Live Tuning vs. File tuning

windrunner408 · Jan 26, 2012

So being that I dont really know a whole lot on the ins and outs of tuning our truck for power, I am wondering if it is better to pay for live tuning or will I not really see a whole lot of improvement over say a custom file by one of the popular tuners.

I realize that there is only so much power that can be pulled with the stock injectors and turbo, but how about say when you add bigger sticks and more air with either a larger single or even twin turbo setup??

I have also heard that with live tuning, it doesnt affect how your ICP is read. Is this true?? Also does live tuning just give one tune that does everything from street/drag racing to towing to daily driving for fuel economy or can other styles of tunes be done with live tuning??

It would be nice to hear from guys who have ran both types of tuning on their truck. Thanks for the input.

bigdirty · Jan 26, 2012

:whs: I have been wondering that same thing. This should be a interesting thread

SleeperDuty · Jan 26, 2012

i'm not sure, but when matt tuned my truck we took it out for a few drives to see where the tuning changes needed to be made in the slr++ file im running. i will say there was a decent difference in the regular slr++ and the final slr++ file i ended with, way better than the tunes the were on the sct device when it was purchased. live tuning just helps make tuning change to were you like it and get the most power out of that tune.

Pizza pig · Jan 26, 2012

trucks pick up big gains with live tuning, big advantage knowing when and where to add fueling and timing to get the most out of the tune.

windrunner408 · Jan 26, 2012

I know that most live tuning is done either via a dyno and/or track but I guess my question is how is it done?? Is it done with a computer hooked up to the truck watching all of the sensors and then parameters are adjusted to get everything right??

Also, does this live tuning work pretty much as a one tune does all things sort of deal?? I guess it no doubt depends on how much money one wants to spend tuning and what they are after when they do tune it.

MorganY · Jan 27, 2012

windrunner408 said:
I know that most live tuning is done either via a dyno and/or track but I guess my question is how is it done?? Is it done with a computer hooked up to the truck watching all of the sensors and then parameters are adjusted to get everything right??

Also, does this live tuning work pretty much as a one tune does all things sort of deal?? I guess it no doubt depends on how much money one wants to spend tuning and what they are after when they do tune it.

wouldn't it be nice If we could monitor and record parameters on our AE and send them in (I know it is not nearly that easy)! one of these days hopefully in the summer I am going to drive my truck up to Eric at innovative and have him milk every drop of hp he can out of my truck lol

Worstenemy453 · Jan 27, 2012

Younger1993 said:
wouldn't it be nice If we could monitor and record parameters on our AE and send them in (I know it is not nearly that easy)! one of these days hopefully in the summer I am going to drive my truck up to Eric at innovative and have him milk every drop of hp he can out of my truck lol

Why not go to TSD, your closer.

BlueWaffle · Jan 27, 2012

Isn't matt tight there by college station???

Pizza pig · Jan 27, 2012

yeah he's in Bryan I believe, either way you cant go wrong. I need live tuning done, I may swing by innovative in march and get my ficm flash and live tuned.

patrickke · Jan 27, 2012

You would still need seperate files for race, street, and towing even with live tuning

Pizza pig · Jan 27, 2012

yeah we know, this isnt efi live here

patrickke · Jan 27, 2012

That's what the op was asking

windrunner408 · Jan 27, 2012

Thanks patrickke. Makes sense but just wanted to confirm that was all.

patrickke · Jan 27, 2012

No problem man.... although I believe it can make a race file more streetable

Goose · Jan 27, 2012

Live tuning = drivability.

strokin6L · Jan 27, 2012

live tuning on the dyno is the best. Couple years back when Nate Berges still had his 6L....he drove to ID's shop and had Eric live tune it on his dyno. When Nate got there they strapped it down and made i believe 548hp. After some tweaking from Eric on the computer...it then made 617hp. That's a huge improvement without even adding parts....just tuning changes.