the real truth on engine tunes

pastor scott.com · September 1, 2006

I hear allot about engine tune , engine tune all as a answer to MPG and HP. How do they work, which one is better, how are they set up and what are the problems?

Hope some of you guys can shed light on this subject for me

thanks

SCott

Elwood 2000 · September 1, 2006

I don't know much about any of the others, but I do have a Wester's Tune and I LOVE it. My truck has the 5.3 and I got an 89-91 octane tune. Not the "hot" tune, but one for all around use, including towing.

I saw a bit of an increase in MPG, after the "fun factor" wore off, but I do have an AEM Brute Force intake system and Magnaflow exhaust. Not sure if it helps, but is sure don't hurt!

I feel that the biggest thing is the reduction in torque management. My truck shifts like the old Turbo 400 transmission used to, quick and firm, but not sharp. Nothing like the stock feeling slushbox.

I do have more power when playing and definately more when towing. In short, I would never own another one without my tune. I love it.

Others here have said that they used to have Hypertech or Superchips plug in module and saw little to no results and when they bought a Westers tune, the difference was unreal.

I have had ZERO adverse effects either.

Jansen · September 1, 2006

How different does the tune feel compared to if you left tow haul mode on all the time?

Jansen

Elwood 2000 · September 1, 2006

A lot. My shift points are the same for both normal and tow/haul, but after it shifts, it takes off and goes. It doesn't just sit there and groan like it is out of breath.

It shifts like a truck should not a car.

gave20 · September 1, 2006

oooohhh! I get goose bumps just thinking about it.

Is a wait4me comparable to a westers? There has to be a reason for the $350 difference.

OnyxMAX · September 1, 2006

waitfor me is around 350 but you send your coreback and get 200ish back. or you can send your core in.

the stock tune is generic same stuff for gmc/chevy and whatever else the 5.3 goes in it's wide spectrum of ranges

the handhelds narrow that spectrum to just trucks and brand (different maf tubes flow different. and standard vs. k47 intake.) better then stock and also give you basic obd2 stuff and with some you can adjust stuff yourself like shiftpoints.

mail order dynotune is narrowed to your truck model with your addons. they go out take a 5.3 stick on a different cai and exhaust, and use them to dyno tun a model truck. call um up and they pull the file for say a 5.3 with bruteforce and dual superfortys and 160* therostat with 3.73 gears. that tune will be near perfect for your truck.

a custome dynotune means a guy will come hook up the pc to your truck run it on the dyno and tune it perfectly for your spefic truck and no others. this is the best and also normaly most expensive.

Wingnut · September 2, 2006

I got a pretty nice bump in power, a kickass change in the way it shifts, and exactly 1 mpg better with my tune (same road, same day, same temp, same speed, tested over about a 50 mile stretch).

And I didn't get a tune that was geared towards mileage.

pastor scott.com · September 2, 2006

what if you dont want the shifting to change, just power adn MPG ? I like the way my 04 burb shifts and dont want it banging into gear like a HOT rod. I just want MPG and a little more thorttle responce.

Scott

Elwood 2000 · September 2, 2006

The glory of a custom tune from Westers and others like him is that you can talk with them and they will do exactly what you want to do.

pwall · September 2, 2006

waitfor me is around 350 but you send your coreback and get 200ish back. or you can send your core in.
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Unless Jesse has increased his prices, a tuned PCM costs $150.00 and that includes another PCM. It's only $80 (if I remember correctly) if you send your PCM in. I didn't choose that route as I prefer to have the 'factory' pcm so that I can swap it back in before it goes to the dealership for any repair. This way, they can't reflash my 'tuned' PCM.

http://wait4mepeformance.com