Any reliability or CEL issues with long tube headers
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,129
Likes: 7,439
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Without tuning you are going to throw codes regardless of cats or not.
Also, without tuning installing longtubes is almost moot.
Plan on tuning.
Also, without tuning installing longtubes is almost moot.
Plan on tuning.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 243
Likes: 116
Ok so with a a tune does that basically silent the codes so they don't pop up? Or does it bring the car back within its parameters that the computer recognizes as running correctly?
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,129
Likes: 7,439
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Good question.
The 4 main codes you will likely deal with with longtubes will be rear 02s and front 02 sensor response (lazy) because they are now way farther away from the cylinder head.
Those codes are generally just turned off in the tune.
Beyond that, tuning on a dyno or street tuning for that matter will dial in the efficiency changes and take advantage of the long tube itself. Changes made to VE table MAF curve and spark can really make some impressive gains on the LS engine.
I personally think it's worth the effort.
Also, you can absolutely bolt a good set of longubes on the car and it will drive fine but yes you will get a check engine light probably in the first 5 miles.
The 4 main codes you will likely deal with with longtubes will be rear 02s and front 02 sensor response (lazy) because they are now way farther away from the cylinder head.
Those codes are generally just turned off in the tune.
Beyond that, tuning on a dyno or street tuning for that matter will dial in the efficiency changes and take advantage of the long tube itself. Changes made to VE table MAF curve and spark can really make some impressive gains on the LS engine.
I personally think it's worth the effort.
Also, you can absolutely bolt a good set of longubes on the car and it will drive fine but yes you will get a check engine light probably in the first 5 miles.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 706
From: Pingree Grove IL
Original owner of my 2004, LG headers installed and tuned in 2006 or 2007. In almost 20 years, I’ve never had an issue. I’ve never had it retuned, I’ve never retightened a header bolt. Runs 12.5 at 111mph, on a street tire, 3.73 gears and 3200 stall. Next is try a drag radial. Dyno 340 wheel through an auto trans.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 2,073
From: THE BEACH..
I do my own tuning but yes done properly there's no issues. Turn off the codes, dial in the tables with some timing and turn on the one thing that's not on in the factory tune that makes a big difference: Power Enrichment. Then the car comes alive.
