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Should I Get a Tune?

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Old 06-10-2016, 06:58 PM
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ianeberle
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Default Should I Get a Tune?

I'm driving a 2008 350Z with the HR engine. I bought it in January and it already had Injen dual cold air intake and a Mishimoto radiator installed. I know these are super basic mods, so I just let it go.

I'm about to put the Motordyne ART pipes and Motordyne TDX2 catback exhaust on my car in a few days. I originally wasn't planning on getting a tune, but now I'm thinking again. It seems so expensive. The main reason I'm installing the Motordyne bolt-ons are for the enhanced sound, not necessarily performance gains. I don't race; my Z is my daily driver.

Is it worth it to spend $600 on a tune? It doesn't seem like it to me, but nobody has made a compelling enough case.
Old 06-10-2016, 08:15 PM
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jhc
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Good Q. Anything that affects airflow in/out may affect performance. After you do your intakes, spacer and exhaust, get a ECU reflash. You don't need a full tune. gl.
Old 06-10-2016, 08:16 PM
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ianeberle
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I'm new to all of this. What's the difference between an ECU reflash and a full tune? Where can I get an ECU flash done, and how much will it cost?
Old 06-10-2016, 08:20 PM
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jhc
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Originally Posted by ianeberle
I'm new to all of this. What's the difference between an ECU reflash and a full tune? Where can I get an ECU flash done, and how much will it cost?
PM one of our Mods,
NA&CH,
He may be able to point you in the right direction. gl
Old 06-11-2016, 06:31 AM
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travlee
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Your afr is going to lean out, although not required i would suggest it
Old 06-13-2016, 05:18 PM
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ashram
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I definitely suggest a tune , that way you get the max power out of your Bolton's , I have a 08 HR with ,art pipes , invidia exhaust and a tune by uprev . Sometimes the vendors will have discounts or sales for tunes in the classifieds.
Old 06-13-2016, 05:20 PM
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ianeberle
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I forgot to update this thread. I have an appointment to get the car tuned on Thursday at Z Fever in Tampa, FL.
Old 06-13-2016, 05:25 PM
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travlee
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awesome... it will be a little snappier, you will definitely notice it
Old 06-13-2016, 05:27 PM
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ianeberle
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I'm actually having Z Fever install my bolt-ons also. We're going to do a baseline dyno run with my car stock, then install the Motordyne ART pipes and Motordyne catback, tune the car, and do pulls again. I plan to post the videos and results on the forum in a new thread when I'm done.
Old 06-13-2016, 05:31 PM
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travlee
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btw, it is going to be loud. couple vids of my old hr


Old 06-13-2016, 05:38 PM
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ianeberle
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That sounds amazing!! I can't wait for my car to sound like that. The stock Nissan exhaust is honestly so awful. I have a friend that has the Nismo exhaust on his Z, and even that exhaust is pretty lackluster given the original price of those units.

When you did the dyno runs, did you operate your car or did the tuner do it for you?
Old 06-13-2016, 05:48 PM
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travlee
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tuner will do it all.

btw, in case you didnt know... that was the MD setup like you are going to have
Old 06-13-2016, 05:51 PM
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ianeberle
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Oh, I knew. I've been researching exhausts forever and I've arrived at the conclusion that this setup is the best. I know it when I see it. Also why I said "I can't wait for my car to sound like that."
Old 06-13-2016, 05:54 PM
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travlee
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most of the time i enjoyed it, road trips it kinda bothered me.... guys having a convo, no problem... when you have a girl in the car i bet she says its loud a couple times
Old 06-13-2016, 05:55 PM
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travlee
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the tone will change some over time as the tubing lines with carbon
Old 06-13-2016, 05:57 PM
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ianeberle
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That's fine with me. They'll get over it if it's too loud. The girl I'm interested in at the moment drives an M3 anyway so she'll enjoy it

What about the smell? I know a lot of people mentioned that the ART pipes smell. I don't live in a state with emissions testing, so I decided to get them anyway and hope I get used to it. You live in Texas, and I seriously doubt the emissions thing was a problem there either. I can't believe people that live in like California are afraid of cops smelling their ART pipes in traffic or at a light.
Old 06-13-2016, 06:01 PM
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travlee
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honestly, you will only notice it if the cabin in downwind from the exhaust and you have the windows open. if they are up and you smell it in the cabin during a stop, you prob have an exhaust leak
Old 06-13-2016, 06:28 PM
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HRMoneyPit
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I've been racing with the same mods but different exhaust


After my track day yesterday my exhaust has changed colors like it's been heat treated which means it's running hot which means it's lean


I need a tune too
Old 06-14-2016, 07:07 PM
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Deteria
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Lol Travis, my Z was tuned there too @ PRT Performance years ago.

And for the OP, definitely need the tune. On my Z I gained around 25rwhp at 2500 and 3000 rpm, and over 35ft/lb torque at 2500 and 3000. That is the effects of running lean w/out tune. The main gain is down low. The HR are already fairly maxed out, so you may not notice much upper gains. My only performance mods are the ART Pipes and TDX2 as well. My Z was dynoed on a Mustang dyno as well, so #s appear lower compared to Dynojet. It was also in June so fairly hot and humid :0


Last edited by Deteria; 06-14-2016 at 07:11 PM.
Old 06-14-2016, 07:52 PM
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ianeberle
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How do I read that graph?


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