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Safe Tuning 101


If you were to ask ten different professional tuners to make a safe tune for your car, you will get ten different tunes and ten different levels of performance with the same modifications. The same goes for questions, you will get ten different answers to “What is a safe tune?”

Let’s state what we consider a safe “Overall” Performance tune.

A safe tune is a state of tune when your car does not experience any negative issues, such as:

  • knocking (detonation);
  • high exhaust gas temperature (EGT);
  • too rich or too lean of a mixture;
  • and other issues that inevitably lead to the above three.

Safe tuning does not have to be unsafe to see performance. You can make lots of power with a safe overall performance tune without sacrificing drivability, reliability or longevity. Tuning for “Peak” Performance usually becomes the unsafe tune.

A “base” map is basically, a set of maps and parameters for your ECU. Generally, you can download base maps for a certain level of modifications from your Engine Management System (EMS) manufacturer, but they should only be considered “base” maps and individually tune your car to be safe and reliable. This is where most go wrong, tune your car!

Examples of different upgrades in stages:

  • Stage1: Intake And Turbo-Back Exhaust (TBE) Installed
  • Stage2: Intake, Turbo-Back Exhaust (TBE), Header, Uppipe And Engine Management (EM) Installed
  • Stage3: Intake, Turbo-Back Exhaust (TBE), Header, Uppipe And Engine Management (EM) And Top-Mount Intercooler (TMIC) Installed
  • Stage4: Intake, Turbo-Back Exhaust (TBE), Header, Uppipe And Engine Management (EM), Top-Mount Intercooler (TMIC), Bigger Injectors, Larger Turbo And Upgraded Fuel System Installed
  • Stage5: Intake, Turbo-Back Exhaust (TBE), Header, Uppipe And Engine Management (EM), Top-Mount Intercooler (TMIC), Bigger Injectors, Larger Turbo, Upgraded Fuel System, Head/Cam Upgrade And Upgrade Short-Block Internals Installed

Base maps are just that - basic. They will allow your car to start and run good when you just installed the Engine Management System, but that’s it. Your car will not be able to realize the potential of your modifications while running on a base map.

What is an “Overall” Performance Tune? Generally tuned basic maps, as offered by EMS manufacturers are generally:

  • on a richer side;
  • have very conservative timing;
  • have fairly low boost and conservative boost maps;
  • knock-free, meaning that the manufacturer went to great lengths tuning the basic maps so they will be safe and develop zero knock in the majority of cars.

Overall Performance tuned maps are considered safe. When Overall Performance tuning you car you can adjust your base map to be powerful over a broad RPM range, but still be safe.

An Overall Performance tune:

  • is on the leaner side;
  • allows you to run higher EGTs, thus spooling the turbo faster;
  • has higher, aggressive timing;
  • has a higher boost map, tuned to spool your turbo fast and give the necessary boost pressures;
  • has AFRs, timing and boost adjusted for all gears, throttle positions and engine load, without any engine knock.

A “Peak” Performance tune is not considered a safe tune? If tuned properly, for a specific application, then “Peak” tuning has its place, but not for “Street” Cars.

To sum it all up:

  • a safe overall performance tune is a tune that doesn’t let your car run into negative issues such as knock, high EGTs and rich/lean conditions;
  • good research and knowing what you are doing pays off in your car’s safety, longevity and reliability;
  • you must find a qualified tuner when tuning your car.  Tuning is the single most important modification you an do to your car.
  • the wrong tuner can make you life a nightmare or the sweetest dream!

 



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