Just as Engine Control Unit (ECU) flashing is capable of increasing the horsepower and torque of an engine, it is also capable of increasing the miles per gallon rating of a car. This is a relatively new field for ECU flashing, so options may be limited in choice of flashing brands, and there simply might not be any support for some car makes and models. Keep in mind that optimizing the miles per gallon may have a detrimental impact on the horsepower and torque of the engine.
Instructions
1. Find out whether your car is even supported by ECU flashing for MPG. This is the hardest part, as the field is constantly changing and it is not recommended to buy an ECU flasher that has just been released to the market. Even if it is a software-only modification, it can still seriously damage your car, and if it is a hardwired flasher the installation procedure alone can ruin an engine.
2. Find a flasher that supports MPG improvements. As of 2010, ECU flashing has primarily been for increasing power, not MPG. To this end, many flashers do not have that option, so you are limited to universal flashers that can adjust any setting, not just using preset settings. If you seek to individually adjust fuel-air ratios and timing, you will need a dynometer to properly tune your engine and software.
3. Install the flash software/hardware. This can be simple or complex depending upon the flasher model and the car itself. Some ECU flashers just require the plugging in of a module into the diagnostic port on the car, while others require the soldering of a physical chip into the ECU motherboard. The car may need to be on or off depending upon the flasher.
4. Test on a dynometer. Regardless of the type of flash, a dynometer is needed just to confirm that it is working, If you are using a universal flasher that can adjust any setting, this process can take a week of individual tweaks to myriad settings.
