner or this test. Just need some clarification.

allcool

[BoostedA4tQ]

I would like to know the 93oct settings to see if my settings are correct or not...

Fernando

[parks853]

Originally posted by flyinb501
Very nice job. There must have been something wrong with the GIAC flash. You should have went back to evo and asked them what the deal was.

I was warned before I went to the dyno about the GIAC being very conservative. 2 weeks later right before the dyno run they wanted me to load an unoffical file. Now that the 3 new files are coming out there has been something worked out for me to re-dyno the car. We will see.