Dyno tune vs email. Comparison

[CyberPredator]

Man that's an impressive improvement tune to tune Rhino. Great Job! Axis, did the previous tuner get you to datalog or was it just an email wam, bam, thank you ma'am?

[JANNETTYRACING]

Originally Posted by Camarojt

Ted, did SCT ever get that software issue resolved on being able to unlock a Circle D converter at WOT?

Yes sir they added the tables to your operating system about 1 month after we spoke.

Thanks.

[Detoxx03]

Always prefer a onsite dyno/street tune with hp tuners or efi live. Great results OP.

[BLKBETY]

Hey guys, I just recently bought a 2010 Camaro SS LS3 and am wanting to do upgrades. I came across this post and have a few questions before I jump into something I know nothing about.

If I choose to go with an email tune instead of having to make a long drive somewhere for a dyno tune, how do I log and and send tunes to get my car fixed or running better I guess you could say?

Second, after I do that how will I know if anything has changed? Is it something I can feel or is it just that I wont have any lights on my dash?

If I don't know what im looking for how will I know when my log is right and no longer need to send them in? Is that something the tuner will see and let me know that my car is good so I don't tear it up?

I don't really plan on racing my car but want to add a supercharger or a turbo someday. Not sure if that matters though.

Anyway, thanks in advance for any help you guys might have for me.



I was under the impression that if I buy a tuner from somewhere that as I upgrade my car I can just call them and tell them what im doing and they can fix it from there, and that a dyno was strictly for only seeing how much power I am making. After coming to this forum and trying to read stuff its like a whole new world so I thought I would join so I could ask and get better details.

[Rhino79]

A good remote tune is ok for most setups, but you have to trust who is tuning the car. At the end of the day the tuner says when its good and when its not.

You use the device you purchase to datalog with, retrieve those logs and email them to your tuner. From there you will received an updated file based off what needed changed in the log. You upload to device and upload to the car.

I still prefer dyno or in person street calibration. At the end of the day, even if you have to drive 5 hrs, its cheaper for the customer, and I can actually be in the vehicle to feel and listen to the car. You never know if you may find something that may need to be addressed.

In addition to that, dyno and street tuning (by good calibrators), will use a wideband air fuel sensor to monitor actual AFR. You can do that with a datalog remotely, but you will have to buy your own air fuel setup. Which just adds to the cost.

[Slowhawk]

Biggest problem with remote tuning I see is spark knock. A lot of times the scanner will not pick it up but you can hear the engine knocking.
Other problem is dialing in A/F. I can't see how a tuner feels safe sending a file for a supercharged car and tell the customer to do a bunch of driving and some WOT pulls, then send the log to them.
If there is no wideband you are not going to hit the A/F
Most of the remote tunes I get are running too lean. Most are 12.5-1 to 12.8-1 on blowers, the knock sensors are turned down and the cars are spark knocking.

It's always good to find a tuner to go over the car in person.

[1KillerSS]

Ted hit it on the head ....log afr and do a dyno run and u can tune via email same as in house it may take a little longer but if they are aware ur going to a dyno they will most likely do things asap....also while every car is a little different if the tuner has tuned the exact same car with the exact same mods then "most likely" an email tune will be ur best bang for ur buck.....assuming ur tuner is a good one and has the experience needed with your vehicle and the software hes using I am a believer in inhouse tuning over mail order but lets be real if u have the ability to log all the data needed.......why not

[Bo White]

I've never liked remote/email/canned tunes. You basicly get a canned tune when you buy a new car. Go to the dyno and choice tuner and some cars gain pretty good off a tune, some don't gain a lot for the same reason. Most every car is going to be slightly different from each other stock for stock or identical parts for identical parts. I do understand that some areas of the country don't have a good tuner or a local dyno or both but most places do. If you want everything right go to a good tuner and a dyno with some street tuning.

[axis]

Originally Posted by 1KillerSS

Ted hit it on the head ....log afr and do a dyno run and u can tune via email same as in house it may take a little longer but if they are aware ur going to a dyno they will most likely do things asap....also while every car is a little different if the tuner has tuned the exact same car with the exact same mods then "most likely" an email tune will be ur best bang for ur buck.....assuming ur tuner is a good one and has the experience needed with your vehicle and the software hes using I am a believer in inhouse tuning over mail order but lets be real if u have the ability to log all the data needed.......why not

So let me get this straight. You're going to buy a wideband O2 and do dyno pulls so you can email the data back to your tuner so he can tune it via email? Why not skip the emailing and the wideband and just get to a good tuner with a dyno? You can drive a LONG ways for the price of a hand held tuner and wide band setup.

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by axis

So let me get this straight. You're going to buy a wideband O2 and do dyno pulls so you can email the data back to your tuner so he can tune it via email? Why not skip the emailing and the wideband and just get to a good tuner with a dyno? You can drive a LONG ways for the price of a hand held tuner and wide band setup.

I'd rather go with a reputed vendor here than a local tuner. I'll get stationed all over the country during my career, so getting a retune from the same shop isn't an option. An email tune give me more flexibility, and a handheld device lets me clear my own codes as my car ages. This doesn't apply to everyone, but it certainly gives me a good reason to use email.

[sting808]

Originally Posted by axis

So let me get this straight. You're going to buy a wideband O2 and do dyno pulls so you can email the data back to your tuner so he can tune it via email? Why not skip the emailing and the wideband and just get to a good tuner with a dyno? You can drive a LONG ways for the price of a hand held tuner and wide band setup.

I've done remote street and dyno tunes. Especially since there are no experienced GM Tuners in HI. Wideband is good to have and not that $ based on relative investment of FI. Also, if you do your own mods, that's travel/lodging/time factor for every re-tune. Another perspective from guys in the middle of nowhere.

[1KillerSS]

Originally Posted by axis

So let me get this straight. You're going to buy a wideband O2 and do dyno pulls so you can email the data back to your tuner so he can tune it via email? Why not skip the emailing and the wideband and just get to a good tuner with a dyno? You can drive a LONG ways for the price of a hand held tuner and wide band setup.

most dyno shops have a wideband already. so i never suggested buying one in my statement

most people love to get dyno runs so they can see the numbers.

and i agree you can drive a long way but it doesnt seem to stop most people and the advantage of using the remote tuning option is your able to get that one specific person to tune for you for example i have been itching to have frost tune my car for years and this gives me the perfect way to do it...my local tune shop doesnt even use hptuners plus i have never heard one thing about there work.

i was not saying or meaning to imply that its the only way,,,just a good fit for some

[axis]

Originally Posted by The_Blur

I'd rather go with a reputed vendor here than a local tuner. I'll get stationed all over the country during my career, so getting a retune from the same shop isn't an option. An email tune give me more flexibility, and a handheld device lets me clear my own codes as my car ages. This doesn't apply to everyone, but it certainly gives me a good reason to use email.

It all comes down to who is local. If you're going to be stationed all over the place, finding a GOOD reputable shop near you might not be as hard as you think. I'm not saying that a handheld is totally worthless, just you can get a better tune that is tailored to YOUR car and not a generic one. There will ALWAYS be exceptions but there are TONS of good LS tuning shops around the country, if you're willing to drive a little bit. Tweaking a tune isn't near as hard as getting the initial one done right, unless you're making big changes. Also, if you're making big power and in your situation, wouldn't it be better to log with HPT or EFI live?

Originally Posted by sting808

I've done remote street and dyno tunes. Especially since there are no experienced GM Tuners in HI. Wideband is good to have and not that $ based on relative investment of FI. Also, if you do your own mods, that's travel/lodging/time factor for every re-tune. Another perspective from guys in the middle of nowhere.

FI is another story. IMO, EVERYONE that has FI should have a wideband. It's just added insurance. Not too many NA guys are running around with wideband though. There's just not as much of a need for one, unless you just want one. Doing ALL your tuning via email only for FI is just asking for trouble. While it can and has been done, it's MUCH safer to do with a wideband installed and on a dyno so you can see what's going on every step of the way. It doesn't take much to turn a $7-8k FI install into a $$$$$ total engine rebuild. A handheld isn't going to tell you that. HP tuners or EFI live absolutely will and is what i'd be rocking if I were in HI and didn't trust any of the shops.

Originally Posted by 1KillerSS

most dyno shops have a wideband already. so i never suggested buying one in my statement

most people love to get dyno runs so they can see the numbers.

and i agree you can drive a long way but it doesnt seem to stop most people and the advantage of using the remote tuning option is your able to get that one specific person to tune for you for example i have been itching to have frost tune my car for years and this gives me the perfect way to do it...my local tune shop doesnt even use hptuners plus i have never heard one thing about there work.

i was not saying or meaning to imply that its the only way,,,just a good fit for some

I see where you're going with that but what happens when your tuner makes a big change and you need to see what it does? Are you going to go back down to the dyno to strap it on again? The only way I could see this working is to have your tuner of choice on the ready as you're on the dyno. That way you could email him the sheet and he could make the changes immediately, then send them back. You'd have to have a VERY understanding dyno shop and catch your tuner on a very slow day. Most GOOD tuners are busy in their shop and don't have the time sit there for just anyone. There are a few good tuners that help their good customers dial in a setup at the track but I wouldn't expect them to do that for EVERYONE. They just don't have the time.

[1KillerSS]

[/QUOTE]I see where you're going with that but what happens when your tuner makes a big change and you need to see what it does? Are you going to go back down to the dyno to strap it on again? The only way I could see this working is to have your tuner of choice on the ready as you're on the dyno. That way you could email him the sheet and he could make the changes immediately, then send them back. You'd have to have a VERY understanding dyno shop and catch your tuner on a very slow day. Most GOOD tuners are busy in their shop and don't have the time sit there for just anyone. There are a few good tuners that help their good customers dial in a setup at the track but I wouldn't expect them to do that for EVERYONE. They just don't have the time.[/QUOTE]

everybody ive talked to about remote tuning tells me they are avilable and will be available for email work

at least ted phil and steve all tell me they offer that service...while there is usually an extra cost in doing that it can still be less expensive in some cases and the same cost in others

as for big changes i think all would agree they want to have the car in there hands