Latest information regarding car tuning and programming

Law change, Vehicle Act, 1 June 2024 - what does this all mean?

The much-discussed date, June 1, 2024, is significant because it marks the broader implementation of vehicle law provisions prepared back in 2023.

At the core of these legislative changes is emissions manipulation, meaning actions where a vehicle's emissions systems have been tampered with or even completely disabled. Common examples include EGR (exhaust gas recirculation), DPF (diesel particulate filters), and SCR/AdBlue urea systems. These measures have been addressed for good reason—as, for instance, in the heavy vehicle sector, such tampering not only increases emissions but can also create an unfair competitive advantage over companies that comply with regulations.

However, the revised vehicle law also includes software and mechanical modifications that could create uncertainty about whether the vehicle meets the required emissions standards. As a result, even software tuning of the engine is generally considered to fall under these changes.

At ECU Helsinki, we do not offer mechanical or software manipulations of emissions systems. Instead, we specialize in restoring and diagnosing these systems in vehicles where they have previously been removed or disabled.

What does this mean for me as a car enthusiast, how can I still build my car legally?

Equipping a car with E-approved parts and accessories is not prohibited, nor is engine tuning and enhancement. However, these modifications must be properly inspected and approved through a modification inspection.

This brings us to the current challenges. A modification inspection requires comprehensive emissions and noise measurements to demonstrate that the vehicle still meets the required standards. Currently, there is no approved entity in Finland offering these measurements, even for a fee.

Such services are available abroad (e.g., TÜV Nord), but in practice, obtaining measurements through these channels is not realistic due to the associated costs.

We remind you that driving a vehicle with such modifications without a proper modification inspection can result in a traffic violation fine, the amount of which varies case by case.

These regulations do not apply to vehicles used, for example, in racing and hobby activities, where a modification inspection is not required.

Flexfuel conversions for gasoline engines

An exception to the current situation is one of our most popular services: ethanol conversions for gasoline engines. We have long specialized in these conversions, where the engine’s control system and fuel supply are modified to allow the engine to run on RE85 ethanol fuel.

Ethanol naturally has a high octane rating and boasts many beneficial properties, such as cleaner combustion and lower combustion temperatures compared to gasoline.

For this reason, RE85 has become a favorite fuel among car enthusiasts, both on the street and on the track.

Ask us about a hassle-free, turnkey ethanol conversion for your gasoline car.

We are continuously working with various organizations and authorities to stay up to date, and we’ll provide additional information as soon as it becomes available.

045 130 8995

Latest information regarding car tuning and programming