How hard is it to tune your own car?
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,864
Likes: 1,122
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
How hard is it to tune your own car? I've never heard a definitive answer on this question. I have a '98 M6 car and the closest tuner to where I live (that I know of) is 3 hours away. The trip, plus the $500 it costs to get a tune makes me think I should try tuning for myself. I went to school for automotive service and have a fairly extensive background in high performance, so I'm not completely clueless. I also know my way around a computer pretty well and already have a capable laptop to do it with. So, I'd like some opinions as to whether I should try this. Thanks!
I would say go for it!! With the available help on here and the forums of EFILive, you will be able to get a grasp on it. It won't happen over night, but you will be able to do it. 
There is no definative answer to that question. If you have trouble tying your shoe, tuning will likey kick your *** - but that's not 100% certain. Some folks may be able to tune EFI all day long and just not grasp the concept of shoe laces.
If you are willing to make the commitment to learn to tune, and invest your money in a comprehensive, innovative, professional tuning suite, such as EFILive (www.efilive.com) then you should have no problem tuning your vehicle.
If you are willing to make the commitment to learn to tune, and invest your money in a comprehensive, innovative, professional tuning suite, such as EFILive (www.efilive.com) then you should have no problem tuning your vehicle.
You'll get out of tuning what you put into it...If you feel you can make the effort you'll do fine. Both HPTuners & EFIlive are good choices. I use hptuners exclusively & believe its the easiest to learn & to navigate through especially for someone just starting out...add in our growing forum which now has in excess of 5000 members & you really can't go wrong 
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Originally Posted by Old Geezer
Get EFI LIVE, and go for it!!
Non-Sponsor Information, is where I go to get my equipment.
Non-Sponsor Information, is where I go to get my equipment.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
Likes: 236
From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
I had had some tuning done on my car by a local guy and wanted to to adjust and play with it. So I started by downloading the demo version of EFILive and found it easy to understand and navigate.
A lot of stuff is simple and straightforward to do - fan temps, tranny shift points, delete codes, scale for gears, etc. Other things like VE and MAF tuning are complex. I'm a newb and find there is a steep learning curve on the latter.
It's a great program, though, and I'm amazed by all that it can do.
A lot of stuff is simple and straightforward to do - fan temps, tranny shift points, delete codes, scale for gears, etc. Other things like VE and MAF tuning are complex. I'm a newb and find there is a steep learning curve on the latter.
It's a great program, though, and I'm amazed by all that it can do.
???
Originally Posted by Black02SS
No offense, but are they a sponsor that supports this site?
Originally Posted by RevGTO
I had had some tuning done on my car by a local guy and wanted to to adjust and play with it. So I started by downloading the demo version of EFILive and found it easy to understand and navigate.
A lot of stuff is simple and straightforward to do - fan temps, tranny shift points, delete codes, scale for gears, etc. Other things like VE and MAF tuning are complex. I'm a newb and find there is a steep learning curve on the latter.
It's a great program, though, and I'm amazed by all that it can do.
A lot of stuff is simple and straightforward to do - fan temps, tranny shift points, delete codes, scale for gears, etc. Other things like VE and MAF tuning are complex. I'm a newb and find there is a steep learning curve on the latter.
It's a great program, though, and I'm amazed by all that it can do.
Originally Posted by Old Geezer
I made a post, stating where I got my "stuff". If that's "illegal", then so be it. It looks like "god" has already made the "necessary changes"....
I hope you see where I am coming from. 
There's definitely a learning curve to tuning any car. Seems as though you have an advantage with your background that'll get you over the hump a little faster than most. So I'm with Chad when he says, "go for it." I'm coming up on 2-years under my belt with EFI Live and I still think this has to be the best money I've spent on my cars.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,864
Likes: 1,122
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Alright, that sounds good to me. Doesn't seem too difficult and the price is right. Now I have to ask, what about that new company who sells PCMS designed to use real time tuning with a tuning suite, such as EFILive or HPTuners? I read about that in GMHTP and it looks like a really nice setup. I'm guessing real time tuning would make some aspects of tuning a lot easier, but I haven't heard much else about it. Anyone have any experience with it?
HPTuners uses the stock PCM for their RTT solution rather then having to swap in a hand built one...this saves time & money considering the hptuners RTT comes free with their custom operating systems, you can read more about it here http://www.hptuners.com/help/vcm_editor_rtt.htm personally I use it on every pcm I tune now, it make tuning for idle, part & wot a breeze.
The difference between HPT RTT and EFILive's RoadRunner is night and day. For someone just starting out, I would take things slow and go from there. Make one change at a time, learn from it, and make some more. The one thing you receive with EFILive is the ability to tune unlimited 98 PCMs and still retain the 2 PCM licenses that come with the software. Try out EFILive's Demo and you will see how easy it is. HPT doesn't offer one and I have asked for over a year now for them to. Its like buying a car without ever testing driving one.
Originally Posted by LS1Formulation
Alright, that sounds good to me. Doesn't seem too difficult and the price is right. Now I have to ask, what about that new company who sells PCMS designed to use real time tuning with a tuning suite, such as EFILive or HPTuners? I read about that in GMHTP and it looks like a really nice setup. I'm guessing real time tuning would make some aspects of tuning a lot easier, but I haven't heard much else about it. Anyone have any experience with it?
If you're the kind of guy that would try to build a 500 rwhp NA monster with Autozone parts, any tuning package will do you. But, if you're the kind of guy that will shop around for quality forged internals for your beast, then EFILive is only way to go. End of the day, it's really up to you where you think your money is best spent.