Bought COBB, do I need a custom tune now?

[Benjamin Hundred]

Hey guys,

I finally got a COBB AccessPort, I’ve thought about it for a while and it came in today. I’ve never tuned my car before and it went smoothly with install after updating to latest firmware.

I’ve been hesitant about a tune as I DD my Mustang and don’t want any reliability issues, but I’ve wanted a little extra kick. The mechanical mods I have on my car are
- Whipple Race Intercooler
- CVF Charge Pipes
- Mishimoto Radiator
- CVF Catted Downpipe
- Borla Touring CatBack
- Stock Airbox with Wix filter
I’m running the Stage 1 91 tune, trying to keep PSI and stress low.

So I have a pretty decent mod list and wanted to be able to take advantage of these parts better, I was also sick of the 10R80 shifting (mainly 1 - 3) and was hoping a tune would help.

First impressions were amazing, way more kick when even just lightly accelerating and the areas I’m used to driving 25-30 through I’ll hit 40-45, feel like it takes less peddle to accelerate and it’s so much smoother at lower speeds and stop/go driving. The transmission is so far so much smoother and shifts better where I no longer get jolting and it seems like I now knows what gear to select so much better.

I also saw basically zero change with having a Mishimoto radiator, temps would easily hit 220-230 before slowly coming down. It now only once or twice briefly hit 200 on spirited uphill driving and came back down quick. Stays around 180-190 consistently which I’m very happy with.

So it’s been an amazing experience so far and I’m incredibly pleased, though I did notice it seems to run a bit more rough/shakey, and makes a few little occasional noises, knock maybe? Never had an engine make unusual noises so no idea how things would sound such as knock. But this sounded like a knock if I had to guess. I want to ensure my engine life/health, is there a way to check? I tried data logging and did one WOT pull in 3rd while logging as well as another while cruising. Would anyone be able to read this data if I posted it here?

I’d like to soon go with a custom tune, I don’t know who to go with and the one I had my eye on was $650, lifetime tuning with transmission, it’s this one FFP EMS Tune
https://ffperformance.co/product/pd...g-ecoboost-custom-tune-for-cobb-ap3-lifetime/
I wouldn’t mind doing but $650 is a decent chunk of change, and I was hoping to be able to run the COBB tune for a month or two before custom tuning.

Also the LFPS and EVAP purge valve have been swapped, OEM spark plugs about 25K ago, PUP oil changes every 1.5-2K miles and only use Shell 91 gas.

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[Mach VII]

I would search Function Factory Performance on this site for a long list of complaints about their customer service. I believe that EMS is highly regarded - https://emsinc-tn.com/product/s550tune/

 

[markayash]

With those Mods you should run the stage 2 tune. I just have a intercooler and a eurocompulsion intake tube and I run the stage 2. I actually like the 91 tune over the 93. Seems to drive better.

Its a decent jump over the stage 1 performance wise and as long as you don't drive it like you want to blow it up you should be good.

 

[markayash]

If you are debating an intake tube look at this one..I don't work there I just bought one and like it..Its smooth and should flow better then the stock one but also keeps the intake air a little cooler since its rubber and won't absorb as much heat.

https://shopeurocompulsion.net/coll...uction-system-2015-2023-mustang-ecoboost-2-3l

 

[Evolvd]

Absolutely for the love of God STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM FFP!!! Their owner Charles is a shiester and a thief. He’s screwed many people including me. Thankfully my credit card chargeback was approved especially when I showed them all his DMs to me promising delivery dates and missing them, and a refund promised that didn’t appear for months with zero communication from him.

Fuck FFP and their shitbag owner. My recommendation from what others suggest is Ryan at EMS. A one time tune is $300 and lifetime is $500. Transmission cal is $150.

 

[wingnutt]

I’ve never tuned my car before

well, there’s your first problem…

 

[wingnutt]

I’ve been hesitant about a tune as I DD my Mustang

second problem…

 

[Buldawg76]

With the CVF DP you really should be running a stage 3 OTS tune at the very least but that was removed from Cobbs in April 2022 per EPA regulations so all you get now is stage 1 and 2, so should at least go to stage 2 until you can get custom tune.

For custom tune I can suggest PD/EMS or Adam at Tune +, there are several more custom tuners also so just do some research on them to see who has the best customer satisfaction reviews. FFP would not be my choice since they are just a middle man between you and PD/EMS tuning so they are getting their cut which raises the price of a lifetime tune.

BD

 

[wingnutt]

I DD my Mustang and don’t want any reliability issues,

third problem…all the rest is academic

 

[daSNAK3]

I'd get a custom tune asap.. I'm sure COBB's tune isn't all that great... coming from the WRX world it was highly suggested not to run the COBB tune at all... always had knock issues with their OTS tune.

 

[GJarrett]

Ryan from EMS: go with him for the tune, I highly recommend him.

 

[markayash]

I'd get a custom tune asap.. I'm sure COBB's tune isn't all that great... coming from the WRX world it was highly suggested not to run the COBB tune at all... always had knock issues with their OTS tune.

The Cobb tune for the ecoboost is actually nice. I have ran all 4 and actually like the stage 2 91 over the stage 2 93.
But I do agree a custom tune is better just a little expensive for my budget

 

[MD18EcoStang]

A downpipe used to be a requirement for Cobb stage 3. Now, they no longer sell downpipes and no longer offer a stage 3 tune. Get a custom tune. You could go with one of the popular e-tuners, or search for a pro-tuner near you to find someone who will tune it in person.
https://www.cobbtuning.com/dealers

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