Chiptuning Glossary

AdBlue is a 32.5% urea solution injected into the exhaust system of Euro 6 diesels to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) via selective catalytic r...

Autotuner

Autotuner is a professional OBD/Bench/Boot device for reading and writing ECU files on a wide range of vehicles, leading alternative to KESS...

B

Bench (Mode)

Bench mode is the ECU reading/writing removed from the car and connected to the tool via specific cables, without soldering and without inte...

Bflash

Bflash is a German ECU reading/writing tool, a cheaper alternative to Autotuner and KESS3 with slightly lower vehicle coverage.

Boot Mode

Boot mode reads/writes the ECU via the internal bootloader, requires physically opening the ECU and connecting to the processor pins.

Bosch EDC17

ECU

Bosch EDC17 is the most widespread Bosch diesel ECU family in the world (2007-2018), mounted on millions of VAG, BMW, Mercedes, FCA, PSA, Hy...

C

CAN Bus

Protocol

The CAN Bus is the standard communication protocol (ISO 11898) between the electronic control units of a vehicle, developed by Bosch in 1986...

Checksums

The checksum is a check value in the ECU file that verifies firmware integrity. Modify maps without recalculating the ECU brick checksum.

Chiptuning portal

Chiptuning portal is a web platform where customers upload original ECU files, pay and download modified files, without direct interaction w...

Common Rail

Common Rail is the high pressure (1500-2500 bar) diesel direct injection system introduced by FIAT/Bosch in 1997 with the Alfa 156 JTD.

D

DPF

The DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) is the particulate filter of Euro 5/6/6d-temp diesels which retains soot particles, regenerating periodi...

DPF regeneration

DPF regeneration is the process of automatically cleaning the particulate filter by burning accumulated soot at 600-700°C.

DSG

Transmission

DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) is Volkswagen's dual clutch automatic transmission, market leader DCT with S-tronic, M-DCT, PDK as variants.

E

ECU

ECU is the acronym for Engine Control Unit, the electronic control unit that manages all engine parameters (injection, ignition, turbo).

ECU files

An ECU file is the binary firmware read/written on the engine control unit, containing code and calibration maps (boost, injection, ignition...

EEPROM

EEPROM is a non-volatile memory (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) of the ECU that contains immobilizer, vehicle-specific...

EGR

EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) is a system that recirculates part of the exhaust gases in the intake manifold to reduce NOx, present on bot...

Euro 6

Regulations

Euro 6 is the European regulation on road vehicle emissions in force since 2014 (cars) and 2015-2016 (commercial), with 6c, 6d-temp and 6d v...

F

File Service

Business

An ECU file service that produces modified files from the original sent by the customer, paying per file or via prepaid credits.

Flash

Operation

The flash operation is writing a new firmware file to the ECU flash memory, replacing the existing one.

G

Gateways

The Gateway is the module that connects the different CAN networks of the vehicle (engine, comfort, infotainment) and filters/routes message...

H

HPP

The HPP (High Pressure Pump) is the pump that generates the high pressure of the diesel Common Rail (1500-2500 bar) or GDI petrol (200-350 b...

I

Immobilizer

Safety

The immobilizer is the electronic security system that prevents the engine from starting without the original coded key.

Injectors

The injectors are the components that spray fuel into the cylinders, controlled electronically by the ECU with times in the order of microse...

K

KESS3

KESS3 is the third generation ECU reading/writing tool from AlienTech (Italy), one of the three standards of professional chiptuning.

L

Lambda

Sensors

The Lambda probe measures the amount of residual oxygen in the exhaust gases, allowing the ECU to adjust the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.

Launch Control

Performance

Launch Control is a function of the ECU/TCU software that optimizes acceleration, maintaining ideal engine speed when releasing the clutch.

M

MAF

Sensors

The MAF (Mass Air Flow Sensor) measures the mass of air entering the engine, a key parameter for calculating the quantity of fuel to be inje...

MED17

ECU

Bosch MED17 is the family of Bosch petrol ECUs (Motronic ED 17) for GDI turbo engines, mounted on all modern VAG TFSI/TSI/TFSI 2.0/3.0.

MMS

MMS (MagicMotorsport Slave) is an Italian ECU reading/writing tool alternative to KESS3 and Autotuner, popular for truck coverage.

N

NOx

Emissions

NOx (nitrogen oxides: NO + NO2) are pollutants generated by high-temperature combustion, mainly responsible for urban photochemical smog.

O

OBD

Protocol

OBD-II is the mandatory diagnostic port standard on all vehicles (USA since 1996, EU since 2001 petrol, 2003 diesel) to read DTCs and engine...

OEM

General

OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer, i.e. the original manufacturer of a component or vehicle (Bosch, Continental, BMW, etc.).

ORI

ORI is the tuner convention to indicate the original ECU file, identical to the one supplied by the manufacturer, before any modification.

R

Rail Pressure

The rail pressure is the fuel pressure in the diesel Common Rail rail, range 1500-2500 bar, modified via chiptuning for more power.

S

SCR

SCR is the selective catalytic reduction technology of NOx through the injection of urea (AdBlue) into the exhaust system of Euro 6 diesel e...

Slaves

A slave tool is a limited version of a master chiptuning tool, it can only flash pre-protected files from the master, used for the end custo...

SOI

SOI (Start Of Injection) is the moment (in degrees before TDC) at which fuel injection begins, a critical parameter for combustion efficienc...

Stage 1

Tuning Level

Stage 1 is the basic level of chiptuning: ECU software modification only without any mechanical modifications, +20-30% average power.

Stage 2

Tuning Level

Stage 2 is the intermediate level of chiptuning: ECU software + supporting mechanical modifications (downpipe, air filter, intercooler), +35...

Stage 3

Tuning Level

Stage 3 is the advanced level of chiptuning: increased turbo, more load-bearing injectors, reinforced clutch, +60-100% power, mainly track u...

Subdealers

Business

A subdealer is a customer workshop of a master tuner that resells its chiptuning services to its end customers, at a margin.

T

TCU

ECU

TCU is the control unit that controls the automatic transmission (DSG, ZF 8HP, Powershift), managing gear shift points, clutches and convert...

Tokens

Token is the payment system per protocol of the KESS3/Autotuner master tools: you only pay for the protocols you use, an alternative to the...

Tricore

Tricore is the family of 32-bit Infineon microprocessors used in all Bosch EDC17/MED17 and similar ECUs, models TC1796, TC1797, TC1791, TC17...

Turbo

The turbo is a turbine driven by exhaust gases that compresses the intake air, increasing the amount of oxygen in the cylinders and therefor...

U

UDS

Protocol

UDS (Unified Diagnostic Services) is the ISO 14229 standard for advanced diagnostics and ECU flash, evolution of KWP2000 in CAN environment.

V

VIN

General

The VIN is the unique 17-character alphanumeric code for each vehicle, containing information on the manufacturer, model, year and serial nu...

W

White Label

Business

White-label is a product/service provided by one company but resold under another's brand, common in B2B SaaS chiptuning portals.

WinOLS