Talk:Engine control unit

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Reference template
Wdl1961, it is not okeh to remove valid maintenance templates without fixing the problem they indicate. The template on this article indicating a lack of inline citations needs to remain in place until the problem is fixed. Thanks for editing coöperatively. —Scheinwerfermann T·C 15:53, 12 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Wdl1961, it is still not okeh to remove valid maintenance templates and tags without fixing the problem they indicate. Tossing an apparently random book title at the bottom of the article doesn't get the job done; it doesn't constitute support for a questionable assertion. Please, if you have good and valid references, improve the article by citing them properly. Thanks. —Scheinwerfermann T&middot;C 20:03, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

Other applications
Such systems are used for many internal combustion engines in other applications. In aeronautical applications, the systems are known as "FADECs" (Full Authority Digital Engine Controls). This kind of electronic control is less common in piston-engined aeroplanes than in automobiles, because of the large costs of certifying parts for aviation use, relatively small demand, and the consequent stagnation of technological innovation in this market. Also, a carburated engine with magneto ignition and a gravity feed fuel system does not require any electrical power to run, which is a safety bonus.

mr scheinwerfermann

you put this in before and delete it now as giberish. what part is it you do not understand. quit your selective editing all over the place pls

Wdl1961 (talk) 04:12, 26 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Sifting through the article history, it appears the irrelevant and poorly-written parts of the block of text you present here were reinserted when I reverted your unwarranted removal of valid maintenance templates. You're certainly right that I should have paid better attention to the totality of text being restored in the revert. Thanks for calling attention to the problematic text, which has now been cleaned up. —Scheinwerfermann T&middot;C 17:03, 26 July 2009 (UTC)

Question
What happened to:

Also, a carburated engine with magneto ignition and a gravity feed fuel system does not require electrical power generated by an alternator to run,a safety bonus.

Also, a carburated engine with magneto ignition and a gravity feed fuel system does not require any electrical power to run, which is a safety bonus.

Wdl1961 (talk) 18:54, 26 July 2009 (UTC)

If, as stated in the first line, the ECU is "most commonly called the Powertrain control module" why is this content not over at Powertrain control module with this entry as a redirect? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.71.84.151 (talk) 15:22, 27 April 2012 (UTC)

Are ECU's only for internal combustion engines?
Are ECU's only for internal combustion engines or for external ones as well? I'm not sure, but in a bold effort to be specific, I added ICE to the intro. paragraph. Please correct me if I'm wrong. --Tiger Marc ROAR! 19:29, 6 September 2009 (UTC)


 * External combustion engines are mainly steam engines. I doubt the relevance. --DThomsen8 (talk) 13:42, 17 November 2009 (UTC)

Confusing reference


This entry now appears in the section Further reading because I added that section name, but it is also in an inline citation. It is a confusing reference, because I am doubtful that a FAA book is relevant, and the citation omits the usual information on a book. Can some editor with more knowledge fix this situation? --DThomsen8 (talk) 13:39, 17 November 2009 (UTC)

Suggested changes
Engine Management is a huge topic and this current article barely skims the surface.

I'm actually a developer of the Megasquirt ECU that is referenced here. However, I think the sections: "Open source engine management systems" "Modifiable but restricted engine management systems" "DIY engine management systems" should be removed as they are such a tiny part of the ECU market. Players like Bosch and Delphi are huge and deserve to have thousands of words written about them before a single word of article space is given to these few aftermarket ECUs.

Modern ECUs are always substantially "model" based, a topic which is missing from the article. James Murray 80.176.88.36 (talk) 22:52, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

Also the article is about ECUs, but the text appears to be only about spark ignition (SI) internal combustion engines. i.e. ECUs are also used on compression ignition (CI)diesel engines. Comments about the accelerator pedal changing air flow is incorrect on a CI engines as they run unthrottled and the pedal typically controls the diesel injection pump on pre "common rail" engine. (See also Heywood.) James Murray 80.176.88.36 (talk) 23:44, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

history section needed
this sounds like it's one of those modern, computerized components...maybe it should be mentioned in the article when they came into general use, or something...does that sound like pertinent information? maybe these things have been used in automobiles since henry fords day. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.109.250.228 (talk) 01:21, 11 February 2011 (UTC)

The whole article on programmable engine management is very poor, explains nothing and is wrong in several places. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.97.204.130 (talk) 22:39, 4 May 2011 (UTC)

Powertrain control module merge
We don't need two articles about two names for the same thing. I'm sure there will be discussion about what the name of the final article should be. Is combining these articles otherwise controversial? ~KvnG 16:37, 25 June 2014 (UTC)


 * Looks like there has already been some discussion of this at Talk:Powertrain control module. ~KvnG 16:44, 25 June 2014 (UTC)


 * They're not the same thing. An engine isn't a powertrain. It's certainly not a drivetrain.
 * In the late '70s, the ECU appeared (a few years either way, depending on your definitions). Ten years later, ABS systems appeared and needed a further control unit. A little later, automatic transmissions start to use a separate electronic module or unit in the same way, rather than the integrated analogue hydraulics of previous decades. Gradually there then starts to be integration, as traction control systems use the ABS sensors to control gearing and differentials in overall systems. Even then though, most cars had an increasing number of single purpose boxes. Only very lately do we really start to see a "powertrain" module as a single unit. Even today it's commonplace to have half-a-dozen distinct modules in a car, each with their own separate function, and yet each labelled "powertrain module". If you have a box labelled "powertrain" and "engine" controller, chances are that it's actually a separate drivetrain controller and neither of them are in overall charge of the powertrain.
 * The function of a powertrain controller is to control the entire powertrain. It's a superset of the ECU function. These roles are distinct and genuine powertrain controllers are still rare. Andy Dingley (talk) 16:49, 26 June 2014 (UTC)


 * OK. Where do you think this history should be explained. The merge was probably proposed (I just added discussion pointers and complementary banner) because this article starts off with "An engine control unit (ECU), now called the powertrain control module (PCM)..." ~KvnG 13:55, 28 June 2014 (UTC)


 * ECU is propbably a much more widely used term than PCM, therefore more folk looking for articles on the topic will be searching for ECU than for PCM. Don't merge into PCM. AlphaMikeFoxtrot (talk) 09:00, 28 August 2014 (UTC)

I don't see consensus to merge. I have removed the assertion that PCU is a synonym for ECU. I think that's enough to properly differentiate the articles. ~KvnG 21:44, 14 November 2014 (UTC)

Timing retard eliminator
"Timing retard eliminator" redirects to this article. It doesn't seem to be described very clearly (or at all?) in the article. There is a link to this self-redirect (under a different capitalization) in the "See also" section. What should be done about this? --SoledadKabocha (talk) 04:20, 31 March 2015 (UTC)

What Do You Mean by "Modern"?
To the writer, thanks for an informative article. Now history is divided into 3 periods generally: Ancient History, Medieval History, and Modern History; modern referring to about 1500 on. Obviously you do not mean that with your term "modern." But it would be useful to know precisely what period you mean by modern. Do you mean "After 1990"? (EnochBethany (talk) 17:50, 25 August 2015 (UTC))