I have a 06 C6 with Auto (A6) tranny. I installed LG Longtube headers, Vararam CAI, 160 T/S and a ported Intake. After installing these mods, I went to a NW tune shop (that has a great local reputation) and had it dyno'ed. The Dyno is a Mustang and the temp was around the low 80s in the shop.

The first run had my car with 357 rhwp (based on the mods above). Kinda were I expected it...especially since the consenous is that the Mustang Dynos report a little low.

My problem is that after the tune I only gained 5 hp and 0 tq. The curves are near identical through the range with a slight hp gain. Sound I have expected more from a tune? Or are others finding that the C6 doesnt leave much on the table ? ?

The car initially had AFR of about 11 and it was tuned to a pretty flat 12.5 through the range. But the adjustments to the PE (power enrichment fuel multiplier) that resulted in the flat 12.5 AFR didnt gain but the 5hp. We tried to adjust spark (timing) but the engine started fighting it with knock retard.

Please let me know if I should have expected more and if there are other tables that should have been adjusted to accomplish a bigger gain.

Although the car runs great and feels strong, I feel that for $450 it wasn't a great return.

 

I just got back from a Dynojet Research dyno Run with my stock 06 C6 A6 (2054 miles on it). Temp 86 F, Bar 29 in Hg, Hum 34%.

She put out 334 HP & 345 Ft-lbs Torque Max. The AFR was pretty much a 12 throughout.

Based on what the shop guys told me, this is a very good result. Based on your numbers prior to the mods, perhaps not.

Just my two cents worth.

 

Those numbers I posted where not PRIOR to the mods...they were post mods. I did not do a pre-mod base line...just the pre-TUNE baseline. So 357 was with the headers, CAI and ported intake.

Did they tune you car also? Was the 334 before the tune? if so, what did you get after the tune?

 

On a Dynojet, I did 360 rwhp with my A6: K&N AirCharger, LG LT Headers, and 160 Stat. I did not do a tune. My A/F was already pretty close to 12.5 before and after the headers. Plus, I have not thrown a code in the three months that I've had the headers. I'd say you made really good numbers considering it's a Mustang Dyno! I'm guessing you'd do 370 on a DynoJet.

I'm not sure I'd want to spend $400 for a tune for only 5 hp. I may hold off since I am pretty close to 12.5 already. Plus I live in the Phoenix area and I don't want to push timing with this heat. Only things I'd want is to make timing pull back less agressive for the heat, reduce the TM, and bring the cooling fans on earlier.

 

This was no tuning what so ever - the stock car as from the factory.

Two things - I run the car using the paddle shift in 4th gear & I forgot to turn off the air conditioner :-(

I am going to run it stock on the race track in Sept and then the winter begins in Minnesota. Next year I will have much work done to the car, the first of which is getting rid of those damn run flats - noisy as heck.

I am not much of an expert, but your numbers do not look too bad to me. My buddy owns the shop I went to, so I was getting sold advise and straight talk. FYI, my first Dyno run came in at 307 HP !

 

Thanks for the replies... yes, I am ok with my overall numbers. I was just thinking the tune would have yielded more. If anyone did a tune after adding headers, I would like to know if they gained more at that stage (as compared to overall - from stock).

 

Fourth is the best gear to dyno an A6. Your numbers look good. I did 334 stock. Don't worry about the A/C, it turns off automatically whenever you to wide open throttle, so even though you may have left it on, it was not on during your pull. Also, your car was probably too hot during the first run where you only made 307. I ran back to back pulls stock and the car pulled timing on the second pull and I lost 18 hp!

 

Those numbers are pretty good, Robert, especially for a Mustang dyno!

The 5 hp gain from the tune is a little disappointing... but there is always some variance in what what one car needs to be tuned "right" compared to another car. Gains are similarly variable.

It would be interesting to know how the shop works the timing and knock issue. If, for example, you were seeing false knock and that caused the tuner to not maximize timing then you would have left some power on the table. I know in some of the "old" C5's and LS1 F-bodies the knock sensors need to be slightly desensitized (thresholds increased in the tables) because the valve train and exhaust noise comes up with mods. Also the burst knock was kind of an issue on some as well... seemed the pcm would almost anticipate knock and pull timing. I wonder if C6's display the same tendencies? If so you might have a little left in that tuning area because you could get some more timing. Do you know what your peak timing is now?

Regardless, your car is no slouch!

 

I don't have an A6 but on a dyno-jet, I made a best of 377.7rwhp SAE (dynojet) with intake, long-tubes, cat-back. I later added rockers to get where I'm at now but my re-tune gave me no extra power. However, like with my original tune, by maximizing air-fuel, timing, shift points, no TM, etc, it allowed me to use more of the power I had, as opposed to gaining hp/tq. My 2 cents.

 

I will call the tuner to ask. All I remember is that after he got the AFR correct (12.5) he adjusted the timing by 4 deg (not sure if its adv or retard). Then the car picked up another 2 hp, but his Tech 2 indicated that the PCM sensed some knocks...so he took the timing changes back out...saying that the a few hp is not worth the risk of introducing a knock..and that the pcm will compensate for the knock with timing and thus reduce power more. So bottom line is that he made no timing changes for the end result. The number 18 degrees seems to stick in my mind, but dont recall if that was the correct number.

Is that something you can read in your tune file (HPT) or just off of the dyno or tech 2?

 

18 sounds about right for a stock file. With heads or a cam you can run more for sure... Especially if the chambers are polished. You would be able to see the commanded timing from the HP Tuners pcm file. But you need the HP Tuners log file to see what you actually acheive.

Your tuner is absolutely right in his philosophy. Not to mention the fact that he's probably been held responsible for damage in the past so he might be a little gun shy. He could wring that tune out... but you'd have to always run good premium fuel and be aware of what is happening at all times. Not something most people want to do. Tuning is a tough business in that way.

 

robotpedlr...I sent you a PM.

 

Not sure if this helps but.

A6 with these mods. LG pro's with xpipe cats corsa sports, vararam and spacer ported TB with a 160 Tstat and a dyno jet tune equaled 361 SAE corrected RWHP.

 

Wow, that sounds almost identical to mine...so I guess I am on target. And like I said, the car runs GREAT now. Feels very crisp and responsive...just thought I would see about 15hp from the tune itself.

Cory - thanks for the info. I have the HPTuner software also..so maybe I will figure out how to run a log file and see what it looks like.