EFU 4U Installed, First Impressions
04-17-2006, 10:00 AM
#1
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EFU 4U Installed, First Impressions
<i><b>I'm waiting on my V1 activation code, so it's not pictured below but is included in the kit. I'll also post videos of the display in action later this week.</b></i>
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/57452/efu_01.jpg">
After lingering on my desk for a couple weeks, I finally got the new EFU 4U installed in my S4 over the weekend. The "4U" is the next-generation EFU: it displays boost (bar or PSI), oil temp (C or F), speed (MPH or KPH), volts, and Valentine 1 in the Driver Information Screen, sharing the radio/RBDS text display area.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/57452/efu_08.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/57452/efu_09.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/57452/efu_10.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/57452/efu_11.jpg">
(Ignore the CEL, EGTs need to be fixed.)
The EFU unit itself is a small box that can be mounted well inside dash (underneath the steering wheel in my case). There are sensors included for the oil temperature (at the oil drain plug) and the boost (mechanical, not digital), and hooking up the radio and the V1 adaptor are done with the supplied connectors. I did not install the unit myself, but my mechanic had no trouble with it despite the manual's broken English.
I was originally interested in the first EFU unit, but I was turned off by the $400 price tag. The new EFU 4U is still $400, but it adds a digital speedometer and V1 display. The price is much more appealing now: an integrated V1 display <i>a la</i> ToyGuy or LI-S4 plus a seperate analog boost gauge would quickly reach the $400 mark. The added benefit of a completely stealth installation, speedometer, oil temperature, voltmeter, and lots of programming options sold it for me.
I've recorded some videos which I'll post later this week, but the display is easy to read if you're accustomed to the RDBS text. The displays are controlled by tapping the stalk just as you would switch between gas mileage and miles until empty. However, the top button now controls the EFU display while only the bottom button changes the mileage in the lower part of the screen. It's easy to change measurements or set a favorite for automatic display, and the menu tree is intuitive and simple to use. As I mentioned, it does share the screen with the RDBS text, so there is a lot of information flowing across the screen at times. However, the EFU can be programmed to apply more weighting to its display than the radio text.
As I noted above, I am waiting for my V1 activation key, but here's the display in a B6:
<img src="http://www.techreactions.com/efu/V1c.jpg">
The EFU 4U can also be programmed to chime in with alarms, hold max boost pressure for one second, display in US or Euro measures, or display two sensors at the same time. I haven't had enough time to explore some of the more advanced elements, but as an example, it apparently can be programmed to display oil temperature up to 150F, sound a quiet alarm, and then switch to boost pressure.
The only downsides are things you've probably already thought of: it's not as easy to read at a glance as an analog gauge, the text is a bit small, and it is $400. But those are only minor niggles against what I think is a terrific tool. For more pictures, check out my <a href="http://public.fotki.com/pie4foo/efu_4u_installed/" target="_blanK">Fotki album</a> or the Techreaction's web site.<ul><li><a href="http://www.techreactions.com/efu.htm">EFU 4U @ Techreactions</a></li></ul>
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/57452/efu_01.jpg">
After lingering on my desk for a couple weeks, I finally got the new EFU 4U installed in my S4 over the weekend. The "4U" is the next-generation EFU: it displays boost (bar or PSI), oil temp (C or F), speed (MPH or KPH), volts, and Valentine 1 in the Driver Information Screen, sharing the radio/RBDS text display area.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/57452/efu_08.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/57452/efu_09.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/57452/efu_10.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/57452/efu_11.jpg">
(Ignore the CEL, EGTs need to be fixed.)
The EFU unit itself is a small box that can be mounted well inside dash (underneath the steering wheel in my case). There are sensors included for the oil temperature (at the oil drain plug) and the boost (mechanical, not digital), and hooking up the radio and the V1 adaptor are done with the supplied connectors. I did not install the unit myself, but my mechanic had no trouble with it despite the manual's broken English.
I was originally interested in the first EFU unit, but I was turned off by the $400 price tag. The new EFU 4U is still $400, but it adds a digital speedometer and V1 display. The price is much more appealing now: an integrated V1 display <i>a la</i> ToyGuy or LI-S4 plus a seperate analog boost gauge would quickly reach the $400 mark. The added benefit of a completely stealth installation, speedometer, oil temperature, voltmeter, and lots of programming options sold it for me.
I've recorded some videos which I'll post later this week, but the display is easy to read if you're accustomed to the RDBS text. The displays are controlled by tapping the stalk just as you would switch between gas mileage and miles until empty. However, the top button now controls the EFU display while only the bottom button changes the mileage in the lower part of the screen. It's easy to change measurements or set a favorite for automatic display, and the menu tree is intuitive and simple to use. As I mentioned, it does share the screen with the RDBS text, so there is a lot of information flowing across the screen at times. However, the EFU can be programmed to apply more weighting to its display than the radio text.
As I noted above, I am waiting for my V1 activation key, but here's the display in a B6:
<img src="http://www.techreactions.com/efu/V1c.jpg">
The EFU 4U can also be programmed to chime in with alarms, hold max boost pressure for one second, display in US or Euro measures, or display two sensors at the same time. I haven't had enough time to explore some of the more advanced elements, but as an example, it apparently can be programmed to display oil temperature up to 150F, sound a quiet alarm, and then switch to boost pressure.
The only downsides are things you've probably already thought of: it's not as easy to read at a glance as an analog gauge, the text is a bit small, and it is $400. But those are only minor niggles against what I think is a terrific tool. For more pictures, check out my <a href="http://public.fotki.com/pie4foo/efu_4u_installed/" target="_blanK">Fotki album</a> or the Techreaction's web site.<ul><li><a href="http://www.techreactions.com/efu.htm">EFU 4U @ Techreactions</a></li></ul>
04-17-2006, 10:25 AM
#5
no peak hold, that is one of the larger issues, because even with it being digital,
you could at least make a run, click a button and see what your highest boost rating was (easy way to check for issues), but the EFU with the price tag does not provide this needed feature.
