Difference between Dyno Tuining and PCM mail-in
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 200
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From: Blaine, MN
Difference between Dyno Tuining and PCM mail-in I have no clue as to what Dyno tuning is / does. My question is what is the difference between me mailing my pcm in to pcmforless.com and having them change it according to what cam specs, descreend MAF, etc, etc, ... or taking my car to a local dyno and having them tune it? How does Dyno tuning work? Thanks guys!
Mail order can only try and take into account, your mods
and the condition of your vehicle. A shop with a dyno has
the advantage (at least, a proper shop) of being right
there with a wideband O2 meter and the quantitative
vehicle performance measurement, to optimize the tune
for the real vehicle rather than your description of it.
Then again the dyno shop also has the hungry overhead.
That's why a mail order tune will likely be cheaper.
The dyno tune can be as simple or as involved as the
shop chooses and your wallet supports. For low and
"standard" mods, and nothing wrong, the mail order
tune can be an economical way to go. But they have
no choice than to make assumptions. The more you
have wandered off into the jungle, the less likely a
store-bought'en map will help you find the Lost City
of Horsepower. That's where your friendly native
guide comes in handy. That, and extra ammo.
Neither dyno nor mail order, really are too capable of
dealing with "drivability" aspects - the part throttle,
day-to-day, little things that take a lot of cut-and-try.
The mail-order tune is one cut at it, pay in advance.
The dynos, at least most of them, are more for WOT and
the inertial types can't do steady-state or fixed-load,
variable throttle very well (or at all). Having your own
wideband, tuning setup, knowledge and a surplus of free
time is nice for that. We all should be so lucky. 2-1/2
out of 4 isn't bad....
and the condition of your vehicle. A shop with a dyno has
the advantage (at least, a proper shop) of being right
there with a wideband O2 meter and the quantitative
vehicle performance measurement, to optimize the tune
for the real vehicle rather than your description of it.
Then again the dyno shop also has the hungry overhead.
That's why a mail order tune will likely be cheaper.
The dyno tune can be as simple or as involved as the
shop chooses and your wallet supports. For low and
"standard" mods, and nothing wrong, the mail order
tune can be an economical way to go. But they have
no choice than to make assumptions. The more you
have wandered off into the jungle, the less likely a
store-bought'en map will help you find the Lost City
of Horsepower. That's where your friendly native
guide comes in handy. That, and extra ammo.
Neither dyno nor mail order, really are too capable of
dealing with "drivability" aspects - the part throttle,
day-to-day, little things that take a lot of cut-and-try.
The mail-order tune is one cut at it, pay in advance.
The dynos, at least most of them, are more for WOT and
the inertial types can't do steady-state or fixed-load,
variable throttle very well (or at all). Having your own
wideband, tuning setup, knowledge and a surplus of free
time is nice for that. We all should be so lucky. 2-1/2
out of 4 isn't bad....
Last edited by jimmyblue; Mar 9, 2005 at 09:57 AM.
Order a custom made suit over the phone and tell the tailor just some of your measurements. That is a mail order tune. The tailor, no matter how skilled, must guess at many of the details. On top of that they will make your suit from your existing clothes so you are naked until they finish. 
