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van Aaken upgrades plug-in
Page 20
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• by Colin Barnett Turbo-diesel tuning specialist van Aaken has extended its range of plug-in upgrade modules to encompass just about every mainstream van engine on the UK market.
We've visited van Aaken's development centre at the Transport Research Laboratory near Bracknell, Berks to catch up with the latest applications and to sample one which promises to be a best-seller for Ford's 2.4-litre 89hp Duratorq engine.
Unlike conventional "chip tuning" in which the processing chip in the electronic control unit is reprogrammed, the plug-in module fits in series in the wiring harness between the pump and the ECU. It interrupts the ECU sIgnal and substitutes its own values for the engine's fuelling requirements. This means the module can be removed in minutes, leaving the original settings in place.
The guinea pig for our before-and-after test was a 3.5-tonne 89hp Ford Transit out of nearby Bit Vehicle Rentals fleet. The pretest dyno session showed the 50,000-mile daily renter was a couple of horses under par, but was an otherwise well run-in example. With the module plugged in, power and torque immediately increased by some 30%, with the torque curve showing a noticeable flattening at lower speeds.
However, the dyno figures can only tell part of the story, so we took the van out onto the surrounding roads for some realworld experience.
The improved response was immediately noticeable, but for a more objective trial we carried out an impromptu hill climb test, first in standard tune and then with the module activated. Leaving the roundabout at the foot of the hit at an indicated 20mph and climbing at full power we hit 60mph some 250m sooner in the modi
fled van. Flexibility was also improved.
A turn around the traffic-calmed centre of Crowthorne showed the tweaked engine was willing to pub smoothly from 1,000rom in third or even fourth gear.
Subject to the usual warranty and insurance caveats that apply to any modification, of course, at 2400 (ex-VAT) the van Aaken plug-in approach seems a cost-effective way to get your van to work harder for Its keep.
• Contact: www.vanaaken.com.