What is the recommended tune for header install?
 

I'm about to get some tomei UEL headers installed, and I heard that you need a tuning after it so you can get some more horsepower for it, and overall reprogram the cpu so the check engine light goes away.


I have no idea how this tuning stuff works. I do not plan to do it myself because I am not confident enough and do not want to accidentally screw with the setting. I plan to take it to a shop where they do professional tuning.


I hear the OFT and ECUTEK are the most recommended. I also saw some video where people pay they got a stage 2 tuning, but I'm not sure what to ask once I get to the shop.


I do not plan to use the E85 gas as it is not so common in my area, so I plan to just stick with the 91+ octane stuff. I also don't want that tablet thing where I can accidentally screw with the settings, but if I have to have one, then I will.



I'm just a newbie who needs advice. What should I ask for once I go in?

I have a 2018 Toyota GT86.



Thanks for helping out a rookie!

Both are fine. If you plan to do FI, then go ECUTek, if not, just get the OFT.

If you want to tune it yourself, then you need some kind of tablet. Or you can go to a performance shop and get them tune it for you.

I use OFT. To be honest, if you follow the instructions and videos, it's pretty easy. There is not a lot that can get messed up since you get the tune from their website. You download stage 2+(since you have catless headers) tune from website, transfer it to the tablet then flash your car ECU.

People are gonna tell you to search as this has been covered multiple times but i'll bite.

You don't necessarily "need" the tune honestly, but is highly recommended. You will most likely get a CEL, but thats due to the fact that you will be running catless.

Now as far as tuning the ECU, I'm most likely wrong but afaik you have three options, tactrix, oft and ecutek. Ecutek will be the easiest for you since you're not really interested in messing with maps yourself. Since you said you're going through a local tuner, buy an ecutek license which is like $300 bucks on its own, tune is most likely a seperate fee from your shop of choice so talk to them about pricing. No need to buy the cable since your tuner will most likely have that in shop. I don't have experience with the other two as I went with the ecutek and a tune from CSG.

From the looks of it an OFT is like, $500 bucks shipped online (?) and with that you can flash "off the shelf" tunes which would be fine, but personally i'd rather have an ecutek where the tune is made specifically for your car.

So where do I buy this "ECUTEK license" ? I didn't know I had to buy something like this. Is this mandatory?

If going through a shop, talk to your local tuner. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong though, but if buying a license through a local tuner, only they would be able to re-flash the ecu if need be, since the map will be locked to their ecutek dongle, which is why people usually recommend buying your own dongle and bringing that to the tuner.

If you plan on taking it to a shop anyway to tune it for you, make an appointment, hand them some money and they will take care of the rest, license and all.

It is hard to "accidentally" screw with the settings

I have uel headers and no tune! Just not getting the gains though :/

If they just have a header, will there really be a big difference of one "made specifically for their car" vs an "off the shelf" tune?

I agree with others here, OFT if you are staying N/A.
OFT seems like the easiest since he can do it from home and doesn't have to go to a shop.

If you can install an app on your computer and download a file, you can install the Open Flash program and download the tunes onto the OFT. Follow the instructions.


Also OFT will be easier for going back to stock if you sell your car, You don't have to go back to your tuner, just take off your header and put a stock flash back on.


I put e85 on my car without a flex fuel kit, put an e85 tune, took a road trip from TX to CA. When I needed to fillup again, Since there was no E85 nearby. I was able to put in 91 and flash my car back to 91 and continue on my way in 10 minutes.


If I was planning to go F/I, I would probably consider EcuTek too, but I when I made the decision, I didn't see F/I in my forseeable future. That was 2 years ago and haven't gone F/I yet.

I'd say it depends on the header and other mods. The difference between the OTS tune, and after I data logged my car and messed the tune in Rom Raider is pretty noticeable. And it's not like I am a pro who knows what they are doing, I made my changes based off a LOT of reading and screwing up and learning what not to do. I am very curious what a tune by a good shop would be like.

@Artxjr If you are in WA get ahold of Drift Office. Bob has tuned tons of twins.

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...a9&oe=5D4D2313

There's quite a bit of gains left on the table with a OFT vs a proper dyno tune.

Like said before, if you can make it to South Seattle/Auburn, go to Drift Office. You give them money, they put the car on the dyno, and take care of the rest.

If you can't make it there and don't mind working with a tuner remotely, you can talk to your remote tune of choice (e.g., Delicious Tuning or Xero Limit) and they will set you up with a package including ECUtek license, cable, and a baseline tune. There are instructions online for how to use ECUtek on your own; you'll just need a laptop.

Or if you plan to keep it simple, just get an OFT and flash an off-the-shelf tune. It's less expensive, but also not tailored specifically for your car.

One more note: you don't have to tune immediately after installing the header. You can safely drive on stock tune with an aftermarket header; you just won't get the additional power. Don't stress on scheduling things or having the tune ready to go right after install.