Is the Livernois tune as good as people say?

[curry67]

Im thinking of getting my tunes from lms. I like how there are multiple stages I wanna play it more on conservative side and probably max out at stage 4. Do you need to get thermostat and .030 gaps with stage 4 and below. I thought it was just 4+

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[BiGMaC]

Im thinking of getting my tunes from lms. I like how there are multiple stages I wanna play it more on conservative side and probably max out at stage 4. Do you need to get thermostat and .030 gaps with stage 4 and below. I thought it was just 4+

The current LMS tunes are 91 & 93 octane closest to 4+ per Dan.  I'd at least gap the plugs for sure as insurance against predetonation.

[anthonylee337]

When I called LMS and asked if I needed the plugs gapped and cooler thermo they assured me I didn't have to do it- since the tune my car runs smoother and I'm averaging 18 mpg. The car runs like a bat out of hell so there is no way I'm changing a thing and she never runs hot. Guess I'm lucky!

[DJE624]

You do not need to do plugs and TStat for any LMS tunes up through Stage 4+ but like BiGMaC said, it would be wise to make sure your plugs are gapped at 30. 

[anthonylee337]

One thing my car does not do is ping or knock

[DJE624]

You may have pre detonation at high rpms and not even know it without logging.  OTOH, I was running stock 528's gapped at 35 for months with no problems. I'm pretty sure you are fine.

[anthonylee337]

Tks for the responses-I'm not worried at all I been around engines my whole life and I know when a motor is running at its peak or if it is running poorly. There is no way my engine could run any better and I steady clock 0 to 60 times under 5 seconds!

[Tomc612]

 Yes they are Great!! Livernois stage 4+ I run and will never go back to stock. I also have a few files I use sometimes from Tuning by James. I been tuned over 22k and I never had any problems. I'm using the SP-534 plugs gapped@.030 for 3000 miles. I was running the older plugs with gaps as high as .036/38 and still never any issues.

[MeanKS]

can any shop 're-gap' the plugs?

i would guess that one shouldn't ask their local Ford dealer to do it; right?

also, is there any thread that has the complete break down of what to do and expect when getting a tune?  does unleash and Livernois tell you exactly what to do?  i hadn't heard about people changing the thermostat before this thread and only saw recommendations about the spark plugs recently.

i'm definitely going to do it, once i put a few more miles on my MKS (i negotiated hard to get the dealer to throw in an extended warranty) the first thing the sales manager said was the waranty is voided if you tune the engine!  i was surprised because i brought my MKS from a Lexus dealership, but he knew right away about playing with turbos...

[Night Hawk]

You may have pre detonation at high rpms and not even know it without logging.  OTOH, I was running stock 528's gapped at 35 for months with no problems. I'm pretty sure you are fine.

same here 528s gapped at .035 no problems, FWIW just purchased a set of 534s to find them already pre-gapped at the recommended .030 word must have gotten back to Momma Ford.

[Brucelinc]

I have run a Livernois tune on my 2010 MKS for a bit over a year.  Is it as good as people say?  Not just "yes"....HELL YES.  I have no doubt that Unleashed tunes are great, also, but the bottom line is that tuning really improves these cars - not just engine performance but also transmission behavior.  I can only speak for 2010 -2012s, but I have not heard of ANY negatives associated with the tunes.

One question:  I have heard a couple of guys use the term "predetonation."  I am familiar with pre-ignition and detonation - both are bad.  Predetonation is a new one on me...is that just a made-up word or is it some evil combination of detonation and pre-ignition? 

[BiGMaC]

One question:  I have heard a couple of guys use the term "predetonation."  I am familiar with pre-ignition and detonation - both are bad.  Predetonation is a new one on me...is that just a made-up word or is it some evil combination of detonation and pre-ignition? 

It's the firing of a cylinder before the piston has completely finished the upward movement of the compression stroke.  Hurts power and potentially damages the engine. Advances in timing (involved in most tunes especially at higher rpms) can increase likelihood of this without precautions such as the cooler plugs.  Maybe some one with more knowledge can explain it better.

[68_GT]

I don't like that the LMS XV1 tune has been put off either for a long time, or possibly forever with out meth. I'd buy support mods if needed to run it. I just want to run boost to redline my SHO leaves me wanting on the highway after 5k rpms. Maybe that will change with the release of larger direct injection fuel injectors possibly this year and some other fuel deliver modifications. Seems like there's just not enough demand for our cars to justify the additional time to work on our tuning. 

[BlueSHO]

Yes they are Great!! Livernois stage 4+ I run and will never go back to stock. I also have a few files I use sometimes from Tuning by James. I been tuned over 22k and I never had any problems. I'm using the SP-534 plugs gapped@.030 for 3000 miles. I was running the older plugs with gaps as high as .036/38 and still never any issues.

Who is this James guy you are referring to?

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[Brucelinc]

Thanks, BiGMaC.  I do not want to hijack this thread around terminology, but your description sounds like what I have always thought of as pre-ignition - the ignition of the fuel/air mixture occurring too soon and slamming into the piston on it's way up.  This is often due to overly advanced timing and/or plugs in too hot a heat range.  Anyway, regardless of terminology, we know it is bad and, thankfully, the best tuners help us avoid it!