Higher elevation tuning question - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

15RS2NV · 03-08-2019, 07:38 PM

My elevation is about 2500-3000 feet, if I get a tune can they compensate for the thinner air and excessive heat? I'm loosing approximately 10% of my horse power from both of them.

I'm not used to computer controlled cars, so I'm still learning. Old school learning new school

CamaroFred · 03-08-2019, 08:18 PM

Between the MAF, the MAP, the IAT, and the O2 sensors everything should run well.
No more changing the jets in the carb or messing with the timing when tripping through the mountains.
I've been from sea level to 5733 feet. It had more effect on me than the Camaro.

DSMer1 · 03-08-2019, 09:08 PM

But yes, the higher in elevation you go the less power you make, generally.

CamaroFred · 03-09-2019, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSMer1

But yes, the higher in elevation you go the less power you make, generally.

Turbochargers were invented for aircraft so men would have the justification to spend the money.

gringo · 03-09-2019, 01:26 AM

No tune is going to compensate for thinner air. Thinner air is thinner air. How do you make it thicker? You force in more air than normal and that only comes with F.I.

However, maybe one of those cheap electric superchargers could do that. They got to be good for shoving at least 10% more air into the intake. I'd give it a shot.

Rock-It Man · 03-09-2019, 07:06 AM

Your car already has a "tune" for higher latitude. The MAF and oxygen sensors adjust the amount of fuel injected based on mass air flow at the intake and oxygen remaining in the exhaust.

When the air is thinner, less fuel is injected because there's less oxygen to burn it with. Thus less power.

As stated above, the only way to make more power at altitude is to add more air. Hence superchargers.

qkslvr · 03-09-2019, 04:22 PM

stock tune should be fine, you only need to worry about this when you start modding the car. Granted mine is a SS, but with the stock tune it ran fine in everything from sea level to 7000+. I did run into issues when I started to have things done. I.E. Cam, intake, TB, full exhaust and gears. My tuner was in 7100+ and I live in 3200-5000... Car ran amazing in the higher altitude, but on the drive home I down shifted and got on it and everything went haywire. after consulting with tuner he did forget to compensate for the lower altitude. Adjusted the tune and now runs great.

gringo · 03-09-2019, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qkslvr

stock tune should be fine, you only need to worry about this when you start modding the car. Granted mine is a SS, but with the stock tune it ran fine in everything from sea level to 7000+. I did run into issues when I started to have things done. I.E. Cam, intake, TB, full exhaust and gears. My tuner was in 7100+ and I live in 3200-5000... Car ran amazing in the higher altitude, but on the drive home I down shifted and got on it and everything went haywire. after consulting with tuner he did forget to compensate for the lower altitude. Adjusted the tune and now runs great.

It's not about the engine running good at altitude, the ECU will automatically adjust for that through the stock tune. That's one of the benefits of having a modern fuel injected computer controlled engine.

He's talking about gaining back the 10% power loss that comes at higher altitude due to the thinner air. Nothing will help with that unless you force back in the missing 10% of air density that the engine would get at lower altitude. The only way to do that is with forced induction.

15RS2NV · 03-10-2019, 08:55 PM

Thanks all. Appreciate the info.

03-08-2019, 07:38 PM	#1
15RS2NV Ponies are for girls Drives: 2015 RS LFX Red Hot A6 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Southern AZ Posts: 315 View My Garage	Higher elevation tuning question My elevation is about 2500-3000 feet, if I get a tune can they compensate for the thinner air and excessive heat? I'm loosing approximately 10% of my horse power from both of them. I'm not used to computer controlled cars, so I'm still learning. Old school learning new school __________________ H&R 1.8/1.7” drop, Overkill 80mm + intake ported by AFS, 1" insulator MACE, Accel Super Coils, THR cai, JET MAF sensor, Hurst shifter handle, GPP strut tower brace, CI ice cube tray hood vents (functional) @SemperFiCamaro

03-08-2019, 08:18 PM	#2
CamaroFred Drives: Miss Con Ception Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 2,998	Between the MAF, the MAP, the IAT, and the O2 sensors everything should run well. No more changing the jets in the carb or messing with the timing when tripping through the mountains. I've been from sea level to 5733 feet. It had more effect on me than the Camaro. __________________ 2011 1SS/RS LS3 CGM

03-08-2019, 09:08 PM	#3
DSMer1 Drives: 14 and 15 SS's Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 387	But yes, the higher in elevation you go the less power you make, generally. __________________ Bolt-ons!

03-09-2019, 04:22 PM	#7
qkslvr Drives: 2010 ABM 1SS M6 NON RS Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rapid City, SD Posts: 669 View My Garage	stock tune should be fine, you only need to worry about this when you start modding the car. Granted mine is a SS, but with the stock tune it ran fine in everything from sea level to 7000+. I did run into issues when I started to have things done. I.E. Cam, intake, TB, full exhaust and gears. My tuner was in 7100+ and I live in 3200-5000... Car ran amazing in the higher altitude, but on the drive home I down shifted and got on it and everything went haywire. after consulting with tuner he did forget to compensate for the lower altitude. Adjusted the tune and now runs great. __________________ 2010 Aqua Blue 1SS KWC 3pc forged, Seibon hood, ZL front end, MGW, ARH full exhaust w/ Doug Thorley axle back, BTR4, Roto-fab, LSXR 102, NW 102, 3.91s 2018 GMC Sierra (Stone Blue metallic) 2016 Streetglide (Crushed Ice Pearl) 2018 Indian Scout (Bronze Smoke)

03-10-2019, 08:55 PM	#9
15RS2NV Ponies are for girls Drives: 2015 RS LFX Red Hot A6 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Southern AZ Posts: 315 View My Garage	Thanks all. Appreciate the info. __________________ H&R 1.8/1.7” drop, Overkill 80mm + intake ported by AFS, 1" insulator MACE, Accel Super Coils, THR cai, JET MAF sensor, Hurst shifter handle, GPP strut tower brace, CI ice cube tray hood vents (functional) @SemperFiCamaro

03-09-2019, 01:26 AM	#5
gringo Account Suspended Drives: Camaro V6 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: U.S. Posts: 1,722	No tune is going to compensate for thinner air. Thinner air is thinner air. How do you make it thicker? You force in more air than normal and that only comes with F.I. However, maybe one of those cheap electric superchargers could do that. They got to be good for shoving at least 10% more air into the intake. I'd give it a shot.

03-09-2019, 07:06 AM	#6
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,033 View My Garage	Your car already has a "tune" for higher latitude. The MAF and oxygen sensors adjust the amount of fuel injected based on mass air flow at the intake and oxygen remaining in the exhaust. When the air is thinner, less fuel is injected because there's less oxygen to burn it with. Thus less power. As stated above, the only way to make more power at altitude is to add more air. Hence superchargers.