Tuning your car is worthwhile due to the evident benefits, such as improved performance, more aggressive driving or even energy efficiency if you like. It is highly recommended to tune when you’ve installed an mods that are aftermarket.
Tuning isn’t risky If you have it done by a trusted tuning service and will not result in additional wear on the engine (given you don’t overboard).
Personally, I have tuned my vehicles numerous times – particularly after making major modifications like turbos and headers.
This article I’m going to go over the process of tuning more thoroughly. You will be able to determine whether you need to tune or not, and what tuning method to opt for.
Upcoming content:
Why is tuning worth the cost
The types of tuning available cost, risk, and power
Does tuning shorten engine life?
Does tuning void warranty?
Do you need to tune your car?
Why Tuning is Worth The money (The Benefits)
Tuning is worth the cost as it will provide you with extra horsepower, an adjustable ride, and make sure that your aftermarket modifications are working exactly as you expect.
Tuning is basically adjusting the settings of the computer in your car. Based on the goal you’re trying to achieve there are a variety of things you can adjust, such as the map of torque for your engine the air/fuel ratio and top speed, and more are all variable.
Here are five benefits to tuning your car’s engine:
Increased horsepower. The stock ECU comes with moderate software settings (for emission and fuel efficiency). Tuning can increase the horsepower and speed by eliminating the top velocity, rev limiters, and ignition timing.
The maximum potential of aftermarket modifications. Mods such as headers and catback exhausts may increase the volume of air entering the engine, which results in increased power. But, if you don’t tune these modifications might not function properly, or even lower the power. Tuning is required to make sure the ratio of fuel/air is in the right proportions.
Aggressive ride. You can alter the map of torque to provide you with more power, depending on the riding conditions. For instance you can get more torque at lowest RPM (great for cornering) or a steady torque output through at high speeds (great for drag races).
Improve fuel efficiency. If you’re keen to conserve fuel, then the custom tuning option can do the same results. In making your vehicle run more efficiently and reducing fuel consumption, you can save money over the long term. Discuss your needs with your tuner and you’ll be able to achieve it.
Take out the CEL or check engine warning (CEL). Certain performance-oriented modifications like a catless exhaust is certain to trigger CEL. If you tune it with a custom-made tuning you can have it off.
Different types of tuning Costs, risks, effort and power
ECU Chip
ECU Chipping is an easy-to-use solution in which the chip can take in data from the actual vehicle’s ECU and modify it to produce an output you want (more power or less consumption).
ECU chips are simple to set up and can be the most affordable alternative – they are priced at around 200 dollars (depending on the model) and all you have to do is connect it to the car’s OBD2 port and wait for couple of minutes.
It isn’t necessary to expect a lot of power out of any ECU chip (it might not provide any power in any way). Personally, I would not opt on ECU chipping. The previous ECU chip I put in several years ago didn’t give me anything.
ECU chipping is not likely to cause engine damage since modifications have been made that are safe and evaluated by the company that sells the chip.
Flash Tune
Flash tuning refers to the procedure where you modify the settings in your ECU to modify the behaviour of your car.
A preset that is flash tuned refers to using an already installed ECU configuration to the same model of car and output you want to. This is what I’m talking about in this segment.
For example, you have an 2008 Nissan 350z and you’d like to upgrade to an aggressive vehicle and more horsepower. The tuner may download a pre-set from another 350z owner, and then flash the configuration to your vehicle.
A preset that is flash tuned is quick, inexpensive and will work because it has been used on numerous other vehicles before you.
The flash tune can pose a risk of causing engine damage in the event that you install an incorrect setting. However, it’s reverseable if the tuner taken a backup of the original configuration.
Custom Dyno Tune
Custom Dyno Tuning is when the tuner creates an ECU setup specifically for your vehicle and requirements. It is a custom setup to suit your needs and the car you are driving and therefore it will be the best for you and among the most costly.
Custom dyno tuning generally requires a long time since the tuner needs to check the tuning configuration using a dyno, and then recalibrate to ensure that the intended output has been reached.
Custom dyno tuning is the most dangerous (especially in the event that your tuner is not reliable). It’s complex and requires extensive expertise in ECU. Tune your dyno in a custom way only in the case of a trusted tuner and have the capital.
Does Tuning Shorten Engine Life?
ECU tuning is not harmful to the engine of your car and will it will not decrease the lifespan of the engine when it is tuned properly. A successful tuning process could assist to improve the efficiency of fuel of the vehicle.
But, additional maintenance may be needed. Furthermore, overt tuning such as removal of the rev limiter or running heavy could affect the lifespan of the engine.
More power with ECU tuning results in more stress for all units in the aggregate and an increase in wear and tear on the moving components.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that tuning can reduce the life of your engine. When done properly the tuning process will not impact the engine, other than increasing the overall performance.
Does Tuning Void Warranty?
If car tuning is performed by an authorized tuner or factory tuneer The warranty for the car is in place, as you do not be unable to claim the warranty on your vehicle.
If you’re considering tuning your car to boost power, and modify your car in a custom way then your warranty for your car will likely be cancelled.
It’s not simple to get your car tuned back to its original settings before you claim warranty. The majority of car’s ECU will detect any tampering and will record the change.
According to the Law regarding road safety, alteration can only be done only for personal use. It is only permitted when the change will improve the safety of the vehicle, its invention and technological technology.
It involves performing specific actions that the vehicle has not made specifically for. In this instance it is possible to think of the possibility of tuning race vehicles.
Motor trailers and cars together with their associated apparatuses, devices and assemblies, manufactured in a series or individually, or repaired, should be harmonised with the standards of technology of homologation regulations.
This implies that the car must pass the tests and checks on the security and ecological aspects.
Do You Need To Tune Your Car?
If the warranty is up and you’re determined to improve your performance, tuning is highly advised.
It is impossible to avoid tuning when you are looking for performance. Making major modifications such as headers, exhausts, or turbos will require tuning. So, sooner or later, you’ll be tuning your car.
I would recommend that you tune your car after you’ve made these major modifications. Don’t invest in tuning your car for each small modification, like cold air intakes or filter (you will not notice any change).
Tuning a car that is completely stock is an alternative (if you’d prefer). It is possible to go with items like:
Remove rev limiter
Take top speed off
Adjust engine torque map
Enhance the throttle response
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