American Racing Headers Without Tune?
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
American Racing Headers Without Tune?
Yesterday i got American Racing Long Tube Headers installed on my 2016 Z51 and i was wondering if it’s safe for me to drive the car hard without a tune? I still plan on getting a intake at the same shop and i’ll eventually get a tune but in the mean time i plan on driving the car how i was before installation. Should i be ok?
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 142
Likes: 16
From: Chicagoland
its your car but I wouldn't drive it hard, especially if I don't have anything monitoring the vehicle. I got my tune done with install for the headers to be safe since I'm basically killing the warranty.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Yesterday i got American Racing Long Tube Headers installed on my 2016 Z51 and i was wondering if it’s safe for me to drive the car hard without a tune? I still plan on getting a intake at the same shop and i’ll eventually get a tune but in the mean time i plan on driving the car how i was before installation. Should i be ok?
LT headers & 3 inch mid pipe & ported T.B. & intake will really lean the car out. I put all of above in my car at one time it was running rich before putting onto the car. Plugs was black put new ones into the car now they are a good tan color. So it will lean the car up this also before a tune on it...... Robert
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 441
Likes: 156
From: Jax FL
Glad this question was asked. I have a set of AR longtubes and can do the install on my own (rather then pay $$$), but the tuner is in Tampa 220 miles away (Im in Jacksonville) so I was wondering if I can "nanny" the car down there and get a tune after I install them. I also have a ported TB but everything else is factory (other then a Borla X pipe and Magnaflow exhaust).
Worse case is I can get my buddy and have him trailer me down but I was hoping to just drive it down on my own.
Worse case is I can get my buddy and have him trailer me down but I was hoping to just drive it down on my own.
I'm Batman..
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,142
Likes: 921
From: Lehigh Acres FL
Tech Contributor
Glad this question was asked. I have a set of AR longtubes and can do the install on my own (rather then pay $$$), but the tuner is in Tampa 220 miles away (Im in Jacksonville) so I was wondering if I can "nanny" the car down there and get a tune after I install them. I also have a ported TB but everything else is factory (other then a Borla X pipe and Magnaflow exhaust).
Worse case is I can get my buddy and have him trailer me down but I was hoping to just drive it down on my own.
Worse case is I can get my buddy and have him trailer me down but I was hoping to just drive it down on my own.
Ant
Pro
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 740
Likes: 94
From: California
I really wouldn't drive it really hard without a wideband in the car. Should get it below 12.6 on W/B if you go to lean it will drop # 7 or 5 & 7 hole on you seems to be the ones to go...
LT headers & 3 inch mid pipe & ported T.B. & intake will really lean the car out. I put all of above in my car at one time it was running rich before putting onto the car. Plugs was black put new ones into the car now they are a good tan color. So it will lean the car up this also before a tune on it...... Robert
LT headers & 3 inch mid pipe & ported T.B. & intake will really lean the car out. I put all of above in my car at one time it was running rich before putting onto the car. Plugs was black put new ones into the car now they are a good tan color. So it will lean the car up this also before a tune on it...... Robert
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 441
Likes: 156
From: Jax FL
Yeah I kinda figured that much at least.
Another reason I was curious is back in the day I had an 06 GTO and funny thing is that if you put LTs on the M6 without a tune you would get the same results (ie check engine) BUT the A4 would not even start, it would either put itself into a "safe mode" (cant drive faster then 25mph) or not run at all depending upon what other mods you've done.
Needless to say quite a few owners found this out the hard way (not me BTW hahaha).
I'm Batman..
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,142
Likes: 921
From: Lehigh Acres FL
Tech Contributor
Ant how you doing bud.
Yeah I kinda figured that much at least.
Another reason I was curious is back in the day I had an 06 GTO and funny thing is that if you put LTs on the M6 without a tune you would get the same results (ie check engine) BUT the A4 would not even start, it would either put itself into a "safe mode" (cant drive faster then 25mph) or not run at all depending upon what other mods you've done.
Needless to say quite a few owners found this out the hard way (not me BTW hahaha).
Yeah I kinda figured that much at least.
Another reason I was curious is back in the day I had an 06 GTO and funny thing is that if you put LTs on the M6 without a tune you would get the same results (ie check engine) BUT the A4 would not even start, it would either put itself into a "safe mode" (cant drive faster then 25mph) or not run at all depending upon what other mods you've done.
Needless to say quite a few owners found this out the hard way (not me BTW hahaha).
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 26,512
Likes: 351
From: ST. CHARLES IL
It's safe to run your car with headers and no tune. Your car will actually run rich with the long tubes since you are moving the o2 sensor so far down stream. You'll most likely get a rear o2 cel which is nothing to worry about. It's not going to hurt anything over a short period of time. If you installed high flow cats over time you can wear those out with all the extra fuel being sent their way.
That being said get a tune for sure. You're leaving power on the table and no one wants to smell like gas every time they get out of the car.
That being said get a tune for sure. You're leaving power on the table and no one wants to smell like gas every time they get out of the car.