Car: 2011 GSR

I'll get things straight right now, I don't want to have the car tuned for warranty purposes and mainly because there's not reputable tuner near me (also don't want to mess with e-tunes).

I'm simply tired of not hearing the turbo and DV so I'm thinking about fabbing myself an intake (I already have pretty much all I'd need) and don't want to shell out 400+$ for a piece of piping and a cone filter. I'm kinda friendly with the dealer so there's no problems with them for me doing that.

I know I won't really get much gains without a tune, and frankly, I don't care. I just want more sound (can't do exhaust, I'd get stop within couple days here)!

But, I'm babying my car and don't want to risk running lean due to more air getting in. So if i fab up something, put it on, and check the fuel trims to make sure they are not going havoc, can I assume I'm ok (I don't have a WB, just a boost gauge)? I'm planning on checking the trims using Torque on my Android.

Sorry for the long thread, but just wanna make sure I'll be safe.


CLIFF NOTES: Don't want to tune, want an intake. If the fuel trims are ok, am I safe?

 

Knock is the real indicator of safety.... You'll need a Tactrix to read that.

I wouldn't just go on the trims.

 

But to read knock, mode 23 must be enabled right? So this mean the ECU must be re-written which is just like a tune?

 

Just get a Cobb ap. For warranty, reflash the stock ecu. That also gives you the option to have a 'fuel saver' map for long highway trips, and it'll act as a obd2 reader.

 

K&N panel will give sound, power and runs fine on stock tune.
Bam.

 

Tried a quick test today, slapped an AEM DryFlow Cone filter I had laying in the basement on the MAF housing just to see what it sounds like and what the fuel trims would do.

Before:
LTFT idle: 0.8
LTFT cruise: 1.8

After:
LTFT idle: 3.8
LTFT cruise: 2.3

This is after about an hour of driving mixed city/hwy and mostly staying out of boost. Can I assume that they are settled or should I drive more to see? WOT isn't needed to settle the trims right?

 

I would just get the K&N drop in. You will hear the turbo spool and BOV a lot more than the stock filter.

 

trims shouldn't change too much since you aren't changing the MAF housing. they will always be changing but shouldn't deviate too drastically. just keep an eye on it.

WOT is not needed to settle trims but on the stock rom there is a LTFT high which most people disable while tuning their car.

just keep in mind, you will most likely run leaner at WOT. if the rest of the your car is bone stock, there is probably enough headroom with the rich stock fueling that you should be okay but really the only way to know is AFR readings from a wideband and to watch knock.

 

Trims are still pretty much around 0 with just the cone filter. I fabbed up a piece of piping to put the filter away behind the headlight (Injen style) still using the stock MAF and trims were going way more farther from 0 (saw some -9). So I reinstalled only the filter on the MAF housing.

I do plan on getting a WB in a near future so I'll be able to check AFR's. Knock is another story though has ECU needs to be played with to read knock...

Thanks for the info! Greatly appreciated!

 

When I tried a k&n drop in my cars picked up some serious pep. None of my other cars had the same effect. Mostly couldn't feel anything. With the Evo X's Just a drop in is a nice piece to have. Also help lean the car out, which is rich from the factory