follow ft86club on our blog, twitter or facebook.
FT86CLUB
Ft86Club
Speed By Design
Register Garage Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Go Back   Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB > Technical Topics > Engine, Exhaust, Transmission

Engine, Exhaust, Transmission Discuss the FR-S | 86 | BRZ engine, exhaust and drivetrain.


User Tag List

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 04-05-2019, 01:19 PM   #1
Artxjr
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Drives: 2018 Toyota GT86
Location: Washington
Posts: 14
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
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!
Artxjr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 01:33 PM   #2
weederr33
Airborne at your service
 
weederr33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Drives: '17 BRZ Series.Yellow
Location: El Paso, Texas
Posts: 6,313
Thanks: 4,522
Thanked 5,569 Times in 2,921 Posts
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Both are fine. If you plan to do FI, then go ECUTek, if not, just get the OFT.
__________________
Series.Yellowbird - http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122135

MS, CSCS, TSAC-F, CPT
weederr33 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to weederr33 For This Useful Post:
jflogerzi (05-01-2019), NARFALICIOUS (04-05-2019)
Old 04-05-2019, 01:34 PM   #3
msaikhan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Drives: frs
Location: arlingtong va
Posts: 184
Thanks: 33
Thanked 41 Times in 28 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Artxjr View Post
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!
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.
msaikhan is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to msaikhan For This Useful Post:
NARFALICIOUS (04-05-2019)
Old 04-05-2019, 01:38 PM   #4
caffeinejunky
hella stock
 
caffeinejunky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Drives: BRZ Limited
Location: Southern California
Posts: 152
Thanks: 29
Thanked 36 Times in 26 Posts
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Garage
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.
__________________
mods & accessories:
beat-sonic shark fin | raceseng apex r limited green | perrin intake | E85 | RS*R Super Down sus | Cleib CF Lip | STi Side Skirts | Rays Gram Lights 57DR
caffeinejunky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 01:54 PM   #5
Artxjr
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Drives: 2018 Toyota GT86
Location: Washington
Posts: 14
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by caffeinejunky View Post
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?
Artxjr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 02:05 PM   #6
caffeinejunky
hella stock
 
caffeinejunky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Drives: BRZ Limited
Location: Southern California
Posts: 152
Thanks: 29
Thanked 36 Times in 26 Posts
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by Artxjr View Post
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.
__________________
mods & accessories:
beat-sonic shark fin | raceseng apex r limited green | perrin intake | E85 | RS*R Super Down sus | Cleib CF Lip | STi Side Skirts | Rays Gram Lights 57DR
caffeinejunky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 02:09 PM   #7
BirdTRD
Simply Forgotus
 
BirdTRD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Drives: 2014 Supercharged SSM BRZ Limited
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 916
Thanks: 735
Thanked 912 Times in 454 Posts
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by Artxjr View Post
So where do I buy this "ECUTEK license" ? I didn't know I had to buy something like this. Is this mandatory?
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.
BirdTRD is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to BirdTRD For This Useful Post:
kch (04-08-2019)
Old 04-05-2019, 02:28 PM   #8
Lantanafrs2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Drives: 2013 frs red
Location: South Florida
Posts: 3,517
Thanks: 2,520
Thanked 3,088 Times in 1,654 Posts
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
It is hard to "accidentally" screw with the settings
Lantanafrs2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 03:01 PM   #9
scion fr-s
Senior Member
 
scion fr-s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Drives: 2017 PP BRZ
Location: California
Posts: 201
Thanks: 56
Thanked 53 Times in 43 Posts
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Artxjr View Post
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!
I have uel headers and no tune! Just not getting the gains though :/
scion fr-s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2019, 04:14 PM   #10
NARFALICIOUS
Senior Member
 
NARFALICIOUS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Drives: '88 Supra 1JZ, '16 FR-S, '23 GR86
Location: Johto Region
Posts: 597
Thanks: 62
Thanked 360 Times in 206 Posts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by caffeinejunky View Post
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.
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.
__________________
NARFALICIOUS
Noob Poster
1988 | 2016

NARFALICIOUS is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to NARFALICIOUS For This Useful Post:
Lantanafrs2 (04-05-2019)
Old 04-06-2019, 12:16 PM   #11
NoHaveMSG
Senior Member
 
NoHaveMSG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Drives: Crapcan
Location: Oregon
Posts: 11,118
Thanks: 18,090
Thanked 16,253 Times in 7,346 Posts
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by NARFALICIOUS View Post
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'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.
NoHaveMSG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2019, 04:07 PM   #12
tyler_win_photo
Senior Member
 
tyler_win_photo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Drives: 2014 Scion FRS (Asphalt)
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 553
Thanks: 36
Thanked 171 Times in 141 Posts
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)


There's quite a bit of gains left on the table with a OFT vs a proper dyno tune.
__________________
tyler_win_photo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2019, 03:00 PM   #13
kch
Senior Misanthrope
 
kch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Drives: 2015 BRZ Series.Blue CWP
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,490
Thanks: 1,743
Thanked 1,168 Times in 645 Posts
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Artxjr View Post
Thanks for helping out a rookie!

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.
kch is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Calibrating my Stg1 tune after 4-1 EL header install freerunner Software Tuning 51 08-20-2018 12:38 PM
recommended places to buy a supercharger and install? Phosho510 Northern California 17 11-27-2016 06:28 PM
FS: Innovate I/C supercharger and Nameless header and option of install and tune Lawnik Canada Classifieds 15 01-26-2015 11:01 AM
Wanted: UEL header with Perrin header back and tune. skye67 Engine, Exhaust, Transmission 7 12-21-2013 10:34 PM
Is it recommended to change tune for winter? Foobar Software Tuning 6 11-25-2013 01:51 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:16 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Garage vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.