What is a "tune"
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 842
Likes: 4
From: Corpus Christi TX
St. Jude Donor '05
What is a "tune"
I see that term thrown around as a means of gaining more power... What exactly is involved? I am assuming that it amounts to more than a typical "tune up"... or is it?
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 194
Likes: 2
From: Morgantown WV
In a nutshell, it refers to parameters set in the computer of your car. The settings could be anything from parameters that run the engine (like timing and fuel delivery) to setting the rev. limiter in each gear. It's not related to a standard "tune-up" procedure of changing spark plugs, filters, and whatever else.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 1
From: Littleton Colorado
Dealers will only do whats called a re-flash that will set it back to stock values. There are a few options, get a hand held unit and hope for the best, get a real software package to do it yourself, or find a "Tuner" in your area. A Tuner will have software to setup your computer and should usually have a Dyno and a wide band sensor to verify that its running well. Its a huge subject and takes a long time to learn, much less get good at it. A good Tuner is worth a few hour drive, and I'm sure there are some in TX. Someone here should be able to recomend a good tuner.
On a stock Vette the auto trans ones will get the most bang for the buck. You may get a decent boost out of it, but mostly its for people who have a fair amount of mods. On a stock Vette IMO YMMV, some will say its great others may say they did not notice much.
On a stock Vette the auto trans ones will get the most bang for the buck. You may get a decent boost out of it, but mostly its for people who have a fair amount of mods. On a stock Vette IMO YMMV, some will say its great others may say they did not notice much.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 15
From: Jensen Beach FL
No, a dealer is not the place for a tune and you have little or nothing to gain from a stock 6 speed. Stock automatics can have the shift points and shift firmness changed with a tune and gain some power that way. Tunes are for Headers, cam/heads and maybe even upgraded air intakes.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
I have never monitored a C5, however every stock vehicle I have put my wideband monitor on has been pig rich, so I say there is a possibility this is no exception. If that is the case, then there would be a few HP to gain from a tune by changing the timing to be a little more aggressive and flattening out the fuel curve. Would it be worth the money?? probably not. Once you start adding some toys such as an intake kit, headers etc., you have much more to gain.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
I have never monitored a C5, however every stock vehicle I have put my wideband monitor on has been pig rich, so I say there is a possibility this is no exception. If that is the case, then there would be a few HP to gain from a tune by changing the timing to be a little more aggressive and flattening out the fuel curve. Would it be worth the money?? probably not. Once you start adding some toys such as an intake kit, headers etc., you have much more to gain.
We took my wifes STOCK 04 A4 and we gained 12 hp and 10 ft tq, plus better throttle response, better shifting, and a little better fuel mileage.
So is it worth it for a stock corvette to get a tune, Dyno tune? YES very much soo.
Even more so a dyno tune for any car with bolt ons as in Headers and CAI.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
Taking your car to get a dyno tune ( on a dynomometer) runs +/-$400.
We took my wifes STOCK 04 A4 and we gained 12 hp and 10 ft tq, plus better throttle response, better shifting, and a little better fuel mileage.
So is it worth it for a stock corvette to get a tune, Dyno tune? YES very much soo.
Even more so a dyno tune for any car with bolt ons as in Headers and CAI.
We took my wifes STOCK 04 A4 and we gained 12 hp and 10 ft tq, plus better throttle response, better shifting, and a little better fuel mileage.
So is it worth it for a stock corvette to get a tune, Dyno tune? YES very much soo.
Even more so a dyno tune for any car with bolt ons as in Headers and CAI.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
YES dont get the tune until you bolt on those extras. Especially the LTs
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
exactly. The factory WOT tune is pure guesswork.
and now you see how misconceptions happen.
example; man buys K&N filter and after replacing it on his stock motor - he gets his cars first dyno tune. The tune results in 10 more HP. Credit is given to the K&N.
If he had the dyno tune done both before and after the K&N upgrade... he would of still gained the 10hp; but before the K&N was ever installed- with the OEM paper filter
and could of returned the K&N for refund 
.
.
and now you see how misconceptions happen.
example; man buys K&N filter and after replacing it on his stock motor - he gets his cars first dyno tune. The tune results in 10 more HP. Credit is given to the K&N.
If he had the dyno tune done both before and after the K&N upgrade... he would of still gained the 10hp; but before the K&N was ever installed- with the OEM paper filter
and could of returned the K&N for refund .
.
Last edited by Mike Mercury; Apr 10, 2008 at 08:48 PM.
