Alamein.sajib
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Al
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2019
- Threads
- 4
- Messages
- 112
- Reaction score
- 110
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
- Vehicle(s)
- 2019 Firecracker RED JLUR
- Thread starter
- #1
I wrote the below in the tuner section, posting again in the local section as i know few of us in Australia were looking for a tuner for the JL Wrangler. Here is my review of Livernois Tune for Wrangler JL v6 3.6L after using my Wrangler JL for 380km with the tuned ECM Swap.
Disclaimer: Below review is my personal opinion of the Livernois Tune after testing it for one week. Any comments made against and or for are not to be taken seriously and is of my personal taste. I do not have any mechanical or engineering degree, just a humble driver that likes and appreciates what Wrangler has to offer while trying to squeeze the best out of it. Most of the testing were conducted via my highly tuned Butt Dyno.
Background: I own a Wrangler JL Rubicon V6, RHD Export/Australian market model, had it since October 2019 and got about 13,000Km on the odometer.
Installation Experience: The actual installation, i.e.: swap of the ECM is a 5-minute job, unscrew 3 bolts, unhook 2 latches and swap around. However, connecting the Tuner to the OBD port and associated security bypass cable/Canbus took me a while to figure out. Weirdly Livernois did not include any instruction with the product, also no instruction manual detailing features of the products on the website. It seems Livernois were going for customer specific experience and would rather talk to each customer to understand there need and walk them through the process. With timing difference between Australia and USA that meant sometimes I had to wait over 12 hours to get a response on what the next step would be, which I could have done myself if there was an instruction manual/guideline. I would rate this experience a 6 out of 10.
Positives: Below “Opinion” of mine was based on using E85 on 93 Flex fuel Tune with Transmission option. I have not had the opportunity to use 98 RON (93) yet, I stupidly filled both my Main and Aux fuel tank with 140 litter of E85 and it will take a while for me use it up (with current driving restriction under COVID-19 here in Melbourne). I will most portably move to 98 RON as my daily driver due to the scarcity of E85 here in Australia.
Things that can be better and things to look out for:
Disclaimer: Below review is my personal opinion of the Livernois Tune after testing it for one week. Any comments made against and or for are not to be taken seriously and is of my personal taste. I do not have any mechanical or engineering degree, just a humble driver that likes and appreciates what Wrangler has to offer while trying to squeeze the best out of it. Most of the testing were conducted via my highly tuned Butt Dyno.
Background: I own a Wrangler JL Rubicon V6, RHD Export/Australian market model, had it since October 2019 and got about 13,000Km on the odometer.
- As much as I love how the wrangler drives off-road and on road my main griefs with the v6 petrol engine and the auto transmission were:
- Harsh acceleration, it will shudder and surge in low speed traffic driving condition
- Spongy feeling in the acceleration curve specially between 1500-2200 RPM
- Throttle responsiveness left a lot to desire…had to buy a throttle booster
- Transmission shift points, don’t get me wrong I like the 8-speed transmission but during any spirited driving condition the transmission will not shift down fast enough leaving that underpower feeling when you give the throttle a go...
Installation Experience: The actual installation, i.e.: swap of the ECM is a 5-minute job, unscrew 3 bolts, unhook 2 latches and swap around. However, connecting the Tuner to the OBD port and associated security bypass cable/Canbus took me a while to figure out. Weirdly Livernois did not include any instruction with the product, also no instruction manual detailing features of the products on the website. It seems Livernois were going for customer specific experience and would rather talk to each customer to understand there need and walk them through the process. With timing difference between Australia and USA that meant sometimes I had to wait over 12 hours to get a response on what the next step would be, which I could have done myself if there was an instruction manual/guideline. I would rate this experience a 6 out of 10.
Positives: Below “Opinion” of mine was based on using E85 on 93 Flex fuel Tune with Transmission option. I have not had the opportunity to use 98 RON (93) yet, I stupidly filled both my Main and Aux fuel tank with 140 litter of E85 and it will take a while for me use it up (with current driving restriction under COVID-19 here in Melbourne). I will most portably move to 98 RON as my daily driver due to the scarcity of E85 here in Australia.
- Smooooooth Acceleration, that’s the #1 thing that stand out for me, (I removed the throttle booster/controller/so stock), its so smooth that I start looking at my speedo constantly to ensure I am staying within the speed limit. Its hard to explain, the acceleration is not jerky or require significant peddle input.
- Butt Dyno does tell me there’s 51HP underneath, I have no way to prove it scientifically but my 0-60 MPH (97KMH) number is 6.37 second from previous 6.93 second (From tazer JL)
- No more spongy feeling in the throttle (unless you are under 1500 rpm)
- The transmission tune is “Relatively” aggressive, if you like spirited driving (which I do) then you will love this transmission tune, it down shifts very fast based on your input also I think it Rev matches the tune lot better specially if you are driving around a wavy road and your speed varies constantly.
- No more shudder or engine pinging in low RPM driving.
- This one is bit odd…you swap an ECM and download a Tune from the “Internet” into your relatively new Wrangler while praying to Jeep gods that lets not blow the engine up. I have not had a single bit of concern on how the engine runs since I have installed the tune, it feels….very Stock, like it belongs.
- And that’s the best thing about this tune, it feels like this should have come out of the Factory, it really brings out the best of the 3.6L V6 and the ZF 8 speed transmission. The tune is not very aggressive (like you would get from custom race tune) nor the improvement is minuscule 5-7%. The improvement is big enough to notice but small enough not to blow your engine up…
Things that can be better and things to look out for:
- Website can be improved to list additional functions of the Tuner, such as ESS/Start Stop turn on/off option in the tune – this is a big one that lot of Wrangler JL owner would be interested in, as some of us paid $500 AUD+ for a Tazel JL. The tuner also does Tyre size alternation. You only find out about this additional function if you dig in or you ask for it.
- You don’t have to buy (my opinion again) the bypass cable, I tried my Tazer JL bypass dongle as well as Autel bypass cable, both works fine with the tuner.
- A change log on the website to highlight when a new tunes/functions comes out so existing owner knows to update the tune, rather than asking for it.
- After you swap the ECM and download the Tune first 15-20 KM the engine will sound bit different (bit more pinging on idle) you must let the ECM learn the new tune and get the reading of ethanol from your fuel for the tune to kick in so must drive slow (no WOT) for 15-20 minutes, I believe the same is also true if you swap between E85 and any non-ethanol blends 91/93/98.
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