Dyno Tuners, are they as good as they claim, and how fudged are their readings....

[ED turbo (mickmalta)]

I've had my fair share of tuners claim they can move mountains, but have rarely delivered what they promise.

While i dont want to name names, (as to save embarressment) I think some tuners shouldnt be taking peoples money until the tune is perfect.


A tuner put my car on a dyno, and it seemed fine... On the street, it would blow spark out, lean out, or flatspot under boost. (this was with the origional motor.)

He ended up 'tuning on the street' as the car behaved so differently.

The final tune was still not what I was hoping for, which comes to my next point... If ppl are going to shell out cash for tuning, make sure you get proof of transaction. (rather than a 'cash' job)


Another tuner thats very good at putting so many other performance places down, was more interested in their money than tuning out a flatspot.

When faced with me having a word, his response was...."We dont know whats been done to your motor" and started ranting on about how they are the best....... Surely, how can a business keep up a customer base with arrogant, non customer focused attitudes wanting to pass the blame onto others?


Do I sound like im having a moan? you bettchya.



Someone, anyone, name a tuner who is more interested in doing the job right first time, and not blame other things when they cant do what they were paid to do.



DYNO READINGS.


Everyones dyno reads differently, we all know it.


There is a particular tuner that has had a number of members claim the figures from their dyno have been way off from most others.


Are tuners changing parameters to make the car seem more powerful than what it really is......


All feedback welcome.

[LTDHO]

I go to a tuner I can trust.

[EFFalcon]

i tuned mine myself :P

[Casper]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

I go to a tuner I can trust.

ditto..

and I never even bother to ask the rwkw as its just a load of numbers anyhow.

Oh, and if I'm not happy they will retune it over and over and over and over and over if I ask, no questions asked.. and then call me or PM me and ask how it feels a few months later.. and then retune it again if they find something new. I have no complaints, I have 100% confidence and I will not be changing.

[ED turbo (mickmalta)]

I've gone to a tuner from people's recomendations, not to try my luck.

A tuner you trust is someone you had to get an opinion on before giving them your car, you wouldnt take it there otherwise.

[Mr X]

Word of mouth will find you a good tuner.Go to cruises and dyno days and ask questions.The rwkw number mean nothing really.What matters is the amount of kw increase from the tune.Most tuners I've dealt with are honest people.........

[ED turbo (mickmalta)]

This thread isnt aimed at good, honest, reliable, trustworthy tuners.

This is pointing out that there are 1 or 2 average ones that I've had the displeasure of dealing with.

[Blue Oval Mopar Man]

Ive never had my car on a dyno. Had a couple of engines done. The best dyno is a drag strip ! All the other are a waste of money I think !

[silverxr8]

Can you name names and PM me? I'm looking at getting a tune done so would like to avoid the problem tuners!

[GXL078]

Paid over $100 and car came back idling at 2000rpm, pinging and running on. Also told me that the standard jets were "spot on". Usually has spies watching my posts (not computer literate) and I am made to write a written apology for bringing his work into disrepute. I am good, but I am not God, he says.

[rodderz]

The main purpose of the dyno is to either tune your car to optimum driveability or for the tune you're after, or to see if a mod can give you a gain.

Too many tuners try to get the highest reading and use the tactics to do it. You can always look at the IT (induction or intake temp) for example to see what it is compared to the air temp, and whether it compensated more to give a higher reading

As long as the tune is right, the numbers arent overly relevant

[Casper]

Originally Posted by silverxr8

Can you name names and PM me? I'm looking at getting a tune done so would like to avoid the problem tuners!

names in my signature.

[philstoj]

Good tuners are hard to find, i have known mine for at least 15 yrs, and have worked with etc, wont trust my cars with anyone else.

[opto]

I agree with you , too many tuners making claims and not coming up with the goods.
You pay good money and the service is crap, 1 week to tune a car is a joke and then get it all wrong.

I have a hard time trusting mechanics/tuners.
They are quite happy to take your money.
I do as much as my own work then mechanics are dubious about your work, hey thats how we feel.

For those that are good at their trade, Im sorry, others may have spoilt it for you.

[Redrum]

Trust is the optimum thing when getting your car tuned. I shopped around and didn't go for the tuners with the biggest promises or the flashiest work shop, but went with the one that I trusted the most. The way he was talking it sounded like he was trying to talk me out of it. But he has never failed me.

[castek]

i know a guy that has worked on every car i've owned. and he's never failed to deliver. i had a major flatspot in my old commodore, and once it was on the dyno, he couldnt get it to happen, there was no load on the wheels. once he bumped up the resistance on the rollers (dont know the tech term), it happened straight away. about an hour of tuning later, he told me it was my carby. impossible, i just got it reco'd. so back to another carby place and bam, metering rods were bent.
he has worked on my EL, and other cars in the family, all without problems.

He is in sunshine, and has a very good name with the LS1 people, although he owns a schmick XB.

PM if you want details.

[MoreHPformyXR6]

Once you find a good one you will never look back. I have he's got the runs on the board a Ford specialist and I have the utmost trust & respect for him.

[Stav]

I think alot fudge their figures.I have seen a dev5 auxr6 get 146 rwkws on one dyno pre tuned.Then it went elsewhere to get tuned.First dyno run was 133 rwkws Magically after tune it was 151 rwkws. A staggereing 17 rwkws more on the same dyno and 5 rwkws on the tuner shop dyno compared to first dyno from another place.

It doesnt look good for this tuner in my eyes.

Heres a laugh though .At last dyno day Autotech variables had been changed and my first run peaked at 87rwkws. It started at 100 and went down to 87. Someone accidentally pressed a wrong button...heheh Everyone was thinking wtf? It was funny to see and was an obvious honest mistake by the boys.They must have dropped the keyboard. heheh

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by ED turbo (mickmalta)

This is pointing out that there are 1 or 2 average ones that I've had the displeasure of dealing with.

I went to a major dyno operator. I parted with $1100 for the privledge, he didn't fake figures, but he have me the most pathetic tune ever. I will never go back there or say a nice thing about this person again, as far as I am concerned he owes me $1100. I went to him due to his reputation and that he was building another members car (motec, nos, etc) so I figured he knew his stuff.

Mick I've hund around enough dyno's to know who does and doesn't waste your time.

[xbcool]

yep Im happy with my tuner ,although at times the figures dont seem right (varies a bit depending on who straps it down)but on the street it doesnt play up .

[trick_xd]

I tune my own car ....

But as I have taken it as far as I can go I will be looking at a dyno run very soon to fine tune my work..
at first I thought that just any old place could do it .. but after ringing around and asking some questions and them not knowing a answer or 3 I think they dont know what I want and how I want to have the car finished off .

[prydey]

anyone in adelaide running turbo or aftermarket computer or jap import i would thoroughly recommend boostworx at panorama. absolute champ who knows his stuff. mainly specialises in skylines and stuff but i went to him as i'm running microtech and he was recommended to me from a workmate. he doesn't mind doing other cars as well and always gives me the time of day whenever i drop by regardless of how busy he is.

[TZENU]

Extremely happy with my tuner... He has made me think twice about rwkw... He told me not worry about figures, but focus on how the car performs and reacts on the track...
Seeing how my first track day will be at Heathcote on the 26th, i am looking forward to returning to him so we can together make changes that will get me quicker times.

[XRchic]

Recomendations and experience.

Now, I only trust G&D in Melbourne and KPM in Adelaide. Both of those two, without a doubt. Id trust them with my kids lives!