Tuning FAQ’s

How long does it take to tune a car on the dyno?
The short answer is “As long as it takes.” Regardless of the combination, we tune the car until it is right. There is no pre-set limit on how many pulls we will do. Some cars are very simple to dial in, with straightforward combinations of parts, meters that are calibrated perfectly, fuel systems that are working right, etc. Those cars are done in about three hours with as little as three or four full throttle pulls and a few “miles” of part throttle tuning on the dyno. Other cars have more complicated setups (high stall converters, MAF transfer functions that need a lot of work, injectors or meters that are past capacity ["pegged"], FMUs that have to be recalibrated, fuel pressure that needs to be adjusted, supercharger belts that are slipping, spark plugs that need to be re-gapped, etc). A really complicated car could take all day and 15 or more passes. That’s just how it is.

Dyno Tuning charges are in addition to the cost of the chip or flash tuner (if required). For cars running leaded race fuel there is an additional charge of $15 per full throttle pull plus $30 for part throttle tuning. This covers the cost of replacing the sensor on our wideband Air/Fuel ratio gauge, which is harmed by leaded fuel. Dyno rates may vary for special applications, such as racecars requiring custom work, other brand vehicles, different tuning software, etc.

Dyno tuning prices listed in our tuning page may include standard tuning procedures (as required) such as setting timing, adjusting fuel pressure, tightening supercharger belts, and checking 1 spark plug to make sure the correct type and heat range is installed. These prices do not include mechanical repairs such as changing clogged fuel filters, changing or re-gapping spark plugs, fixing supercharger belt alignment problems, turbo gasket leaking, or repairing other pre-existing mechanical and electrical issues. You will be given 30 minutes to fix your problem and we’ll lend you our tools if need be. We understand that small things happen, however, after 30 minutes are up, it is your decision as to whether have us fix it or stop and come back at a later time since idling by adds operating costs to us as well. The tuning fee will be due regardless, however, if you decide on fixing your problem at home and coming back you will not be charged a new tuning fee, just $50 to restrap the car and look over the car once more.

If you are waiting with the car while we tune it, be prepared to wait for at least 5 hours.
The best thing to do is to arrange to drop the car off for the day. We take our time and will give you the best results possible if we are not rushed.

What kind of cars do you tune and what does “tuning” include?
As evident by our work and multitude of tuning programs and engine management systems we offer services on, TDC does not discriminate against any make or model. In other words, Domestics (Ford, GM, Mopar), European (Volkswagen/Audi, BMW/Mini, and others), Imports (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and respective sub brands). Not only do we focus on full throttle, high horse power tuning, but we also spend the time needed to make sure your vehicle runs smoothly and efficiently at partial throttle, idle, and throttle tip-in, in addition to adjusting the temperature compensation tables for better cold start properties, consistent a/f ratios, and overall better gas mileage.

With no pre-set time limit and a flat tuning rate, rest assured your car will be tuned right. That is why our dyno charts are always smoother (no jags or dips in the form of a “V” in the chart which may represent knocking or spark blowout) than the competition, which is where engine longevity and reliability come into play. And unlike the other shops, we don’t use ice bags on forced induction application or multiple high flow air fans to inflate numbers. We take a realistic approach in everything we do and tuning is no exception.

Are you SCT authorized tuners?
Absolutely! We are also dealers which mean you can order any SCT products through us and we can beat any advertised price!!!!!! Just give us a ring for a quote, preferably with an SCT part number.

Race Fuel Tuning
Check with us before selecting a race fuel for your application. Blends and stoich points vary greatly from one fuel to the next, which could cause your A/F to change unknowingly. We sometimes have VP C16 (116 oct) available for sale (Call ahead for availability).

Use the same brand and octane of race fuel on the dyno that you will be using at the track. Switching back and forth between different fuels will lead to catastrophic engine failure so by all means, don’t! There is an additional charge of $50-100 (depending on car) to cover tuning and dyno time if you wish to fill the vehicle with race fuel and have us tune it after we have completed the pump-fuel tuning. If you plan to do this, please let us know ahead of time so we can plan our schedule accordingly and provide you with additional instructions.

E85 Tuning
We promote the use of E85 due to its cooling, knock resistant properties that yield an increase of 10-15% more whp over pump 93 octane. However, due to the many limiting factors involved in using E85 (fuel capacity, hose type, injectors size, seasonal E85 blends, regional availability, etc… etc..), please call us to discuss this option.

Pump gas tunes that would like to be converted to E85 will cost $200. Same applies if tuned originally on E85 and would like a pump gas (93 octane) tune. This is assuming we did the initial tuning.

Diesel Tuning
We have all the necessary tools from Dynojet to log an ignition pickup on diesel applications and we offer tuning on all the popular diesel tuning programs. There are great gains to be made, even on factory parts. Only thing we ask is for no fluid leaks. Give us a call to see what options work best for your setup as some may require stacking “the use of 2 programmers” and even aftermarket injectors depending on torque goals. Other platforms may require mechanical tuning “cam plate, governor spring, etc…” instead.

Nitrous Tuning
You must have your bottle filled before your appointment. Call us if you need your bottle filled. Nitrous Oxide tunes include a base tune for running without the nitrous as well as the nitrous tune. Nitrous Oxide tunes include a base tune for running without the nitrous as well as the nitrous tune.

Do you have a bottle heater and pressure gauge? Do you have extra fuel jets? 
Pressure gauge and bottle heater are required before tuning. Knowing and controlling your nitrous pressure is crucial to good performance with nitrous oxide. We simply will not send a car out the door with our name on the tune while guessing about the bottle pressure. Just not happening!

Transmission Drivability Fine Tuning
Although most of this tuning is done on our dyno, we complete fine tuning of the transmission and throttle tip-in/decel sections of the tune on our private road for the most part before test driving with customer. This will usually require 2 staff members if dealing with automatic transmission and only the tuner if dealing with manual transmissions and is a standard part of tuning. We can not diagnose symptoms or fine details from the passenger seat so we will absolutely have to drive the car. If a tune has our name on it, it has to be right. This process only takes 10-25 minutes depending on the software used since some programs can take up to 3 minutes to upload a change to the ECU and others upload changes instantaneously.

Variable Valve Timing / Cam Angle Tuning
Cam angle tuning is an absolute must, especially with aftermarket cams and/or turbo applications so we include this in our tuning where applicable. It should be noted that the cam angle map in the factory tune is NEVER suited for aftermarket cams and custom dyno tuning will optimize your cam angle map for maximum power throughout the entire rpm range. Keep in mind that most VVT systems, (i-vtec in the case of Honda K series engines) operate based on oil pressure, and cam angle changes do take time to initiate and complete, usually .1 seconds for every 10 degrees of cam angle change. We have found that during gear shifts, there are delays of up to .4 seconds depending on how much the cam angle changes in the factory tune. Most people are not able to notice this delay in all motor applications, but in high power forced induction applications it literally feels as a pause in power, almost like the engine temporarily shuts off while the cam angle changes during gear shifting.

What happens when this lag is eliminated through cam angle tuning? More power, faster track times, smoother and more responsive setup after shifting gears, noticeably less turbo lag!

A few quick things to check before bringing a vehicle in for tuning:

• If aftermarket forced induction or pulllied stock blower, what are the plugs gaped at? They should be between .025 & .033″ on average depending on boost levels. How old are the plugs? Copper plugs need to be changed every 5-10k miles on average on nitrous and forced induction applications. All motor varies but can be anywhere between 15-35k miles. Call of us if you need help deciding on which plugs to get and what gap. Also bring an extra set or two just in case for tuning purposes and yes, you must have a fresh set of spark plugs gapped and installed right before your tuning appointment.
• If aftermarket supercharged/turbo, is tthe IAT sensor installed after the blower or after the intercooler if equipped? Preferably, you want after the intercooler for better accuracy.
• Fuel filters should be changed every 155-20k miles for consistency, especially on older vehicles.
• If you are running a forced induction aapplication through a MAF sensor, you must have a reliable boost gauge for tuning purposes.
• Don’t forget the obvious stuff; check ffor fluid leaks, decent tread wear on the fires, dump tubes in place (turbo applications).