hey guys, I need some help!! please explain to me (for I will be wanting to do this soon), what is a 'tuner', where does it go, how does it work and is it a device that stays in my OBD port? You guys talk about custom tunes and download tunes and I would hate to 'do the wrong thing' if I do this by myself.
I have a 2018 Ford F-150 XL 2.7l eco, twin turbos. I only did a CAI and Dual exhaust (Flowmaster 40 series) running 93 octane. Looking to get close to 400 HP without the high 'expense' of parts and labor. Thanks.

 

Tuners are people/companies that modify the settings on your trucks computer to change its performance or behavior. The altered settings can take advantage of higher octane fuel and more aggressive settings to produce more power. The tuner would sell you a device (sometimes also called a tuner) that you plug into the obd2 port under your dash. Through that they can obtain a copy of your trucks stock settings file (called a tune). They modify it and send you back an altered tune. You can choose to load that altered tune on the truck, run the appropriate fuel, and drive it. If you do this, you will void your powertrain warranty.

 

bad packet, summed it up well, the warranty may be arguable in that some dealers install and cover "tunes" as well as companies who offer warranties like 5Star. Research the tuner well before deciding both the part used SCT Bully Dog/HP and other units and the program tuners 5Star/Unleashed/Oz/BCB and other performance companies. You will usually get a few "canned" pre-programmed tunes with a tuner module, fairly generic and an improvement over stock. Next is a custom tune for your specific vehicle written from the running code on your vehicle. This will need logging performance runs multiple times (I did my logs on freeway entry ramps usually 0-80 MPH) and several rewrite to finalize.You will then have a choice of tunes you can use, stock, canned, custom, which can be switched in minutes in your driveway. KM