Stillen TruControl

[Lgata]

Please check back brother.I had a tru-control unit on my Nismo with a Remark cat back and Nismo intake and want to see what the dyno shows. I actually heard knock accruing on warmer days at wot and had to resort to 94 pump to calm it down.I ended up removing the unit because i dont want to risk hurting the motor.As we seen before the Nismo units are already at the far limit of what the stock fuel and timing system can handle.I dont suggest Nismo models to run this unit.

To be specific i have the latest V2 version of the Stillen Tru-control.I owned a 2023 Performance and transferred over my Trucontrol to my brand new Nismo. With the mods mentioned I heard knock/ detonation and felt the car pulling power.

 

[Nis Mo Z]

Please check back brother.I had a tru-control unit on my Nismo with a Remark cat back and Nismo intake and want to see what the dyno shows. I actually heard knock accruing on warmer days at wot and had to resort to 94 pump to calm it down.I ended up removing the unit because i dont want to risk hurting the motor.As we seen before the Nismo units are already at the far limit of what the stock fuel and timing system can handle.I dont suggest Nismo models to run this unit.

To be specific i have the latest V2 version of the Stillen Tru-control.I owned a 2023 Performance and transferred over my Trucontrol to my brand new Nismo. With the mods mentioned I heard knock/ detonation and felt the car pulling power.

Which Map were you running when the issues happened?

 

[Tranzor Z]

Everyone will jump online to post negative feedback, never positive. I've had the V1 at map 7 since break in and now have 9000 miles on the device. Absolutely love the product and no issues whatsoever.

 

[KyleWI]

Have used the TruControl v1 non-NISMO on Map7 at multiple track days. I've never noticed a significant performance dropoff. This was before I installed CZP HX too.

 

[Nis Mo Z]

Have used the TruControl v1 non-NISMO on Map7 at multiple track days. I've never noticed a significant performance dropoff. This was before I installed CZP HX too.

That’s interesting. It may be that it’s problematic with the Nismo since it has a more aggressive tune but then I’ve heard some issues with Performance model owners as well. What gas octane do you use? And how was the outside temperature during these track days?

 

[KyleWI]

That’s interesting. It may be that it’s problematic with the Nismo since it has a more aggressive tune but then I’ve heard some issues with Performance model owners as well. What gas octane do you use? And how was the outside temperature during these track days?

I strictly use 93 E10 from Kwik Trip, Costco, or BP, so brand agnostic. I've used 91 once because of fuel starve, and that caused a significant reduction in timing.
I ran 65°, 80°, and 90° track days in like 85% humidity. Didn't notice much difference on following 90° track days with HX, also at a lovely 85% humidity.

 

[anidroc]

I am running the tru control V2 with intakes on my nismo set to 7 at all times for a few months with zero issues. I run shell 93 octane. 90 degrees plus where I is common. I am a “spirited” driver and hit wot every day, no complaints here.

 

[Nis Mo Z]

I strictly use 93 E10 from Kwik Trip, Costco, or BP, so brand agnostic. I've used 91 once because of fuel starve, and that caused a significant reduction in timing.
I ran 65°, 80°, and 90° track days in like 85% humidity. Didn't notice much difference on following 90° track days with HX, also at a lovely 85% humidity.

Yeah it may be more problematic with the Nismo tuning because after I installed the CZP I noticed a catastrophic difference in how my Nismo acted with the TruControl. It felt as if I was driving in 60-65 degree cool fall weather but it was a 95 degree, super humid Georgia day. Before it would pull but you can tell the difference when it’s eating up colder air. I haven’t tried map 7 since the CZP install but map 4/5 feels way better than it did prior without it. I can only imagine 70-80 degree temps but so far every time I use my Z since the CZP install it has been over 90 degrees.

Also on another note I believe the reason the Nismo doesn’t have better lap times have something to do with the underwhelming stock heat exchanger. Grassroots Motorsports tested one and they analyzed that it was making less power vs other 300hp cars on certain sections of the track. I think after a lap it heat soaks on a massive scale despite the extra heat exchanger standard.

 

[KrackaC8]

Another thing to consider doing is adding a bottle of Redline WaterWetter (or your choice of similar product) into each cooling system, which does two things:

1. Keep temps lower
2. Allow heat to dissipate more quickly to recover from a heatsoaked situation

I have a bottle of it in each of mine, and added them into @Tranzor Z 's as well which is absolutely benefiting him in the Houston heat.

 

[Nis Mo Z]

Another thing to consider doing is adding a bottle of Redline WaterWetter (or your choice of similar product) into each cooling system, which does two things:

1. Keep temps lower
2. Allow heat to dissipate more quickly to recover from a heatsoaked situation

I have a bottle of it in each of mine, and added them into @Tranzor Z 's as well which is absolutely benefiting him in the Houston heat.

Do you just add it in after bleeding the system or do you bleed the system after adding it in? Like would it cause bubbles in the system?

 

[KrackaC8]

Do you just add it in after bleeding the system or do you bleed the system after adding it in? Like would it cause bubbles in the system?

Easiest way is to use a turkey baster to suck coolant out of each reservoir, add the bottles into each, then top the reservoirs off to the max fill line when cold with the removed coolant.

 

[Lgata]

I wouldn't make this up, coming from a older Nissan Z and knowing what detonation sounds like running the tru control is not safe.Maybe for a pull or few but i am telling you from experience running this device on a nismo is not safe,

This is a perfect example. The stock system is at the limit. Place close attention to the boost levels run. which lines up with the trucontrol.

They were running wot boost dyno runs on a controlled enviroment.

I paid for the Trucontrol and it absolutely does add power but it doesnt mean it safe.Rememeber it only taps into your boost controllers on the ecu it has no way of knowing your IAT's or MAP sensors, its just a boost solenoid cheat device. Your not going to realize the damage until it shows up. These engines already have problems with the thin head castings and having premature failures. The longer you run these motors with knock and detonation on over boosted scenarios then you'll end up replacing the long block in a short time. Run a real tune on your motor like ECUtek its not worth the headache.

 

[Apex_Z]

I wouldn't make this up, coming from a older nissan Z and knowing what detonation sounds like running the tru control is not safe.Maybe for a pull or few but i am telling you from experience running this device on a nismo is not safe,

This is a perfect example. The stock system is at the limit.

They were running wot boost dyno runs on a controlled enviroment.

I paid for the Trucontrol and it absolutely does add power but it doesnt mean it safe.Rememeber it only taps into your boost controllers on the ecu it has no way of knowing your IAT's or MAP sensors, its just a boost solenoid cheat device.

I had one on my '25 Performance for a while, but took it off due to erratic part throttle mid rpm boost surges. Never threw a light, and felt good at full throttle but the issue made the car feel incorrectly tuned. Kinda worried me.

 

[Lgata]

My motor on my performance ended up with rodknock due to detonation after installing the stillen v2 and it never through a check engine light.I ended up selling the car to Carvana and it was repaired under warentee threw nissan.I then installed it on the Nismo and picked up the detonation.Im done trying to warn you guys but if you plan on keeping your Z 40k miles plus then just get a proper stand alone.Shit sucks when your genuinely trying to help people and they dont listen.Im not the opposition im not being paid by anyone but im trying to just save people the heartache.

My oil change intervals were on point mobil1 at 4k miles every 3 months and only ran 93.
Catback exhaust, Nismo Intakes and trucontrol were the only things installed.