To tune or not to tune

[Some Random Guy]

I have an order in for a ‘22 ecoboost hpp. I’ve never dealt with engine tunes before. Will the stock setup respond to an improved intercooler and air filter? I’m trying to figure out if I need to heavily research tunes to find out what works with the hpp setup or if the part upgrades will buy me extra performance once swapped.

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[Strokercrate]

I have an order in for a ‘22 ecoboost hpp. I’ve never dealt with engine tunes before. Will the stock setup respond to an improved intercooler and air filter? I’m trying to figure out if I need to heavily research tunes to find out what works with the hpp setup or if the part upgrades will buy me extra performance once swapped.

Your power will not increase with just an IC and Filter.

You may gain a slightly better throttle response.

It will increase the amount of time you can push it before you heat soak and start losing performance. It will also help recover from heat soak quicker. This is even more important in warmer climates.

To increase power you will need a tune.

 

[EFI]

Your power will not increase with just an IC and Filter.

To increase power you will need a tune.

Cooler air entering the combustion chamber will make more power than hotter air.

Also, the PCM is pretty sophisticated and can advance timing quite a bit on its own if it senses no knock. Lower air temps also dictate higher timing right in the stock tune.

So between slightly cooler charge temps and slightly higher timing, he will gain *some* power. Now it won't be anything tremendous, and he will indeed gain more power through the use of a tune. However saying that a bigger intercooler won't gain ANYTHING is a bit of a stretch.

 

[Some Random Guy]

Your power will not increase with just an IC and Filter.

You may gain a slightly better throttle response.

It will increase the amount of time you can push it before you heat soak and start losing performance. It will also help recover from heat soak quicker. This is even more important in warmer climates.

To increase power you will need a tune.

Cooler air entering the combustion chamber will make more power than hotter air.

Also, the PCM is pretty sophisticated and can advance timing quite a bit on its own if it senses no knock. Lower air temps also dictate higher timing right in the stock tune.

So between slightly cooler charge temps and slightly higher timing, he will gain *some* power. Now it won't be anything tremendous, and he will indeed gain more power through the use of a tune. However saying that a bigger intercooler won't gain ANYTHING is a bit of a stretch.

Thanks you two. The closest experience I have is sadly computers. They will adjust themselves to your cooling. I also know engines will go into limp when they detect a problem, but I never thought about if they’d pump out extra fuel/timing if conditions were right.
Best I can tell any ecoboost tune will work, and the RS block will take a bit more abuse before boom. I’m still searching though.

 

[Strokercrate]

Cooler air entering the combustion chamber will make more power than hotter air.

Also, the PCM is pretty sophisticated and can advance timing quite a bit on its own if it senses no knock. Lower air temps also dictate higher timing right in the stock tune.

It doesn't work that way on the Ecoboost. Stock ECU has a power table and once its reached it will not add more power. Flowing more and cooler air will have the benefit of reaching those power tables at lower boost but will not increase power beyond those stock tables on the ecoboost platform.

 

[EFI]

It doesn't work that way on the Ecoboost. Stock ECU has a power table and once its reached it will not add more power. Flowing more and cooler air will have the benefit of reaching those power tables at lower boost but will not increase power beyond those stock tables on the ecoboost platform.

True you may not make more power than whatever the limit is in the tune, but you *can* make more power if the conditions are right.

Take 2 identical cars cruising around in the summer. One has stock intercooler and is running high charge temps and making for example 330hp. The other has a big intercooler and is running near ambient charge temps and is making 340hp.

Both are within the ECU power limit, but one has more power than the other simply due to the intercooler size difference. If they were to race at that time, the car with the bigger intercooler making more power will pull on the other one.

Again the difference is minimal, but it's there. To me, the Mustang with the bigger intecooler *gained* power over having the stock intercooler.

 

[Strokercrate]

True you may not make more power than whatever the limit is in the tune, but you *can* make more power if the conditions are right.

Take 2 identical cars cruising around in the summer. One has stock intercooler and is running high charge temps and making for example 330hp. The other has a big intercooler and is running near ambient charge temps and is making 340hp.

Both are within the ECU power limit, but one has more power than the other simply due to the intercooler size difference. If they were to race at that time, the car with the bigger intercooler making more power will pull on the other one.

Again the difference is minimal, but it's there. To me, the Mustang with the bigger intecooler *gained* power over having the stock intercooler.

And that was addressed in my original post

"It will increase the amount of time you can push it before you heat soak and start losing performance. It will also help recover from heat soak quicker. This is even more important in warmer climates"

The argument can be made its increasing power due to maintaining vs power loss. But if it was a fresh run on both. The power would be equal on the two cars no matter the IC except in warmer climates as per above.


I also a firm believer that an IC is a must especially before a tune on the ecoboost.

 

[TurboNub]

Thanks you two. The closest experience I have is sadly computers. They will adjust themselves to your cooling. I also know engines will go into limp when they detect a problem, but I never thought about if they’d pump out extra fuel/timing if conditions were right.
Best I can tell any ecoboost tune will work, and the RS block will take a bit more abuse before boom. I’m still searching though.

CVFAB makes the best intercooler hands down (race intercooler). @cvf-jason will hook you up if you are ready for some serious power gains with a tune. Absolutely one of the best companies Ive dealt with since owning my pony.

 

[Mike@SolerEngr]

If your goal is throttle response, the nimble feel of the car, etc... then this controller will do it without a tune, at a very low cost and easy DIY. Soler Performance Throttle Controller: https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...prf-dlx-bluetooth-throttle-controller.169275/

If looking for more power, that's another story. What's your goal?

 

[Some Random Guy]

If your goal is throttle response, the nimble feel of the car, etc... then this controller will do it without a tune, at a very low cost and easy DIY. Soler Performance Throttle Controller: https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...prf-dlx-bluetooth-throttle-controller.169275/

If looking for more power, that's another story. What's your goal?

I don’t even have the car yet, so I’m still researching options.
I bought the EB because I like the better handling it seems to have available at a sub-$50k price point over the GT. I’m coming from a BRZ that met an untimely end. This will mainly be spirited street driving, so handling is priority #1 for me. But more broadly available power or just plain more power makes it easier to pass and get back to open road fun.
I might try autocross or just track days to get that fun without traffic. The job I had when I owned the BRZ made that impossible, but my new job has a much less intrusive schedule.
Not sure if that answers the question. I guess the simple answer is I want more passing ability without giving up the handling capabilities of the HPP/HP Ecoboost.

 

[Mike@SolerEngr]

Random Guy, get to know her, and after the break-in period if what you need is a snappier response, DIY, warranty safe, inexpensive Mod, look no further. I'm sure you'll love it for spirited driving, passing, and pulling out of curves.

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