04-11-2023, 06:14 PM | #1 |
Drives: 2019 Summit White ZL1 Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: ZL1 Nirvana
Posts: 103
|
Headers ...No tune...Engine Damage....Please explain!
So I've read in several different forums both Camaro and Corvette Where people are claiming you can damage the LT4 by not having a tune. Can someone please explain to me Why and how that happens?
Or is this just another internet rumor? |
04-11-2023, 08:00 PM | #2 |
Drives: 2023 Black ZL1 Auto Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: FEMA Region 4
Posts: 2,935
|
Headers lean out the A/F ratio too much to be safe. The factory tune can’t compensate for the leaner mixture. It’s not a rumor.
|
04-11-2023, 11:48 PM | #3 |
Drives: 2023 ZL1 - Modified All Bolt On's Join Date: Dec 2022
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 588
|
Agree, with the above. I just went through this on my mods. My ZL1 with no tune was running really lean. So I babied around in it a bit until my tuner and I got hooked up. He took it from there and I'm very happy with my tune. I'd be worried running too lean. I went with the AEM AFR X-Series 30-0300 Gauge to make sure I was data logging the AFR Wide Band data for the tuner to do his magic.
|
04-12-2023, 05:36 AM | #4 |
Oh Oh it's Friday Night!
Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Nightfall Gray Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Walton Woods
Posts: 1,062
|
Lean condition caused by headers/no tune is real. Damage usually occurs when you accelerate briskly.
__________________
2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE NFG; ARH 2” headers, catless mids, ARH full exhaust, Lingenfelter 18% lower pulley, ATI Harmonic Balancer, Roto-fab CAI, EE-catch can, TM ported TB, NX Lid, BMR strut tower brace. Aeroforce dual pod interceptor gauges. Tuned by Vengeance Racing!!! 644 HP @ 6250 rpm / 689 trq @ 3660 rpm
Four that wanna own me Two that wanna stone me One says she's a friend of mine... |
04-12-2023, 08:43 AM | #5 |
Drives: 2019 Summit White ZL1 Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: ZL1 Nirvana
Posts: 103
|
Thanks ...did you leave the wide band installed or remove it once the tune was done? I don't care for all the extra gauges so if not needed I would like to remove it until the next tune.
|
04-12-2023, 09:00 AM | #6 |
Drives: 2016 1SS NFG A8 Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: 46804
Posts: 6,827
|
I don't believe it will damage the engine on the LT4. The ECM will simply close the throttle with headers and no tune gaining nothing. There is a good chance the car will be slower. These cars are not like modding old school stuff. They have torque-based ECU's that require increasing the systems torque limits when you do mods to make more power. The LT4's also go into RDP mode when running too lean.
__________________
2016 NFG 1SS A8
Options-2SS Leather/NPP Perf. mods-Whipple 2.9/Fuel System/Flex Fuel/103mm TB/Rotofab Big Gulp/Cat Deletes/Corsa NPP Per. times- 10.5 @ 137 w/ 1.8 60ft Full weight on 20's 1200DA |
04-12-2023, 10:06 AM | #7 |
Drives: 2022 Rapid Blue ZLE Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Neenah WI
Posts: 282
|
I know of at least 2 people that have tracked their ZL1 1LE's with headers and no tune with no issues after 10+ track days.
Not saying it wont damage anything, but it seems there is a safety buffer like mentioned previously with the ECM.
__________________
2022 Rapid Blue ZL1 1LE order ZNWPCX
Ordered - April 8, 2021 // 2000 - July 30, 2021 3000 - August 3, 2021 // 3100 - August 6, 2021 TPW - August 30 3300 - August 21 // 3400 - August 21 3800 10/18 // 4150 Oct 22 6000 November 1st Instagram: dylanszle |
04-12-2023, 03:33 PM | #8 |
Oh Oh it's Friday Night!
Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Nightfall Gray Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Walton Woods
Posts: 1,062
|
It will create a lean condition that the ecm will not fully adjust for. At a minimum you will never get the bang for the expensive bucks headers will cost, you’ll be leaving HP on the table. At worst, you damage your engine. Why risk it? Everybody knows somebody who flew in the face of reality and had no problems, so for me, personally, I would not assume a risk of damaging my Camaro because a couple other dudes I never heard of did something different.
|
04-12-2023, 05:30 PM | #9 |
Drives: 2019 Summit White ZL1 Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: ZL1 Nirvana
Posts: 103
|
No disagreement on unnecessary risk! But I couldn't resist the urge to go for a 20 minute test ride....nothing radical ....leak testing if you will.
I am also planning to remote tune and want to weigh all the options E 85, CAI . After doing more research it looks like I am going to have to live with pillar gauges for the wideband and ethanol content gauge. Sorry for the deviation I just want to do the right mods |
04-12-2023, 10:54 PM | #10 | |
Drives: 2015 Z/28 #397 2022 ZL1 #1799 Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DC
Posts: 521
|
Quote:
|
|
04-13-2023, 08:05 AM | #11 |
Drives: 2023 ZL1 - Modified All Bolt On's Join Date: Dec 2022
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 588
|
Here is a video that helped me with my pillar gauges install and my thread where I did mine gauges. As far as the flex fuel kit goes. I'm still not sure I have enough pump for much of an e mix. I'd love to get input from someone that has similar mods as I do but also with Flex Fuel kit and see what e-mix they are running.
https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showp...0&postcount=42 https://youtu.be/9-QDneCUzL8 |
04-13-2023, 09:09 AM | #12 | |
Drives: 2015 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Clinton Twp, Michigan
Posts: 255
|
Quote:
I would also say that most home header installs especially when using cheaper headers aren't great. The false knock will beat them into the low octane spark tables half the time. Last edited by Katech_Mike; 04-13-2023 at 12:33 PM. |
|
04-13-2023, 09:32 AM | #13 |
Drives: Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: NY
Posts: 707
|
The distance of the O2 sensors is altered and that affects the calculations in the tune. Unless it is corrected the car will run like crap.
You're spending $2k for headers on a $70k+ car. Why the hell would you skimp on a tune? Pure fuc$kery. |
04-13-2023, 09:34 AM | #14 |
Drives: Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: NY
Posts: 707
|
In addition to the false knock that will surely result from aftermarket headers, you will definitely need to play with the knock sensor settings in the tune. It took a lot of trial and error to get mine dialed in.
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
|