Hi guys I have a quick question. I searched the forums and couldn't really find any solid answers. My Evo was fully stock until a few days ago when I installed a short ram intake. I was wondering if a tune would be worth while even though the car is pretty much stock. What kind of tune should I get? I plan on taking it to CBRD Thanks for the help

 

this is comming from pretty much a fellow new enthusiast, but i dont think that a new intake is going to give the increase needed to require a tune.

 

chronotrip21: Not true, a tune is probably the most worth while thing you can do to an Evo, even in pure stock form.

For OP: Yes, a tune is worth while, you'll unlock a lot of the cars real potential, even being all stock. I'm pretty sure most of the people on this forum would agree.

 

Thanks! Anything specific I need to tell the tuner?

 

^Agreed. You can tune stock and you'd get gains.

But for your situation, you should be fine without a tune. I searched around and concluded that I'd get a tune after I replace my O2 dump and intake pipe. I have a TBE and open element filter right now but I could tell that it could run much better.

 

Put it this way. If you've got the money to go in and get tuned after every power mod, go for it. It won't hurt. If not, you can get away with certain mods for the time being, but the true potential will be unlocked once you get tuned.

 

Not trying to be rude but this^^ is not very good advice.

Long story short- even a stock Evo can benefit greatly from a tune. It's probably the single greatest mod you can do to the car.

That being said, if you're going to pay to have the car tuned, you should definitely consider what your mid- and long-term goals are for the car. Tuning can be expensive ($300-$500), so it's best to come up with a plan of how you'd like to mod the car, collect the parts, then the get the parts installed and tuned all at the same time. Otherwise, you won't be able to take full advantage of your new mods and you certainly don't want to be dropping $300-$500 every time you want to add a new part. Even changing something small like the intake can have a dramatic effect on how the car runs and drives, and not always in a good way if the car isn't tuned for it. Even if the car does still run fine after changing the intake, the only real way (HP/TQ wise) to take advantage of the new intake is to have it tuned for that intake. There is a ton more information about this in the Newb section. I highly reccommend reading through these two threads:

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...oking-evo.html

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...-100-time.html

 

Decide what your goals for the car are going to be (1/4 mile, higher HP, track car, street, etc.) and then find a reputable shop near you that can help you get there. I've heard a lot of good things about CBRD so I don't think you can go wrong by going there. Also, do a lot of reading and researching before you just start throwing money at the car. Not that CBRD would steer you in the wrong direction because I don't think they would, but I think it's important to know what you're doing and why you're doing it so that you don't spend money on something that doesn't help you get to where you want to go. There are also a lot of mods that it makes sense to do at the same time so that you don't have to pay for two installs such installing a turbo and an exhaust manifold.

 

@ian0611

>Tuning can be expensive ($300-$500)

300$ and you call this expensive..?

come here in greece and you will pay 800 euros for a tune...

dont mention that parts here are overpriced too (wallbro 255 fuel pump costs 150 euro..)

ps: sorry to op for hijacking his thread

Michael.

 

thank you for correcting me, as i said, im new to the whole tuning scene and that was just something i was told before as well, that a tune isnt really necessary until after alot of modding. Now i know better. This is one of the reasons that I joined this page, was because its full of well informed people.

 

If you are going to keep it like it is for a while, get a tune!!! Depending on the intake, it may alter the MAF reading the ECU is using. Will you be ok, maybe, but who knows. Without a tune, it may limit the power you are capable of obtaining. With an intake, you should be able to have it tuned to more than what is capable of, of only a tune on an all stock setup. FIRST!! Check with the tuner, does he offer a discounted reflash?? (meaning; it is $XXX for initial tune and only $XX for another tune once you add stuff,) This might be the way to go if possible and you plan to add more items in the future.
I had my car tuned/reflashed (because I knew it was going to be stock (all stock) for at least a few years(still is)) and I LOVE how much more power I currently have (reflashed to 287hp/293tq at the wheels)!! I now have much better throttle response and more power throughout the power band.

 

question....is it worth it in a 2003 Lancer ES? also around how much would it probably cost?

 

I guess expensive is relative but to me, $300 is a lot of money! It's not so bad if you only do it once, but if you get tuned after every new part that can add up real fast. Of course you can always learn to tune yourself and then the only thing it costs you is a lot of time!

No prob man! I was in your shoes so I know the feeling. I could be wrong, but I think a lot of that logic about a tune not being necessary comes from the Honda world. Evos are an entirely different beast though and tuning makes a huuuuge difference!

 

yeah, i was once enthralled by Hondas, until i test drove a 2001 civic, then test drove my(now current) car, 2003 Lancer ES. and i quickly fell in love with Lancers...... thats why i want an EVO VIII so bad. oh well, gotta wait till june when im done paying for my ES