im currently running a cai, dp+rp, and a bpv. ppl are telling me to get a tune but i got no place around me that can do it, someone recommended a AP am i even close to needing it? can anyone recommend tuning shops around San fernando valley CA =)
Not necessarily. See mods below in sig. 13.4 quarters in good weather at 106-107. Here's a video of performance from 40-120 (get out your stop watch and see if you don't get 12.5 seconds) and compare this time to some pretty hot cars.
I've been running this set up for about 15,000 miles or more now on stock ECU, stock BPV.
Now, what you DO, ABSOLUTELY NEED is a boost gauge with those mods. You should be seeing about 1-2 pounds more boost than stock and need to make sure you are not getting any boost creep. I do not, although I get very quick spikes to 21 psi with immediate return to 17 psi.
The benefits and risks of tunes have been discussed on multiple threads. There is no doubt that a good tune can improve performance and that a bad or careless tune can result in a blown engine.
I don't know of anyone running with good SRI or CAI intake and aftermarket DP/RP that has blown an engine if running on the stock ECU. But there are lots of blown engines on careless or overly aggressive tunes that lean out the engine too much, or raise boost targets too high, or eliminate safety features like engine protective fuel/load cut or allow the throttle plate to stay open at high boost situations above 6,000 rpm and end up destroying the turbo from heat fatigue.
