When you install a turbo kit do you have to tune?

[ttr125fan09]

if you install a turbo kit do you have to tune? even if you only run a small amount of boost? kinda clueless when it comes to forced induction.

[thatbryanguy]

I'm pretty sure a tune is necessary because the point of going turbo is to force more air than normal to produce more power. If you put in more air you have to tell the ECU to match the air with more fuel otherwise you run lean. Run too lean and your engine goes boom :/

[fnkngrv]

You would want to tune, but you can get away with only boosting to around 3-4psi. Anything over that and you will really want to because the stock ECU will lean you out too much. This is of course not the proper way to do things as you should always tune when boosting. If you don't you will still run somewhat lean and you will not get anywhere close to what you would for hp/tq even at only 3-4psi. There are plenty of resources now to help with getting your base tune set up anyway which in turn really reduces your tuning costs at a professional shop if you go that route. Also, believe me when I say that after the effort you go through to install the components you will feel that you deserve to have max potential even at low boost. Not that it is overly/terribly difficult at this stage now that there has been an increase in the community who do it, but it still is a lot more work than just putterin around stock. :)

[maxthehax]

Unfortunately yes.

Car will run fine under normal condition with no tune , but pressing more than half throttle will be lean and not safe.

Also, adding the turbocharger is a nice addition to the performance, but lets say that tuning the car with that turbo is what will give you most of your performance gain!

The power gain of the turbo itself isnt worth it without a tune... rather than putting a turbo and not tune, simply leave it stock, trust me.

[cali yaris]

if you install a turbo kit do you have to tune? even if you only run a small amount of boost?

YES.

[BEEF]

there was a guy on here playing with a low boost turbo on a tercel but the gains were very minimal. I think he was going for 3 psi.

I don't think the gains for a low boost turbo would be worth the money (tuned or not). Plan to tune and to for 8-9 psi. guys are making 170+ whp with that level of boost (properly tuned of course).

[kou]

Yes you need a tune boost is addicting and you will always want more power.

[malibuguy]

there was a guy on here playing with a low boost turbo on a tercel but the gains were very minimal. I think he was going for 3 psi.


That was me. Stock ecu handles 4.5lbs...so I ran 3-3.5lbs for a while until I made sure everything was working correctly. Then I installed an fic and 315s and well I miss the simple 3.5 days. The car is always at my tuners shop.

[47_MasoN_47]

If you don't want to tune you can go the Blitz route. That's what I've got and I'm very happy with it.

[BEEF]

Even with the blitz, if you decide to upgrade the rest of the car (intake, exhaust, header, etc) you need to tune so you are limited to leaving your vehicle pretty much stock without a tune.

The blitz does bump it up quite a bit. stock is like 90 at the tires and I have heard that the blitz bumps it up to 115-120.

[fnkngrv]

If you don't want to tune you can go the Blitz route. That's what I've got and I'm very happy with it.


Scott was actually noticing some behavior that was leading him to believe that having an FIC or equivalent could be wise along with a tune on it. I believe that it has to do with the fact that until the car's o2 sensors are warmed up you will actually run lean, but can't recall for sure.

[47_MasoN_47]

Even with the blitz, if you decide to upgrade the rest of the car (intake, exhaust, header, etc) you need to tune so you are limited to leaving your vehicle pretty much stock without a tune.

The blitz does bump it up quite a bit. stock is like 90 at the tires and I have heard that the blitz bumps it up to 115-120.

Well I've been running my Blitz for nearly 9000 miles without a tune. I've got an AFe, DC header, full exhaust, lightweight crank pulley, and 1zz injectors.

[jetblast]

What happens if you boost the injector size? The MAF is downstream of the turbo, so it should manage proper AFR....shouldn't it? Toying with the idea of dropping TC injectors in on my Weapon R intake manifolded engine....then bumping next step of trying my Greddy turbo kit on 4psi boost. Employment situation is the limiting factor right now.

[47_MasoN_47]

My car runs a tad rich at startup with the larger injectors, but if I leave it sitting for a minute or so it evens out. When I'm driving down the road not under boost it stays at 14.7.

I'm not sure how it would effect a turbo but that's what it does with my Blitz.

[BEEF]

Well I've been running my Blitz for nearly 9000 miles without a tune. I've got an AFe, DC header, full exhaust, lightweight crank pulley, and 1zz injectors.

I have heard that a "work around" was using the 1ZZ injectors. Good to know that actually works.

Have you dyonoed that yet?

[47_MasoN_47]

The dyno jazz is why I haven't had mine tuned, haha. It just costs too much and the nearest one is 4 hours away.

[jetblast]

Cool, thanks for the info. Kinda figured I was gonna try it anyway....I gotta get more sleep at night and spend less time wondering if it would work. :)

[fnkngrv]

The dyno jazz is why I haven't had mine tuned, haha. It just costs too much and the nearest one is 4 hours away.

Personally I wouldn't use any dyno shop in Alabama. I tried to work with the three I found listed and none of them knew their ass from a hole in the ground when it came to modern Toyota tuning. :drinking: