Hey guys, I'm currently trying to decide what to tune my Evo 8 with. I currently have a XS Power TBE, Walbro 255, Helix Intake, and will be installing 272 CompCams w/Fidanza Gears once I decide on tuning. I really want to be able to switch between maps on the go since 93 and 110 is readily available here at Pilot gas stations. I don't know much about tunning myself nor do I have a laptop. I'd like to just get it tuned and leave it. I was set on getting the Xede but after a brief talk w/Andrew from Dyno4mance I realized there were some code P300 and knock issues with it, but still was a good unit. I don't want ANY issues. I was recommended to just getting a custom flash since the flashing technology has advanced soo much, but i also want to be able to switch between maps and to be able to do so i would need a laptop & cable (don't want to mess w/that) with a flash tune. So now i'm looking at the SAFC II but i'm still really torn between all these options. How good is the SAFC II compared to these other options? What do you guys suggest and what have you seen make the best results in my situation?

 

Flash and be done with it. I am not sure if you can flash for 93 and 110. Said another way i don't believe you could flip a switch and be on regular octane map, and then flip the switch and be on the 110 octane map. i could be way off though.

 

SAFCII is old school for price of that you can get the cable, and have some money left to get your car tunned - get the car tunned for 2 maps race and pump so you can swap between, laptop,cable and you're set.

#1 to flash.

GL

 

Well you could use the SAFC and keep a little post-it with all your numbers for the high versus low There goes your cool factor.

I still would go with the flash, it's more stable and not only can you edit your fuel curves, but your ignition/timing as well as a studderbox I'd rather turn on the laptop and wait for it to boot up and load in my flash. Still I would only bother with it once in a while.

 

If you really don't want to mess with a laptop and cable, then your only choice is an SAFC, preferably an SAFC-II. It can store 2 maps so that you can just switch from one to the other from 93 to 110oct. However, y ou still have to change gas and change boost on the boost controller, so it's not like having a button to swap maps is a big deal. I see you don't have a boost controller listed - you're going to need one if you want to utilize 110oct.

The best solution is to get custom flashed for both and switch maps yourself when necessary, but that does require a laptop with the free EcuFlash software and the $90 flashing (Tactrix) cable.

 

What is the advantage/disadvantage of using a flash over the SAFC II? from what i understand the SAFC cannot control timing. Can i get a BETTER tune with either one of these over the other? I really don't want to go out and get a laptop.

 

The difference is the SAFC is very crude and basic while providing nothing but air-fuel adjustment. The flash can manipulate just about every ECU parameter for providing a complete tune, including air-fuel, timing, maf scaling, injector scaling, launch control. rev limit raise, fuel cut removal, and MANY other things. You can obviously get a much better tune with a flash over an SAFC, but I'm sure you knew that after 5 minutes of searching.

 

Yeah, just wanted a more in-depth explanation. I'm def. leaning more towards this option, but would a mail-in flash provide the most adequate tuning or would a custom ecuflash on a dyno give the best results?

 

Obviously, a custom tune will be better than a mail-in flash. I mean, that IS obvious, isn't it? I don't really understand the question. You also don't have to be tuned on a dyno to get custom tuned.

 

get the car on the dyno and get it flashed for the most acurate tune.

 

On the road would be the most accurate.

 

that's what i was thinking, but warrtalon suggests road-tunning to be better?

 

It's actually a lot better (not to mention safer) to tune the car on a good dyno with load control than it is to road tune.

 

NO, it's not "a lot better" on a dyno. You can never 100% mimic road conditions on a dyno. So many people get off the dyno with their "great" tune only to be disappointed at the drag strip (or wherever) when they find out that 4th gear on the street doesn't quite behave like 3rd gear on the dyno. Yes, there are also tons of cars that come off the dyno and kick *** just the same, but it's not always a guarantee.

It is definitely safer on a dyno, but if you can get tuned on a track, remote area, or closed road, then safety is not an issue.

The ultimate way to tune is to use both a dyno and the road for cross-verification, which some tuners do when time allows.

 

Throw away the SAFC and that piggy back nonsense. Get a good flash and you will be fine.

If you want to extract as much as possible, Warrtalon has it right, road and dyno tune