There's an advertised 10Hp difference between the MP3 and Protegé5. Is the 10Hp just from ecu programming or are there any physical differences between the engines?

 

I think it's just the ECU. Sounds like our engines might respond well to adjustable cam gears.

 

Racing Beat was also working on a header. They dropped the other components because of emissions. As it is, the MP3 is only LEV status instead of ULEV like all the other Proteges.

 

I recently read on an MP3 forum that the MP3 also has the FS-ZE intake manifold. That makes a little more sense to me. A 7.7% increase in power output from just programming sounded like a bit much.

 

Thanks Jesse, I will. I've Auto-X'd before and plan to a bit more in the future. My wife and I were sold by it's road manners alone. Since that time, however, my wife has complained about the lack of power.

I never looked at the difference in torque between the two, and that's what really matters. If the MP3 has a greater upper RPM limit where power continues to climb then I can easily see a 10Hp gain. It's just difficult for me to fathom why a motor would be detuned so much. I know. . . EPA. It's just a little disappointing when there isn't an availible quick fix at the moment (reprogrammed ECU).

 

I'm pretty sure all 3rd Gen 1.8L & 2.0L cars have the VRIS intake manifolds. I think the difference is in the ECU tuning. Thus the need for 92 octane in the MP3 and 87 in the other Proteges. Also the ULEV emission staus for other Proteges and only LEV for the MP3.

 

Just to let all of you know whare the MP3 gets its power from. It has the FS-ZE intake manfold, exhaust camshaft, and a reprogramed ECU and the cat back exhaust. I know this for sure because this is what MazdaSpeed told me when I tried to order these parts. They said why order it when it's already in your car. I'm getting the intake camshaft though and in a couple of years the high compression piston set. I'm not going to blow up my engine with a turbo like some other Mp3 owners.

 

All 3rd gen Proteges have VICS manifolds. None of them have the FS-ZE manifold with the plenum, including the MP3. There is nothing special about the FS-ZE exhaust cam, and it is the same as the one in 1.8L and 2.0L engines in the 3rd gen Proteges. Don't confuse it with the MazdaSpeed exhaust cam. The MP3 has a Racing Beat muffler, not a cat-back exhaust. The 10 HP difference is due to ECU tuning and the muffler only.

 

I heard that the difference is the ECU, muffler, as well as a bit larger tubes on the exhaust system.....

 

So would the fs-ze intake manifold swap be a step in the direction of more performance?

 

Nope, exhaust tubes are the same.

 

Ah, good question. I haven't heard anything about the difference the FS-ZE intake manifold plenum makes on power production.