Very basic question here, because I am really new to "tuners", and sorry if this has already been asked and answered.

I recently purchased an SCT X4 tuner with "tunes for life", but have been left with the impression from the seller that a completely stock Mustang GT cannot benefit from a "tune" - they also do not provide a "custom tune" for a stock Mustang. The seller has offered to provide me with an RMA for the tuner; and I can only assume it is because they feel that the SCT tuner is of no use to me.

Can anyone shed some light on using said tuner on a completely stock Mustang? I thought the tuner came with some very basic tunes as well, is that not true?

Looking for advice as to whether it is worth it to keep the product, or return it. I might do performance upgrades in the future, but I purchased the product thinking I would be able to benefit today, even in a stock configuration.

Thanks in advance for any advice or help anyone can provide.

 

The tuner comes from SCT with some canned tunes, but they have a reputation for not being very good

Since you mentioned "tunes for life" I guess the tuner was purchased from American Muscle and has Bama tunes on it . . . these might be a little better than the canned SCT tunes, but Bama's reputation has gone down hill quite a bit lately . . . this is internet wisdom, where we usually hear the complaints and not the kudos, so take it with a grain of salt.

A stock car can benefit a little from a tune; automatic transmission more so than manual (because it adjusts the shift points in the auto). However there is not as much to be gained as in the past, because the factory tunes are pretty good. It is handy to have a tuner for things like adjusting the speedometer if you change the tire diameter, and for future modifications.

Who did you buy it from; and why did you buy it in the first place?

 

Thanks for the reply. I preferred not to name to company because I don't want to cause any trouble.

I did purchase the tuner with the expectation of making modifications in the future, but thought I would also be able to gain something now, with a basically stock Mustang. The company had a very good Black Friday price, which is why I bought now hoping for at least a modest performance improvement even though I am running a stock Mustang. I do have a CAI, but have been told by the company that they do not support the CAI I have and cannot write a tune for it - they basically only tune for products they sell (which might give away the company). I had planned on moving to a shorter gear ratio next summer (possibly a 3.73:1), which would require a way to "fix" the speedometer.

They have graciously offered to RMA the tuner since they do not seem to offer a "custom tune" for a stock Mustang GT. I was wondering if I should take them up on the RMA, or if there is benefit in keeping it?

I know I haven't set up my "info" on here yet, but I have a 2014 Mustang GT with a MT, an AEM Brute Force CAI, and a Roush Axle Back exhaust. I was planning on adding headers and full exhaust in the future, along with a larger TB and possibly the Boss Intake Manifold; as well as the aforementioned 3.73:1 rear gears (stock is 3.31:1). Modifications are more expensive today than when I did them on my 1990 Mustang LX 5.0 - LOL!

 

sounds like there is minimal benefit right now, but it will come in handy in the future

regarding that CAI -- is the mass air flow tube larger than the stock intake? If so, it really should have a tune, to correct for that. The make and model of the CAI doesn't really matter, only the diameter of the tube. So if you can find the tube diameter, and find another CAI with the same diameter that is supported, that should work.

I guess if you return it now, you could always buy it again in the future when you need it.

 

Who did you buy your SCT tuner from? I only have a 2011 v6 and when factory stock, an SCT tuner with a MPT tune added a little over 20 horsepower to the wheels. This took off almost 1/2 of a second on my 0 to 60 times. The seller is not being truthful

 

Okay, there was some confusion in the email exchanges with the “tuner” (probably more on my part than theirs). After going back and forth for a while, it was cleared up that they would make a tune for a completely stock motor, but they admonished me that it MUST be completely stock - no changes whatsoever - not even a high flow air filter in the stock air box. They graciously offered to sell me their brand CAI at a steep discount, and I decided I would just get it and remove the AEM and see if I can sell it and get at least some of my money back.

Suffice it to say, I rather not name the company at this point because maybe the misunderstanding was more on my end, being a relative “noob” when it comes to all this ECU flashing and how it interacts with any (all) - even the slightest - modifications. I am an old time mechanic - give me a 1970’s V8 any day of the week. But everything has been worked out with the tuner.

Thanks for the replies and advice. It was helpful.