Gains with tune only on '98 A4...
02-15-2012, 05:22 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Gains with tune only on '98 A4...
I am asking for my father in-law.. he has a 100% stock '98 A4 vert. He ran into someone who convinced him that he should spend $400 on a tune and he will gain 30-50 rwhp. He even talked to the tuner and he confirmed this sort of gain... I told him it was BS.... but I was thinking it has been 11 years since I sold my C5 and I might not be up on things now.
So, my question is this.... What kind of gains are there to be had on a otherwise stock '98 A4 with a tune only???
Thanks!!
UPDATE 3/10/12!! My father inlaw had the tune only done on his A4.. It went from 269 rwhp to 303 rwhp sae... Needless to say he is happy. He lives 3 hours away and I was not there to witness this. I know 269 is a bit low to start with. But he is pleased!!!
So, my question is this.... What kind of gains are there to be had on a otherwise stock '98 A4 with a tune only???
Thanks!!
UPDATE 3/10/12!! My father inlaw had the tune only done on his A4.. It went from 269 rwhp to 303 rwhp sae... Needless to say he is happy. He lives 3 hours away and I was not there to witness this. I know 269 is a bit low to start with. But he is pleased!!!
Last edited by C5 Frank; 03-10-2012 at 06:06 PM.
02-15-2012, 06:14 PM
#3
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that seems pretty steep...he would need to add in a cold air intake, or aftermarket exhaust at least.
02-15-2012, 06:50 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
Don't start the bolt on thing...it gets ugly after you start. A filter here, exhaust change there, then before you know it you are churning out 500hp and then planning to move up to 600+.
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02-15-2012, 10:04 PM
#6
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The car will not gain 30-50 rwhp with just a tune and no other mods. I'd say you might get 10-20 rwhp with a very good tune.
02-15-2012, 10:14 PM
#7
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Man a big waste of 400.00 for sure here. Save your money you really dont need a tune until you get a cam put in her. Intake, new air filter, headers, cat back all can be added with out a tune and will increase the rwhp. Robert
02-15-2012, 11:02 PM
#8
Race Director
You'll see that kind of gain with long tube headers and intake - plus the tune. Think of this - the average C5 with an A4 makes about 280 rwhp stock. Add intake and long tube headers with a tune, you likely be in the 315 - 320 neighborhood.
The intangible here is that if you have a good tuner, he'll change shift points and shift pressures that will make the car FEEL much better with more positive shifts. I tell our customers to not get to hung up on dyno numbers, and to concentrate more on how the car feels.
It all depends on what you're after. Another beneficial mod is to change the rear end - with a stock 2.73, a change to a 3.42 will make the car feel dramatically better with a small loss in fuel mileage. Couple a change like this to headers, intake and tune, now you've got a car with a totally different personality.
The intangible here is that if you have a good tuner, he'll change shift points and shift pressures that will make the car FEEL much better with more positive shifts. I tell our customers to not get to hung up on dyno numbers, and to concentrate more on how the car feels.
It all depends on what you're after. Another beneficial mod is to change the rear end - with a stock 2.73, a change to a 3.42 will make the car feel dramatically better with a small loss in fuel mileage. Couple a change like this to headers, intake and tune, now you've got a car with a totally different personality.
02-15-2012, 11:20 PM
#9
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You'll see that kind of gain with long tube headers and intake - plus the tune. Think of this - the average C5 with an A4 makes about 280 rwhp stock. Add intake and long tube headers with a tune, you likely be in the 315 - 320 neighborhood.
The intangible here is that if you have a good tuner, he'll change shift points and shift pressures that will make the car FEEL much better with more positive shifts. I tell our customers to not get to hung up on dyno numbers, and to concentrate more on how the car feels.
It all depends on what you're after. Another beneficial mod is to change the rear end - with a stock 2.73, a change to a 3.42 will make the car feel dramatically better with a small loss in fuel mileage. Couple a change like this to headers, intake and tune, now you've got a car with a totally different personality.
The intangible here is that if you have a good tuner, he'll change shift points and shift pressures that will make the car FEEL much better with more positive shifts. I tell our customers to not get to hung up on dyno numbers, and to concentrate more on how the car feels.
It all depends on what you're after. Another beneficial mod is to change the rear end - with a stock 2.73, a change to a 3.42 will make the car feel dramatically better with a small loss in fuel mileage. Couple a change like this to headers, intake and tune, now you've got a car with a totally different personality.
great point...the shift points are so important....you'll be glad you have an auto trans when you feel the instantaneous shifts...it's like you have only one gear and it goes all the way out to 150 mph!
02-15-2012, 11:32 PM
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02-16-2012, 12:46 PM
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I just had mine tuned by lethal performance and it put down 417rwhp... But i have alot of aftermarket gerbals under the hood. Had to order them specially from LPE. 
02-16-2012, 01:21 PM
#13
Drifting
02-16-2012, 02:49 PM
#14
Pro
You'll see that kind of gain with long tube headers and intake - plus the tune. Think of this - the average C5 with an A4 makes about 280 rwhp stock. Add intake and long tube headers with a tune, you likely be in the 315 - 320 neighborhood.
The intangible here is that if you have a good tuner, he'll change shift points and shift pressures that will make the car FEEL much better with more positive shifts. I tell our customers to not get to hung up on dyno numbers, and to concentrate more on how the car feels.
It all depends on what you're after. Another beneficial mod is to change the rear end - with a stock 2.73, a change to a 3.42 will make the car feel dramatically better with a small loss in fuel mileage. Couple a change like this to headers, intake and tune, now you've got a car with a totally different personality.
The intangible here is that if you have a good tuner, he'll change shift points and shift pressures that will make the car FEEL much better with more positive shifts. I tell our customers to not get to hung up on dyno numbers, and to concentrate more on how the car feels.
It all depends on what you're after. Another beneficial mod is to change the rear end - with a stock 2.73, a change to a 3.42 will make the car feel dramatically better with a small loss in fuel mileage. Couple a change like this to headers, intake and tune, now you've got a car with a totally different personality.
The driveability of the car is enhanced greatly if the tuner knows what he is doing. I had mine done for $100 and it was the best money spent so far. The shift points make all the difference in the world and the time to shift is more to my liking as well. All in all a great thing to do with an A4 IMHO.
03-10-2012, 06:12 PM
#16
Race Director
I have an 2004 A4 car. My mods include ARH LT headers and offroad X-pipe, a Blackwing cold air intake, GHL bullets, 3.42 diff and the all-important dyno tune, done by Corey Henderson. It makes 351 rwhp and 365 rwtq. The gear change is the main reason it runs as well as it does.
03-10-2012, 06:21 PM
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I would say maybe at most 15hp, And I will add this, It will feel like a lot more with a engine and trans tune, In my opinion it is well worth a tune on an A4 Vette, I had Chuck CoW do mine and it is the best mod to date, The car is faster, shifts quicker, You can't beat a good tune, My car is stock and the tune turned it into a whole new experience.
Mr.Bill
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03-10-2012, 06:43 PM
#18
Team Owner
Excellent gains and yes it can be had as seen from his results -
when I had my '98 A4 in the beginning I had Flowmaster mufflers, K&N CAI, Descreened MAF, LS6 Intake manifold and a tune and I netted 323 RWHP - Decent results
If he adds the other supporting mods it will increase in RWHP too!
Thanks,Matt
when I had my '98 A4 in the beginning I had Flowmaster mufflers, K&N CAI, Descreened MAF, LS6 Intake manifold and a tune and I netted 323 RWHP - Decent results
If he adds the other supporting mods it will increase in RWHP too!
Thanks,Matt
03-10-2012, 06:53 PM
#19
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A4 C5's are AWESOME when tuned right....
I would say maybe at most 15hp, And I will add this, It will feel like a lot more with a engine and trans tune, In my opinion it is well worth a tune on an A4 Vette, I had Chuck CoW do mine and it is the best mod to date, The car is faster, shifts quicker, You can't beat a good tune, My car is stock and the tune turned it into a whole new experience.
Mr.Bill
Mr.Bill
It might sound funny to some of you, but It's not the HORSEPOWER I care about so much
on an A4 car.... It's all about tuning the trans to help it squeeze the most out of the motor...
The motor will make what power it makes plus or minus....
But, when you get the trans and the throttle working the way I do, you'll see what I mean.
Stay TUNED!
Chuck CoW
03-10-2012, 07:36 PM
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A4 C5's are AWESOME when tuned right....
It might sound funny to some of you, but It's not the HORSEPOWER I care about so much
on an A4 car.... It's all about tuning the trans to help it squeeze the most out of the motor...
The motor will make what power it makes plus or minus....
But, when you get the trans and the throttle working the way I do, you'll see what I mean.
Stay TUNED!
Chuck CoW
It might sound funny to some of you, but It's not the HORSEPOWER I care about so much
on an A4 car.... It's all about tuning the trans to help it squeeze the most out of the motor...
The motor will make what power it makes plus or minus....
But, when you get the trans and the throttle working the way I do, you'll see what I mean.
Stay TUNED!
Chuck CoW