Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - View Single Post - Correct my understanding of shop tunes and off-shelf tunes

DarkPira7e · 09-01-2019, 09:24 PM

1. This depends on the kit. If it is forced induction and someone isn't doing datalogging back and forth, and sending you tune revisions, absolutely. If your car is N/A, an off the shelf tune is acceptable.

2. Depends on the modifications. I wouldn't spend any money on an e-tune if I were bringing it to a shop anyway.

3. They do all sorts of tunes. E-tunes are car specific, because you send them datalogs and they send you back tune revisions, it's not like they send you the map and then you're stuck with that version of it. if you download free " off the shelf" maps, then yes you're stuck with that revision.

4. ECUtek is a company with proprietary hardware for flash tuning your car. It is comprised of 4 main components.
- ECUtek cable (long USB cable with green OBD2 plug)
- ECUtek license Dongle (It is your license)
- ECutek ProECU Software ( Software used for tuning and flashing maps
- Ecutek RaceRom ECU Patch ( Unlocks more advanced software tuning for your platform)

You do not need Racerom, but you need all three of the other components. You can give your dongle to the shop, and they use the ProECU Software to make the map. If you want RaceRom, it is applied to your dongle ID license.

5. This depends on the shop. Only specific shops will have ECUtek licences as a retailer (Master tuner status as ECUtek labels them). Most of the time, a shop will ask that you provide all 4 components I listed above. It totals to about $1,200 and is worth every penny if you are going turbo.

For clarification - An E-tune is not an off the shelf map. An e-tune is a map that they send you revisions of back and forth until they/you are happy. E-tune is far superior to off the shelf. Dyno/shop tune is superior to e-tune for safety during the tuning process, as they can monitor the car's reaction in real time, not after the damage is done while you were datalogging.
Installing a turbo kit with new injectors/fuel pump will have vastly different needs than if you install just new headers on an otherwise stock car. You can definitely drive the car that has only headers installed to the shop to get it tuned. if you install a whole turbo kit with different injectors and a fuel pump, the car will run terribly, if at all. Advice is free - when you've done the work, ask the tuner you have in mind if they think it'd be safe to drive it, or if you should have it towed to the shop.

09-01-2019, 09:24 PM	#4
DarkPira7e Rust bucket enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2017 Drives: 2013 Turbo Firestorm FRS Location: Vermont Posts: 4,057 Thanks: 3,317 Thanked 4,207 Times in 2,114 Posts Mentioned: 33 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	1. This depends on the kit. If it is forced induction and someone isn't doing datalogging back and forth, and sending you tune revisions, absolutely. If your car is N/A, an off the shelf tune is acceptable. 2. Depends on the modifications. I wouldn't spend any money on an e-tune if I were bringing it to a shop anyway. 3. They do all sorts of tunes. E-tunes are car specific, because you send them datalogs and they send you back tune revisions, it's not like they send you the map and then you're stuck with that version of it. if you download free " off the shelf" maps, then yes you're stuck with that revision. 4. ECUtek is a company with proprietary hardware for flash tuning your car. It is comprised of 4 main components. - ECUtek cable (long USB cable with green OBD2 plug) - ECUtek license Dongle (It is your license) - ECutek ProECU Software ( Software used for tuning and flashing maps - Ecutek RaceRom ECU Patch ( Unlocks more advanced software tuning for your platform) You do not need Racerom, but you need all three of the other components. You can give your dongle to the shop, and they use the ProECU Software to make the map. If you want RaceRom, it is applied to your dongle ID license. 5. This depends on the shop. Only specific shops will have ECUtek licences as a retailer (Master tuner status as ECUtek labels them). Most of the time, a shop will ask that you provide all 4 components I listed above. It totals to about $1,200 and is worth every penny if you are going turbo. For clarification - An E-tune is not an off the shelf map. An e-tune is a map that they send you revisions of back and forth until they/you are happy. E-tune is far superior to off the shelf. Dyno/shop tune is superior to e-tune for safety during the tuning process, as they can monitor the car's reaction in real time, not after the damage is done while you were datalogging. Installing a turbo kit with new injectors/fuel pump will have vastly different needs than if you install just new headers on an otherwise stock car. You can definitely drive the car that has only headers installed to the shop to get it tuned. if you install a whole turbo kit with different injectors and a fuel pump, the car will run terribly, if at all. Advice is free - when you've done the work, ask the tuner you have in mind if they think it'd be safe to drive it, or if you should have it towed to the shop.