Question about tuners
 

I did a quick search and didn't really find a concrete answer for what I'm looking for so here goes:

As you all know I'm pretty knew to the modular scene. This is the first Mod motor I have ever touched/planned to modify.

Now I'm hearing a whole heckuva lot about these handheld tuners and how great they are, SCT, Diablosport and the like.

So I guess what I want to know.. is what do you really do with them. I mean I know you can alter things like rev limiters, timing, accounting for gears/tires etc, but what about that 15-20rwhp gain the manufacturers tout? Do you just plug it in and select "hi-po tune for 01 Bullitt" or somesuch?

Or is it more involved: Do I have to actually go into every potential category and make the individual changes on my own?

The reason I want to know is that I wanna know what I'm getting into before i ever get myself one of these (not that i can afford one right now). I'm just afraid i'll mess up one setting and blow the whole thing up.

Thanks to everyone! Tuning the car's computer sounds fascinating to me, but i want to learn as much as possible to ensure i dont mess it all up. No rushing into things with half assed and no brained on THIS project!

What you would do is go to Dougs website(BamaChips) and when you order a tuner it comes with three tunes of your choice. Then when you get it you basically plug it in select which tune you want and go.

Thanks! I'll check it out :nice:

I always wanted to get a tuner but i like running 87 oct and i know i wouldn't get the most from it if i use a 87 tune.

Split the difference with 89. :grin:

around me they charge 15 cents extra a gallon for 89 and then and other 15 above that to get 93.

I drive 45k+ miles per year, and was getting 21.5-22 MPG on 87 octane with the stock tune--at the current cost/gallon here in Florida ($2.45 f/ 87) thats $5011 a year for fuel (I used 22 MPG in the calculation)...

Using a tweaked 91 octane tune (Granatelli Fuego, w/ increased timing advance 'cause we get 93 octane year-round here) I get a very noticable power increase, and a very consistent 23.5 MPG. 93 is $2.75/gallon, so doing the same math as above the annual fuel cost is $5,266.

So, it will cost me $255/year* ($4.90/week) to have a very noticable increase in power (the low-end and midrange really picked up, and it pulls strong right up to redline). Keep in mind that this increased cost is for 45k miles per year, if you only drive 15k miles it will cost you 1/3rd of this--$85/year, or $1.63/week...

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* - Recurring cost. There is of course the one-time cost for the tuner ($300), however the handheld unit let's you tweak things, (not extensively, but you can adjust the important stuff within reason), clear codes, see codes, turn on/off the EGR, rear sensors, traction control, and more.

smarty pants. but this is also asuming i will get better mileage.

I average 17-18 mpg. I drive around 11,000 miles a year.

Ok so lets do the math. lets say 2.50 a gallon at 17mpg... 647 gallons a year. $1617.64 a year.

so if i get 1 mpg better. 2.80 a gallon at 18mpg... 611 gallons.... $1711 a year..

so now 2mpg better. 2.80 a gallon at 19mpg... 578 gallons.... $1621 a year.

So if i get mileage increase i it will cost me $4-$94 more a year or $0.07-$1.8 a week more.

See my dilema :grin: