Tuning 2012 Ducato 130 Remap

[rolopolo]

Hi Guys
a week ago had my Ducato L4 H3 Remapped By Paul at Expert Tuning.

factory figures for this van m/jet 2 engine are 38.2 combined.

i do approx 287 miles each evening, 90% are on the M1, M6 & M25. on trip up to Midlands i sit with the big boys on lane 1, averaging 52 mph, on way back down im on a timed delivery and si at 60-65, the trip computer says i average 45mph

the trip comp says im averaging approx 31 mpg! on actual working out with a calc' its about .5 a gallon better!
dealer reckoned to wait till 6000miles done and the mpg will improve!

being a self employed courier, fuel economy is important as it is to everyone who pays for their own fuel,
was a bit cautious but i took the plunge, and contacted Paul at Expert Tuning in Surrey. after seeing his comments and money back guarantee on another thread on here.

average litres used per day (filled to top of neck) Before 42ltrs
average per day after remap 37ltrs
saving 5 ltrs per day
my current BP fuel card cost £121.01ppl + vat

saving my business £30,25 average Nett per week,

had the balanced remap done, drive-ability is better, no flat spots at the lower rev range, used to feel flat or starved of fuel when say accelerating off a roundabout, now she pulls away no problem,

a few peeps on here seem to say it doesn't work and that if it did why dont the big fleet companies use it!? well most big fleet users lease their vehicles so thats a no no, and they usually just have speed restrictions fitted instead of having the drive ability improved,
and as you can see from my previous posts, im not expert tuning in disguise,

still not happy that the manufacturers figures are so way out, but im happy with my new 36-37mpg im now getting

Neil
N.E.P Couriers

 

[marchyboy]

hi neil
Im also a courier (sort of) i deliver steel shuttering up and down the country and have always run transit lwb dropsides and am tinking of buying a new fiat ducato maxi 2.3 150ps L4H1 dropside truck and was hoping you could tell me what there like how many miles have you done now in your motor and are you pleased with it cheers

 

[rolopolo]

Hi mate
Generally I can't fault the vans, had an 07 plate 120hp l4/h2 for 230,000 miles loved it, great economy, no major problems with engine (apart from miss diagnosed failed injectors that cost me a fair whack, turned out to be fuel pressure regulator that was a couple of hundred £ fix not the few grand it cost!) wear n tear items and regular services at 28000 miles, comfy to drive for hours in,
Only points I would say is that, defo steer clear of the 130hp engine (like mine! Doesn't return what fiat say it should, ongoing issue with fiat & dealer) defo if you can demo drive the 150 & 180 versions and go for a healthy test drive watching the mpg results to your driving style, either should be more economical than your transit from my experience, also bear in mind the speedo on the current ducats is pretty much bang in 10% out, ie, shows 60mph but actual is 54mph (that's where their claimed 9% more economy is coming from if you ask me,
Personally I wished I bought the 180 as they return better motorway mpg then my 130! Fact, (a colleague has one)

Hope that helps
Regards
Neil

 

[dadio]

Hi Neil

Did you get any joy from Fiat?

I've had my Ducato 130 from new for around a year. It's a Luton body, my previous two vans being Transit powered LDV Lutons. Both regularly gave 33mpg. The Fiat is only doing 22mpg! Talked to my dealer and they said that's about right.... So much for the 38mpg promises in the brochure. Wondering if there is any way to improve the consumption. Thought about chipping/remapping but the van is just a year old and has only covered 22k miles.

 

[rolopolo]

I got rid!
Worked out the fuel I would use providing I kept it for 5yrs, against a 3.0 180 after test driving to my driving style, and I'm probably about £2k better off losing out on the sale of the 130 and buying the 180,

I'm now 39-45 mpg on average

Fiat dealer just claimed the figures in brochure are of the engines tested on a bench with no wind resistance!!
Fiat uk well just don't bother!! They don't know anything

One point though, it's a Luton, a brick through the air so figures will be poor, my personal feeling is the Euro 5 emission thing is why it's so bad compared to the old 120 euro 4,

Dpf filters, bigger restrictive Cat converters and exhausts, other devices on the inlet & exh all adds up to a harder working/breathing engine hence poor consumption,

Love the 180 lump though, can sit at 50mph @1500rpm doing 50+mpg all day long (flat long distance motorway)

 

[Pasty007]

Hi Rolopolo, I do agree that having a remap does make a huge difference. Due to my 180 being new in Jan I went for chip express (plug & play) in case the van has to go into fiat. The van has now done 6000k and I am regularly getting 40mpg loaded. Mine cost £495 but it will pay for itself in no time. I also agree with what you say about the speedo, I use tomtom live (1005), when the speed reads 60mph tomtom says 54mph. By the way, have you fitted them DRLs yet. ?

 

[rolopolo]

Just be careful with the plug in boxes, they only trick the sensor on fuel rail to boost fuel flow, don't take into account, speed, temp, air flow, revs etc, my mates 180 has had a few fuel pump issues, just like I did with my old 120 with a similar box, remap covers everything as it's the ecu that controls all the parameters

 

[Olympus]

How much to have done????

 

[rolopolo]

Go on superchips website mine was free as it was 1st euro 5 3.0 180 they had seen, there is a tool where you can put in your vans model and will tell you expected gains and if no cost shown call them, there is a guy in caterham South London I used on a 130.