Tuning and Engine Failure

[boostedflex]

Hey all,

Getting set to tune my X Sport, going back and forth between Unleashed and LMS.  Best I can tell, no one has blown up a tune only 3.5 engine with either of these two vendors, am I correct on that?  I am probably just tuning this time, no intake, 3 bar, or t-stat, want to keep it super simple.

Thanks,
Rik

[SHOdded]

You should add AJPturbo to the mix

But you are right, both tuners are very protective of their reputations and would never implement anything they vonsider detrimental to your vehicle.  BUT things can and do happen anyway, tuned or not.

And of course maintenance moves to the Severe Service category.

[Skydogs]

AJP hands down

[AJP turbo]

Hey all,

Getting set to tune my X Sport, going back and forth between Unleashed and LMS.  Best I can tell, no one has blown up a tune only 3.5 engine with either of these two vendors, am I correct on that?  I am probably just tuning this time, no intake, 3 bar, or t-stat, want to keep it super simple.

Thanks,
Rik

I could never imagine a LMS tune causing an engine failure....Responsible power levels and all fail safes and protection limiters are utilized from what I can tell.

I have seen some other logs that were scary and luck may have been on their side.

The stock turbos are hard pressed to make enough power to cause power induced failures but it can be done.

On a stock turbo car and tune if you are looking at potential dangers I would look to fuel pressure drops and sustained high KR values and peak boost during spikes....anything over 20 psi is a lack of control in my book.

[AJP turbo]

Hey all,

Getting set to tune my X Sport, going back and forth between Unleashed and LMS.  Best I can tell, no one has blown up a tune only 3.5 engine with either of these two vendors, am I correct on that?  I am probably just tuning this time, no intake, 3 bar, or t-stat, want to keep it super simple.

Thanks,
Rik

One other thing I would mention is if I tuned your car and you were looking to achieve boost levels that LMS does I would NOT even require a 3 bar MAP sensor...I only mention this because you say you are looking to keep it simple.

I've seen many LMS tunes that target about 187 kpa...The stock MAP sensor will read about 206 kpa which is near 15 psi....With proper throttle control you will not exceed that and even if you do the STFT's are well equipped to handle that.

It's really not as big of a deal as people think...Even if you very briefly exceeded 206 kpa you would see your stft add fuel for a second..

Spark is fine because the spark tables actually are setup to handle more than 15 psi because they are load based

[ZSHO]

Sometimes simple is sweet!! How many miles on your Sport?
I would verify,confirm the proper gap size before installing your freshly new tune as the factory spark plugs are usually scattered all over the place from the factory!
The Spark Plugs need to be gapped accordingly as per Tuners Specs! 

[boostedflex]

Thanks guys, I had 4,000 on my Sport.  And yeah when I tuned my Flex I replaced the plugs, the old ones were really out of spec.