Hey Guys,

My mechanic said I could possibly be running lean bc he saw carbon buildup on my o2 sensor? Not sure that means. At that point I only had an invidia n1 catback exhuast.

I now have a t1r 63mm sparrow catback exhaust with t1r resonated test pipe, and will soon have a K&n intake.

Would you recommend I get a tune? Or just leave it... or use some sort of EMS or use an apexi VAFC? I can get one for 150...

What do you guys think?

Like I said im very new to this and not sure the difference between EMS, someone else tuning my car, or a VAFC. Most searches don't explain this properly and most of the stuff is way over my head anyways.

 

What year car? What do you use your car for? Whats your budget? I have an AP1, and its pricy for an EMS. I bought a VAFC with wiring harness originally. I had no experience tuning but it was a fun learning experience.

But if your asking if you can get one for 150, I'm guessing your on a tighter budget. You can probably find an used VAFC for 150, but if you want the plug in play recommended for noob. Get the wiring harness. But if you have wiring experience, you can save yourself another 100 bucks.

So for about 250 you should be able to pick up a used VAFC with wiring harness, but still need to get it tuned.

If your going to get an EMS and tune be ready to dish out some $$$.

 

Its a 2002 and using it as a daily driver. I am leaning towards the VAFC with wiring harness. Now with where do I go for a tune?

thanks for all the info!!

 

a full standalone (ems) replaces the stock ecu altogether. a standalone ecu takes control over all engine related functions. a vafc hacks the stock ecu by targeting another load column to target the appropriate afr. the problem is that following the appropriate afr also targets the corresponding ignition timing at that rpm and load. a vafc a very outdated. years ago when the technology wasn't around it was an ok alternative but now a day with the kind of options available i wouldn't even consider a vafc.

standalones cost a lot more and they cost a lot more to tune because there is a lot more work involved but the overall results are much different. you get what you pay for.

 

Aha gotcha. makes sense. Now with all this in mind, ill save up for an EMS eventually. IS it absolutley nessescary to do this with the mods ive mentioned? Am i doing any damage to my engine running these mods without a tune?
Can I get a tune without EMS or VAFC?

 

it is not necessary but if you really wish to extract the full potential out of the modifications done to the motor, it is a must. running those mods isn't on a stock ecu isn't going to do damage. you cannot tune the factory ecu. you can do so on the 06-09 models but the 00-05 ecu's are not flashable. you're limited to standalones or some sort of piggy back (which i don't recommend).

just to give you an idea of gains. my car is running bolt on's and e85 fuel.

https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/909...tepped-intake/

i posted a graph showing the gains between the way the car was bone stock versus how it sits now after bolt on's and a tune. it's a night and day difference even with simple bolt on's.