unless i'm not fully understanding this right, its seems like a lot of money to drop on a tuner that you really only have to use the one time that you install the CAI. If i'm wrong please correct this because i would love to buy and install a CAI but it seems to me it would almost be worth looking around to see if somebody has one i could use. just a brief description on what your actually doing with it would be awesome thank you for curing me of my ignorance lol.
I'm kind of a tinkerer and I like to put a little amateur science on whatever i do. I don't have a cool air induction system yet, but I've found a way to use the tuner a couple dozen times or more.
First, go to the eighth-mile drags and run four or five runs with the stock tune; take the three or four minutes to change to the 91-octane torque tune; run a few tries that way and change to the performance tune. Calculate. Result? Torque and performance tunes are both significantly better than stock. Torque tune gives slightly better terminal speed, slightly worse 60-fts. Performance tune gives best ETs, slightly better 60-fts.
Drive an hour out and an hour back with the stock tune. Fill 'er up, record miles, gallons. Change to torque tune. Hour out, hour back. Fill, note. Change to performance tune. Hour and hour, fill, note. Calculate. Result? insignificant differences in mpg. Performance tune is just better all-around to drive, more responsive and the exhaust actually sounds tighter. I have to run this test again. I'm not believing there is only a tenth of a MPG difference among the tunes.
Take off the tune for a dealer service trip. Check the codes before going back to a tune, in case the dealer updated the PCM.
Other, braver tuner owners datalog their performances and make adjustments to the A/F ratio, timing, and so forth. Maybe someday.
Yes, the tuner is expensive for a one-use appliance, but it's worth the price of admission, and the manufacturers have put them together so that they are locked to one car, or they don't work.
I thought that it was kind of silly to have spent over $300 on mine and have it sitting in my closet like it has been for the past 2 years also.
Then I got my gears installed last Friday and realized that I could use my previously retired tuner to correct the difference in my speedometer from the gear change.
So yeah, they're not useful ALL the time, but they are a necessity if you plan on continually modding your car.
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Black 2005 Mustang v6, 5 speed, IUP, EUP and Leather.
Razzi 1/4 window scoops, Mustang GT Sway Bars, Flowmaster American Thunder Single Exhaust, Clear Front Turn Signal Lenses, Demolet CAI, X-cal2 91 tune, Hurst Comp/Plus Shifter, FRPP T-Lock, Ford 3.73 gears
that def makes sense, and thanks for explaining that a litle better. The only other thing i don't really get is where you get the actual data for tunes. Is it a program you download and then upload to the tuner or are they already in there. Or is it just you get a printout of what the numbers should be and then put them in?
some tuners come with "Canned" tunes for the CAI you purchase. You can get "tunes" form places like Bamachips and others' Some tuners are also able to accept modified tunes by dyno-tuners who are certified "dealers" for that specific tuner..
But as you suspect it is a lot of money to spend,,,but its just the beginning..LOL
If i'm wrong please correct this because i would love to buy and install a CAI but it seems to me it would almost be worth looking around to see if somebody has one i could use..
The only way you could use somone else's tuner is if they gave(or sold) it to you and took the tune out of their car. It isn't just a tool you can use from car to car, you actually have to mary it so to speak with your car and once the tune is installed it can't be used on another car until the tune is removed from the original car it was loaded in. Otherwise the entire mustang community would just buy ONE and share it amongst ourselves. Clever marketing? you bet, but that is the way the allmighty dollar is made.
Take off the tune for a dealer service trip. Check the codes before going back to a tune, in case the dealer updated the PCM.
What would an update to the PCM do to the tune?
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2008 Mustang 4.0L V6 - Candy Apple Red Performance: FRPP Dual Exhaust With X Pipe,K&N Drop-In Air Filter Looks: GT Spoiler, White Racing Stripes, Sequential Taillights, GT500 Pedals & Dead Pedal, Window Tinting
It simply would make the tunes not work, and after you upload it, the engine won't start. Happened to me, the PCM was updated so the code that is printed on the PCM didn't work. But it isn't a problem. Simply get the vehicle strategy with your tuner and the person who made your custom tune can fix it really fast.
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2006 Ford Mustang V6 Premium w/ Pony Package (Windveil Blue) - Auto Tran
Tunes $$$ 
