Revo review on my Octavia vRS 2.0 TFSI

[flynntech]

A few weeks back I paid a visit to Westward Engineering in Enfield to get my Octavia RS 2.0TFSI remapped by REVO. I decided not to post anything up about the remap until I got over the initial novelty of all the extra power and had time to evaluate the remap over a few weeks and a number of different driving conditions.

So why did I go with REVO in the first place? The REVO system is fully switchable (using the optional Select or Select Plus Switch) between standard settings and a number of performance programs depending on what fuel you are running. Using the Select will also give an anti-theft immobilisation feature (more of this later). REVO have also spent a lot of time and money developing the maps for the 2.0TFSI and feedback was excellent from what I gathered on the various forums and websites throughout the world.

So early one morning I set off for Westward in Enfield Co. Meath to get my car REVO'd



Martin from Westward installed the REVO Stage 1 software on the ECU in what took probably less than 20 minutes. This was done through the serial port or OBD11 diagnostic port as it’s known also as. I could have gone for the 5 hour trial but what was the point? I knew that I wasn’t going to be disappointed and decided to go the full hog straight off. :



Martin told me to take if for a spin and let me know what I thought bearing in mind that it would take a number of stop/starts from cold for the ECU to fully adapt to the new REVO parameters. I asked about a doing a power run to see if what the increase was like over the standard 218bhp that it put out previously on his rollers. Again he explained that there was no point as the ECU needed to learn (so will see on the 10th November what the increase is.)

I took the car out the road to see what difference I could feel. It was a wet day and I invoked wheel spin in 2nd where on the standard map this would not have happened. I noticed that the increase in power was noticeable at 2500 rpm so driving below this rev range and the car felt standard. As I moved up the gears the increase in torque was very apparent. The engine felt so much more flexible, stronger but just as smooth as standard. In fact it pulled very like a TDI at low speeds in high gears without hitting a brick wall at 4000 rpm. :o

I returned to Martin’s workshop where I gave him my views and once that he was glad that I was satisfied wished me on my merry way. I had a 3.5 hour drive back to Cork over motorways, national routes and a few country roads so was looking forward to it. Many of you are familiar with the drive from Enfield through Sallins and Clane to Naas. Roads that involve plenty of gear changes to make progress through the twists and bends. Immediately I noticed that leaving the car in the high gears that it pulled nicely at low revs, again the increased torque being very apparent.

For the run home I wasn’t too concerned with watching mpg figures as its irrelevant when you are “testing” a car after it being remapped but it certainly wasn’t drinking fuel. Once I got on the M7 and heading south the car really came into its own. The pull in 5th and 6th on the motorway was what I can only describe as savage. In fact there seemed to be no difference in changing down to accelerate. 4th, 5th and 6th all seemed to have the same intergalactic acceleration feel about them. A mere blip of the accelerator pedal and the car really shifted. The turbo was also a lot louder and spooled up much quicker. Car hit the red line an awful lot easier too. The rest of the journey home was an enjoyable one and just confirmed that the map was really smooth but aggressive once the 2500 rpm was hit. B)

Over the next week or so the car was mainly used tipping around in and out of work, to the shops etc. I can safely say that it was the very same on fuel. Then one weekend we took the car away and I couldn’t believe that it returned better mpg overall than it had done previously. My previous bests were in the range of 40-41 mpg. Over this trip it did 43.9mpg bearing in mind that this is nice relaxed driving with some rapid overtaking for safety. The car was left in 6th most of the time and not changing down to accelerate or overtake.

So what about the immobiliser features and the performance programs that I previously mentioned? Well I opted for the Select Plus device which gave me greater control of the REVO remap and avail fully of all its features.



The Select Plus comes with its own PC interface software that allows you to either communicate with the REVO code through the PC application or change the settings on the Select Plus directly and then upload those onto the car afterwards.





The immobiliser feature is excellent. I must admit I was somewhat nervous activating this for the first time in case I couldn’t turn it off but I need not have worried. With the immobiliser switched on the car starts as normal but when you press the accelerator the revs die to about 500 rpm and the car just barely ticks over. It is impossible to move the car as it just dies. A brilliant feature and it means that if even the scumbags get your keys they can’t go anywhere with the car.



Various performance programs can be set with the Select Plus but to fully avail of these I would need to upgrade to Stage 2 with a full free flow exhaust system and air intake. where further changes are made by REVO to take advantage of the reduced back pressure and air flow. You can upload your own settings on to the select plus as well depending on what modifications you have made to car to increase boost, timing and fuelling settings. Using higher octane petrol or adding octane additives then the timing may be increased from a setting of 5 to 6. I have yet to play with this but also worth bearing in mind is that I have 22 Broquet pellets sitting in the tank that may be helping things a bit.

I am delighted with the REVO. While it costs a bit more than some remaps if you want a map that you can tailor and play around with yourself depending on further modifications then the REVO is the business. The switching function is brilliant too and worth bearing in mind if your car is newish and it needs to back for warranty work..

A note worth noting for those with remapped 2.0TFSI is that Forge now have an uprated Diverter Valve called the FMISTV which does away with the standard diaphragm and incorporates a piston instead. This is a much stronger and reliable solution especially on a remapped car and I have one of these that I’ll be fitting shortly to the car as well.

[Makefish]

Nice write up

[VRStu]

Sounds very promising. I'm fortunate to have a close friend who has stage II REVO software on his TFSi which I've had the pleasure of driving on many occasions.

Sadly during a recent dealer visit for a warranty repair on the car his ECU was flashed with updated software as part of a campaign by Skoda. Fortunately REVO offer a policy of providing a FOC reflash of the software in cases such as this however when he visited his local REVO dealer it emerged that the OEM software was in fact a newer version that REVO had not yet seen. I am lead to believe that the service from REVO in this case was exceptional, his OEM software was copied from the car, emailed to REVO HQ, modified and sent back to the dealer in little over 24 hours. I know for sure he was very impressed.

It's the little touch's like this that justify the slightly higher purchase price.

[Hedge]

A nice write up there and I'm glad to hear your friend has had his problem sorted out Stu.
They sound a good bunch to do business with.

[VRStu]

Yes, from what I gather he'd rather gotten used to the extra versatility and performance of the enhanced software - When I spoke to him he likened it to losing a limb and couldn't wait to have normality restored.

[Makefish]

If your 'friend' had an 08 spec car then the reflash would'nt be necessary, but it's good service from REVO none the less!

[mluton]

Enjoyed that, nice write up.

[vRSLen]

Very good! Got me thinking now

[Wardy]

Nice review, I enjoyed reading that

Steve

[flynntech]

What kind of settings are you guys running with Stage 1 and Select plus?

We are now getting 99 RON through Maxol which is 5% bioethenol - E5. I have been running this the last few tankfulls.

I fitted my Forge DV last night (at long last) and want to up the timing and maybe boost a notch.

Thanks.

[VRStu]

Try 7 5 9.

If you have VAG COM Trevor take a look at the MBV (020) for timing advance/retard. -6 is about the most you want to go.

Might also want to keep an eye onMBV 034 - EGT, 900'c is you max here.

MBV 115 is boost, requested vs actual.

[VRStu]

Forgot to add that it's best to log these whilst running down a long straight on Wide Open Throttle.

3rd Gear starting from 2.5krpm to the redline.

[Makefish]

I'm running B7 T5 F9 but that is REVO StageII so I'm not sure what effect upping it to those levels on StageI will have!.

[flynntech]

Thanks guys. I have VAGcom so will log those.

Cheers.