How do you exactly tune your car?

[mitsugsx95]

I know this sounds like a newb question, but I need some help. I always hear about people tuning thier cars and making them faster. I know about the basic bolt on crap that you can do to make your car faster (upgraded turbo, exhaust, intake, fuel pump, ext.), but what is actually involved in tuning your car.
Is putting it on a dyno or having a labtop in your car the only way to tune it? What about an S-AFC or datalogger, what kind of tuning can you do with those? Please dont flame me for putting this in cause I know that some a$$ will give me some BS answer or highlight the SEARCH button.

 

[DSMeclipse4G63]

adjusting spark and fuel curves, timing and such to match boost and fuel input are the basics. They way you adjust fuel, spark, boost and timing is how you tune a car that runs consitant 13.5 to run 13 flat or better. What you said is basic tuning like changing boost and/or fuel pressure to see horsepower yeilds from the adjustments made. The only tunning I can help you with is basic tunning as all Ive done is timing and fuel on a non turbo civic. Wtih fuel boosted and timing advanced took me from high 16s to 15s(along with alot of practice in driving) good luck and be carful with your tuning as it has a direct affect on your car....obviously.

 

[mitsugsx95]

I have a EGT gauge, but from reading some of the posts, people say that its not a reliable tuning tool once you start modding heavily and increasing boost. If i were to get a pocketlogger, which one should I get and will it be able to tell me about knock?

 

[CornerHard]

Tuning is all about getting as much performance from your engine as possible without knocking or running too lean or rich. This means you alter the timing advance and air/fuel ratio, whether with an S-AFC, replacement ECU, or other means.

As much as you don't want to hear it, this is a very complicated subject, and your best bet is to SEARCH a whole lot and read everything you can on the subject Improper tuning can destroy your engine very easily, so you need to learn how engine combustion works and what your limits are.

As far as loggers, you should definitely check out DSMLink (http://www.dsmlink.com/), since it is by far the best logger and tuning device for 2Gs (without getting into standalones, like the AEM EMS). Plus, it requires a 95 EPROM ECU, and you may have one already in your car, which means lower cost for you