I would like to know what kind of power/torque increase I could expect with just a k tuner install on a stock 2013 TL sh-awd?
I plan to add high flow cats and jpipe, catback exhaust eventually. Will i see a difference just with the ktuner and will it come with a stick base map for increases power?

Thanks!

 

Based on my experience having the K Tuner, I would say that it works best with mods. When you add performance parts to the car, the ECU will try to adjust to work with them but nothing short of a custom tune will bring out best results.

There are preloaded maps on the K Tuner that vary with your mods. What kind of gains to expect when modded with all available mods and K Tuned.......keep your expectations conservative and you would not be disappointed.

 

its about $100 per 1HP for the j37.. so keep that in mind..

 

the only thing tunes do for N/A engines, is smooth out drivability
so, you may gain 5hp...but that's not the real reason to tune..

 

The tune would be worth more after you do supporting mods. The stock tune on the engines is pretty good. You can pull a bit more power out, but not crazy amounts.

its once you start adding a CAI, exhaust, J-pipe, etc. That a tune will make more sense. You'll get more gains out of your car that way, but yeah, it's not cheap either.

 

IMO its there for the efficiency factor.

 

09-14 TL ? KTuner, LLC

Dyno there FWIW.

Also, I don't know if the 4G TL suffers from the horrible DBW (Drive By Wire) OEM programming that my 8th gen J35Z3 does, but THAT CHANGE ALONE was worth the cost of KTuner for me. The programmed fuel cut delay (in essence a programmed in 'rev hang') had me pulling my hair out and I've been driving manual transmission equipped cars for more than 25 years. The difference in my car with full bolt ons from stock was big. The difference after the custom dyno tune was even bigger. HP in the higher RPM range has definitely improved, but the improvement in bottom end and the flat torque curve is something I noticed every day while driving the car around town or on the highway.

 

Smooths out drivability

 

Beyond drivability options, the SH models are actually throttle limited on the top end. KTuner fixes that and it is noticeable. Dynos on the site show the gains for various parts.

 

Does the tune add a more aggressive sound to the engine and exhaust? I know it doesn't indicate proper tuning but would the exhaust break up if the throttle snaps closed after heavy acceleration or engine braking? Just curious if that has to do more with our engines or the tune itself.

 

Does Ktuner allow for a transmission tune as well such as bumping up the line pressure and adjusting shift points for auto trans?

 

(might be a noob question) Do you know if the car in that link has had only HFPC done? Or has that car had J-Pipe, Exhaust, Intake replaced as well? I can't imagine HFPC alone took it from 229 to 245 (max HP), right? Thanks, in advance.

Also, seeing the AFR go from 10.7 (stock) to 11.4 (mods only) to 12.7 (tuned) that means a higher air to fuel ratio (otherwise it'd be FAR if it were increasing the amount of fuel to air).

 

The tune can be adjusted to create such occurrences but you would also want to increase exhaust flow (delete catalytic) to obtain this with least damage to exhaust valves and stop the cat from catching fire.