New guy needs Vararam advice.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Bloomfield Hills MI
New guy needs Vararam advice.
Just picked up a 2002 A4 with 3,100 miles and I'm looking at adding a Vararam B2. Question - will I need a tune? I know that a tune will pick up additional HP but I'm just trying to get started for now. Also, I know it's a slippery slope.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
A VARARAM will mess with your MAF calibration. 
Trust me on this one. You will gain seat of the pants HP but may see a slight drop in your fuel mileage average as your PCM will need to add fuel and your fuel LT trims slew positive. You can tune it back in. A good tune will never hurt. Get as many mods added as you can and get her tuned.
In my case I added Stainless Works LT headers & the VARARAM at the same time and saw a large drop in economy and a big rise in HP.
The good news, I got it tuned and saw 390 at the rear wheels on my 02 ZO6.
I just added Heads/cam/FAST 90 and new injectors and I will have to start all over again with the tune.
BC
Trust me on this one. You will gain seat of the pants HP but may see a slight drop in your fuel mileage average as your PCM will need to add fuel and your fuel LT trims slew positive. You can tune it back in. A good tune will never hurt. Get as many mods added as you can and get her tuned.In my case I added Stainless Works LT headers & the VARARAM at the same time and saw a large drop in economy and a big rise in HP.
The good news, I got it tuned and saw 390 at the rear wheels on my 02 ZO6. I just added Heads/cam/FAST 90 and new injectors and I will have to start all over again with the tune.
BC
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,009
Likes: 491
From: South Florida
If you don't plan to add anything for at least 6 months then definitely get a tune. My car dropped 3 tenths with just the install of the vararam(no tune) in worse conditions, but 1 tenth of that was contributed by the 60ft. So I definitely dropped 2 tenths with just the vararam. I think with a tune I will drop another two, but I am getting headers very very soon so I am going to wait until after them to get it tuned.
Original Founding Member!
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,037
Likes: 88
From: Granby, MA
Cruise-In 1, 3, 9. 10 & 11 Veteran
well hmmmm
A VARARAM will mess with your MAF calibration. Trust me on this one. You will gain seat of the pants HP but may see a slight drop in your fuel mileage average as your PCM will need to add fuel and your fuel LT trims slew positive. You can tune it back in. A good tune will never hurt. Get as many mods added as you can and get her tuned.
In my case I added Stainless Works LT headers & the VARARAM at the same time and saw a large drop in economy and a big rise in HP. The good news, I got it tuned and saw 390 at the rear wheels on my 02 ZO6.
I just added Heads/cam/FAST 90 and new injectors and I will have to start all over again with the tune.
BC
Trust me on this one. You will gain seat of the pants HP but may see a slight drop in your fuel mileage average as your PCM will need to add fuel and your fuel LT trims slew positive. You can tune it back in. A good tune will never hurt. Get as many mods added as you can and get her tuned.In my case I added Stainless Works LT headers & the VARARAM at the same time and saw a large drop in economy and a big rise in HP.
The good news, I got it tuned and saw 390 at the rear wheels on my 02 ZO6. I just added Heads/cam/FAST 90 and new injectors and I will have to start all over again with the tune.
BC
If you don't plan to add anything for at least 6 months then definitely get a tune. My car dropped 3 tenths with just the install of the vararam(no tune) in worse conditions, but 1 tenth of that was contributed by the 60ft. So I definitely dropped 2 tenths with just the vararam. I think with a tune I will drop another two, but I am getting headers very very soon so I am going to wait until after them to get it tuned.
well I must say you both throwing me for a loop, I never have seen the replies you both have given in regards to the vararam. Sure it sounds right about a tune won't hurt, but for just adding the Vararam, it sounds like a waste of at least $500....take a look at my post on the subject along with more importantly, the reply's. Just some more info to add to this subject.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2012018
Last edited by XtremeVette; May 4, 2008 at 11:53 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 881
Likes: 2
From: hill billy hell
You do not need a tune for the for the Vararam to work, but like stated
by Bill it will throw off your fuel trim
. The PCM allows for a +/-25% longterm fuel trim and as long as these are maintained no codes will pop up,
but the closer to a negative value the better
If you got money burning a hole in your pocket go ahead and have it
dialed in.
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