FAQ - Frequently asked questions
Will the increased power jeopardize reliability of my Saab?
No, your Saab is built with high safety margins from the factory and all power upgrades are designed to remain within the saftey margin.
Will the car need more frequent service after upgrading?
No, the car can continue to be serviced, after upgrade, according to Saab’s specified service intervals.
My car has 100.000 miles. Can it be upgraded?
A prerequisite for successful engine tuning is that the car has had regular maintenance and that it is mechanically sound. If you are uncertain, contact us for further advice and recommendation.
Can I continue to use regular pump fuel?
You can continue to use regular fuel without harming the car. However the upgraded software is designed for Premium fuel (PULP 98), obtaining the indicated power levels requires the use of Premium unleaded after the upgrade. If uncertain please contact us for more details. Here are some popular locator links for quality PULP fuel: http://www.bp.com/iframe.do?categoryId=9012436&contentId=7017653, http://apps.exxonmobil.com.au/apps/htm/mn_mobil_products_stations.asp, http://www.shell.com/home/content/au-en/shell_for_motorists/site_locator/dir_shell_locator.html,
Fuel - What type of fuel should I use when tuning?
Petrol cars
To get the power declared by BSR when tuning use 98 Octane (EU)! If you use 95 Octane (EU) you will not get the full effect increase stated for our tunings.
We generally recommend 98 Octane (EU), even for untuned cars, since this will give a better performance, lower fuel consumption better durability and less exhaust emissions.
Using 98 Octane (EU) will also reduce the risk of detonations (uncontrolled ignition).
Note: When we say 98 Octane (EU) we obviously mean unleaded!
Fuel - Will ethanol increase fuel consumption?
Ethanol has a lower energy content, E85 is approximately 40% less than petrol and therefore more fuel is consumed to achieve the same effect. By optimising and utilizing the positive qualities of ethanol the efficiency can be increased and the higher fuel consumption can be reduced.
Ethanol vehicles - Can I use an ethanol blend in my petrol car?
We strongly advise against experimenting with E85 mixes in petrol cars not converted, or manufactured as "Flexifuel".
Even if the car starts and runs on a certain ethanol blend there is a significant risk that the engine is not getting the correct amount of fuel in all load and rpm situations. (According to other answers on this FAQ.)
As long as the engine is operating within the lambda regulated area, the risk of damage is small using a 10-15% blend, but using a higher percentage and going outside of this ratio, the risk for engine damage is greatly increased.
Some emissions are also transformed negatively, such as increased NOx levels, which is negative for the environment and can create health risks.
Octane rating – Information about octane/cetane ratings
The octane rating of gasoline tells you how much the fuel can be compressed before it spontaneously ignites and causes engine detonation. The higher octane rating means there is less risk for engine-knocking or pre-detonation.
There are two ways of measuring octane rating: RON and MON:
RON= Research Octane Number
MON= Motor Octane Number
The MON number is lower than RON.
There a three ways to present octane rating:
1) RON (EU)
2) MON
3) RON+MON/2 (USA)
In the US they use the formula (RON+MON)/2 which gives a mean value of (98+88)/2=93 octane
- Low octane fuel can damage the engine, it increases the combustion and may cause damage to the environment.
- High octane fuel increases the life of the engine, reduces fuel consumption and reduces environmental stress.
More information at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_Rating
Cetane rating is a measure of the combustion quality of diesel fuels. A diesel fuel with a high cetane number has a high tendency to auto-ignite.
How much time is required for installation?
Stage 1 usually takes appr. 1 hour including test drive and checking. Stages 2-3 take approximately 2.5-3.5 hours.
Stage upgrades can be easily performed by a qualified Saab service shop.
Can I install the upgrade myself?
Yes, we can send an upgraded ECU by mail. Stock ECU must be returned to us within 7 days after receipt of the upgraded ECU. If you are the least bit uncertain on the procedure, we recommend you contact us for installation details.
Advantages of the PPC technology
The PPC technology is a unique tuning technology introduced by BSR in 2003. The product was developed by BSR.
- No mechanical measures necessary: basically, you don’t even have to open the
hood.
- Quick software reload.
- Return to original state whenever you require.
- Unlimited number of reloads of original/tuning/update.
- Update to latest software version via Internet (free of charge)
- No visits to tuning supplier to return to original state/upgrade.
- The PPC-unit is your property and follows the car.
- BSR/Sammuel MotorSport has all the documentation regarding your vehicle and can respond quickly to
support questions.