[Z06] What is a "Tune"?
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 70
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From: Dumfries Virginia
What is a "Tune"?
I have an 04Z Z16. 17,500 miles on the clock. I have added the decal with the word CORVETTE on the top of the front windshield and Corsa Pace car exhaust. I use 87 octane fuel and drive the car to and from work as long as weather permits plus some trips from Washington DC to Jacksonville, Florida. No track or racing. She is just fun to drive!
Am I a candidate for a "Tune"? Aside from ensuring peak performance, why else might I invest in the "Tune"?
Thank you CF. BTW, I still dearly miss my 07Z and all those horses but I take what the good Lord and Wachovia Bank will give me.
GR8KAR
Am I a candidate for a "Tune"? Aside from ensuring peak performance, why else might I invest in the "Tune"?
Thank you CF. BTW, I still dearly miss my 07Z and all those horses but I take what the good Lord and Wachovia Bank will give me.
GR8KAR
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 138
I have an 04Z Z16. 17,500 miles on the clock. I have added the decal with the word CORVETTE on the top of the front windshield and Corsa Pace car exhaust. I use 87 octane fuel and drive the car to and from work as long as weather permits plus some trips from Washington DC to Jacksonville, Florida. No track or racing. She is just fun to drive!
Am I a candidate for a "Tune"? Aside from ensuring peak performance, why else might I invest in the "Tune"?
Thank you CF. BTW, I still dearly miss my 07Z and all those horses but I take what the good Lord and Wachovia Bank will give me.
GR8KAR
Am I a candidate for a "Tune"? Aside from ensuring peak performance, why else might I invest in the "Tune"?
Thank you CF. BTW, I still dearly miss my 07Z and all those horses but I take what the good Lord and Wachovia Bank will give me.
GR8KAR
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 51
From: South Carolina
Not with 87 octane you're not. When you run regular fuel in you Z06, the PCM must compensate by going into it's "low octane tables". This yanks back the ignition timing and other parameters to prevent detonation.
In essence, the computer is actually chopping the ***** off your corvette in the interest of keeping the engine from being damaged by pre-ignition. The engine was DESIGNED to run premium fuel. It makes the advertised 405 HP on PREMIUM fuel.
There is a safety envelope in the stock programming. GM runs the car on a slightly rich A/F ratio and with timing backed down from the maximum safe point for longevity reasons.
When you put gasoline in the car that detonates more easily, you are basically erasing that buffer zone. What a tune DOES is OPTIMIZE the factory tuning by taking the PCM parameters into that buffer zone in order to make a little more power. If you don't have that area to play with, there's not MUCH a tuner can really do to make the car more powerful.
Right now, putting 93 octane in your car would give you the same performance boost as a tune would....
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 755
Likes: 3
From: Houston Texas
While I agree with not putting 87 octane, and I always use 93 octane...I'd take a z06 with 87 octane over a gto with 87/91/93 octane any day of the week.
OP, I don't think you need a tune, but I would definitely use 91 or 93 octane preferably.
Last edited by Texan1Z06; Sep 30, 2009 at 11:06 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,151
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From: KaLiFoRnIa
I miss my gto sometimes.... then I go look at my Z
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,572
Likes: 420
From: Taildragers rule! USA1
I have an 04Z Z16. 17,500 miles on the clock. I have added the decal with the word CORVETTE on the top of the front windshield and Corsa Pace car exhaust. I use 87 octane fuel and drive the car to and from work as long as weather permits plus some trips from Washington DC to Jacksonville, Florida. No track or racing. She is just fun to drive!
Am I a candidate for a "Tune"? Aside from ensuring peak performance, why else might I invest in the "Tune"?
Thank you CF. BTW, I still dearly miss my 07Z and all those horses but I take what the good Lord and Wachovia Bank will give me.
GR8KAR
Am I a candidate for a "Tune"? Aside from ensuring peak performance, why else might I invest in the "Tune"?
Thank you CF. BTW, I still dearly miss my 07Z and all those horses but I take what the good Lord and Wachovia Bank will give me.
GR8KAR
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Dumfries Virginia
Some of y'all are helpful. Some are brutal. I get the hint about 91/93 octane but remember, what octane is-resistance to knock. My girl does not knock or ping (same thing), she does not deisel after shut off and she starts almost before I even turn the key. Some major oil suppliers, I worked for one for 18 years, have even down-played the difference in fuel performance. At any rate, I'll change back.
To those who criticize me or to those that think I do not deserve a Z, that is cruel! I do not sleep with my Z. She is used whenever weather permits. I do not abuse her by racing her because I have no idea how. She is spotless and runs great. Even my black 07Z was spotless (but a real pain to keep it that way). My toolbox consists of my cell phone and my checkbook. I pay professionals to care for her.
So, with all due respect, I'll keep my Z and forego the GTO!!
BTW, only 1 courteous responder answered md me about what a "Tune" does.
To those who criticize me or to those that think I do not deserve a Z, that is cruel! I do not sleep with my Z. She is used whenever weather permits. I do not abuse her by racing her because I have no idea how. She is spotless and runs great. Even my black 07Z was spotless (but a real pain to keep it that way). My toolbox consists of my cell phone and my checkbook. I pay professionals to care for her.
So, with all due respect, I'll keep my Z and forego the GTO!!
BTW, only 1 courteous responder answered md me about what a "Tune" does.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
Some of y'all are helpful. Some are brutal. I get the hint about 91/93 octane but remember, what octane is-resistance to knock. My girl does not knock or ping (same thing), she does not deisel after shut off and she starts almost before I even turn the key. Some major oil suppliers, I worked for one for 18 years, have even down-played the difference in fuel performance. At any rate, I'll change back.
To those who criticize me or to those that think I do not deserve a Z, that is cruel! I do not sleep with my Z. She is used whenever weather permits. I do not abuse her by racing her because I have no idea how. She is spotless and runs great. Even my black 07Z was spotless (but a real pain to keep it that way). My toolbox consists of my cell phone and my checkbook. I pay professionals to care for her.
So, with all due respect, I'll keep my Z and forego the GTO!!
BTW, only 1 courteous responder answered md me about what a "Tune" does.
To those who criticize me or to those that think I do not deserve a Z, that is cruel! I do not sleep with my Z. She is used whenever weather permits. I do not abuse her by racing her because I have no idea how. She is spotless and runs great. Even my black 07Z was spotless (but a real pain to keep it that way). My toolbox consists of my cell phone and my checkbook. I pay professionals to care for her.
So, with all due respect, I'll keep my Z and forego the GTO!!
BTW, only 1 courteous responder answered md me about what a "Tune" does.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
Not with 87 octane you're not. When you run regular fuel in you Z06, the PCM must compensate by going into it's "low octane tables". This yanks back the ignition timing and other parameters to prevent detonation.
In essence, the computer is actually chopping the ***** off your corvette in the interest of keeping the engine from being damaged by pre-ignition. The engine was DESIGNED to run premium fuel. It makes the advertised 405 HP on PREMIUM fuel.
There is a safety envelope in the stock programming. GM runs the car on a slightly rich A/F ratio and with timing backed down from the maximum safe point for longevity reasons.
When you put gasoline in the car that detonates more easily, you are basically erasing that buffer zone. What a tune DOES is OPTIMIZE the factory tuning by taking the PCM parameters into that buffer zone in order to make a little more power. If you don't have that area to play with, there's not MUCH a tuner can really do to make the car more powerful.
Right now, putting 93 octane in your car would give you the same performance boost as a tune would....
In essence, the computer is actually chopping the ***** off your corvette in the interest of keeping the engine from being damaged by pre-ignition. The engine was DESIGNED to run premium fuel. It makes the advertised 405 HP on PREMIUM fuel.
There is a safety envelope in the stock programming. GM runs the car on a slightly rich A/F ratio and with timing backed down from the maximum safe point for longevity reasons.
When you put gasoline in the car that detonates more easily, you are basically erasing that buffer zone. What a tune DOES is OPTIMIZE the factory tuning by taking the PCM parameters into that buffer zone in order to make a little more power. If you don't have that area to play with, there's not MUCH a tuner can really do to make the car more powerful.
Right now, putting 93 octane in your car would give you the same performance boost as a tune would....
Well said... The car will run on 87, but WILL NOT put the same power to the ground as it would with 93 octane.. There is no way I would ever put 87 octane in my Z.. I had a dyno tune done to mine so 87 is not an option.. Either way tune or no tune.. You need at least a 91 octane.. When you do the math its about .20 cents a gallon more for premium which equate to $3.60 per 18 gallons (1 tank). Are you on that tight of a budget? If you are, there are other ways to save $3.60 a week assuming you use 1 tank a week. Not eating out so much or going generic on basic household items will get you there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 2
I would not get a tune and still run the 87oct. That is asking for engine failure. Running the highest oct that you have available at the pump locally (91,92,93 or…94 if your lucky enough) along with a tune then you would be good to go. You would pick up some more hp over the stock tune and your MPG would increase. With that said my suggestion would be to add some headers and a X pipe then get the tune.