auto2665
Extreme
Any reason to replace the Gems controller with a Power Commander V? I heard the PCV is easier to tune and provide more output.
kinger
VIP Member
In general if the GEMS is working for you leave it alone. I was on the fence and Ulmer talked me off the ledge and he sells the PCV! There isn't anything more that the PCV adds that will amount to anything in real life. Yes on paper it is far superior to the GEMS but the motors are just not that picky and its fine if they are rich lean what ever, they just run spot on or at least within the resolution of the GEMS they (mine) has been flawless.
YamerHammer
Expert
Kinger may have had good luck with his but most of us have not.......I am a flat land rider as well and mine ran like crap. I have been through 3 gems controllers due to just failing. My experience is one day you think you have it tuned and running good and the next day you go out and it runs like crap. Another thing that I couldn't believe is how much better on fuel they are with a PCV when you get it tuned. I at least get 100 miles to a tank. With the gems the best I ever got was 65 and the worst was 40 miles to a tank. To me the PCV is the best controller you can get for boost before a stand alone fuel system. Kinger is right you don't get anymore horsepower but the throttle response is way better, no lean or rich spots and you get 30% better fuel economy. So the way I see it, one season and it's payed off in just fuel.
kinger
VIP Member
I have never heard of a 30% gain in Fuel Economy. You should be at 10 mpg with a SC, if you were getting 6.5 mpg then you did have a bad GEMS, or have it mis tuned. I would never defend the GEMS but at least try it before you decide if the PCV is better. As info I do keep my GEMS wrapped and sealed in a plastic baggy as most of the problems from the GEMS are moisture related and this simple trick has worked flawless for 4 years. I never adjust anything during the season. In fact I am thinking of removing my gauges because its so consistent. I get the same boost, the same AFR, and the same water temp every ride. Once you figure them out GEMS or PCV they are fun!!!
Agman 57
Lifetime Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2006
- Messages
- 926
- Age
- 67
- Location
- Fostoria, Ohio
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2018 Apex XTX LE, 50th Ann.
2018 Sidewinder LTX LE, 50th Ann.
2017 Sidewinder BTX LE
1992 V-Max 4 (Modded)
2002 ZR 120 G-daughter's
I agree with you Yamerhammer,I ran the Gems box for 4 years and as he said one day it was good and one day it wasn't. Then if we went out west and were at altitude everything changed and you had to start from scratch while your group was waiting on you to get dialed in.
I could not get along with the gems box at all, and after 3 years my original one went bad and I had to buy another one.
I became so frustrated with it that I went to the PC5 with autotune, have run it 2 years now and never have been so pleased!
I know Kinger has always said he had good results with his, but I would say my power commander was the best money spent following the money spent on the supercharger for boost!
I have almost always got 10 mile to the gallon on my boosted nytro with either controller, I did not see any difference when I changed to the power commander?
I could not get along with the gems box at all, and after 3 years my original one went bad and I had to buy another one.
I became so frustrated with it that I went to the PC5 with autotune, have run it 2 years now and never have been so pleased!
I know Kinger has always said he had good results with his, but I would say my power commander was the best money spent following the money spent on the supercharger for boost!
I have almost always got 10 mile to the gallon on my boosted nytro with either controller, I did not see any difference when I changed to the power commander?
mmaman207
Extreme
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2010
- Messages
- 111
- Location
- Maine
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 07 Attak Stage 1 MPI , 06 Apex Mtn Boondocker Race Gas Turbo.
I must be one of the "lucky ones" as well with Kinger. My sled has been MPI'd w/ GEMS since 09 or 10.... never been touched. Turn key and ride.
YamerHammer
Expert
Agman......I think the fuel mileage is just on the apex. Kinger the reason the only reason why I only got 6.5 mpg is where I live we get snow and I don't trail ride as you must. We get 4 feet of snow a season at average. As far as tuning that is what I am taking about with the gems controller vs the PCV. If you don't have the gems spot on it's not going to be a fun day and when you get it and trust me I have had the gems tuned for the day and I'm not saying it is far out of tune but that is why the 30% better fuel mileage. Doesn't matter who you talk to there is always the 90 mph lean spot and as crazy as it sounds when you are on the lake that is where she likes to cruise. Trust me Kinger I am happy that your gems works so good for you but for the way I like my sled to run the PCV works 100% better for me. If I had to recommend for someone just starting out I would tell them to start with the PCV with auto tune (data logging) so they get the tuning and AFR's right out of the box and be done with it. You could have it tuned spot on in a hour with a base map which there is enough of those floating around now.
