Tunes and headers

Thomcat · November 14, 2016

Custom tunes and CAIs sound like a great idea...only problem is GM considers both IMPROPER SERVICE that will invalidate your engine warranty.....GM even has custom tools for detecting use of non-GM calibrations.

See headings Aftermarket Calibrations, Air Filters and Pistons page 3 of their TechLink doc. for GM's take on the concepts and what damages they've envisioned.

http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/GM_TechLink_13_July_2016.pdf

It's not a matter of whether screwing with the OEM crap and settings will make it run better, it most likely will...the stock engine was not designed to run fast or powerful, but like a piece of crap that meets minimum requirements for its intended use to haul stuff and maximum requirements to meet CAFE standards. Want to use a custom tune or CAI or screw with the exhaust system? ........then you pays your dime and you takes your chance.....just don't be surprised when you roll in with an engine problem under warranty, and due to the non-OEM tune or aftermarket eqpt. the service rep tells to pound sand, plus charges for their diagnostic testing.

Rawyzf · November 14, 2016

Custom tunes and CAIs sound like a great idea...only problem is GM considers both IMPROPER SERVICE that will invalidate your engine warranty.....GM even has custom tools for detecting use of non-GM calibrations.

See headings Aftermarket Calibrations, Air Filters and Pistons page 3 of their TechLink doc. for GM's take on the concepts and what damages they've envisioned.

http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/GM_TechLink_13_July_2016.pdf

It's not a matter of whether screwing with the OEM crap and settings will make it run better, it most likely will...the stock engine was not designed to run fast or powerful, but like a piece of crap that meets minimum requirements for its intended use to haul stuff and maximum requirements to meet CAFE standards. Want to use a custom tune or CAI or screw with the exhaust system? ........then you pays your dime and you takes your chance.....just don't be surprised when you roll in with an engine problem under warranty, and due to the non-OEM tune or aftermarket eqpt. the service rep tells to pound sand, plus charges for their diagnostic testing.

You gotta pay to play.....

lineman74 · November 14, 2016

Custom tunes and CAIs sound like a great idea...only problem is GM considers both IMPROPER SERVICE that will invalidate your engine warranty.....GM even has custom tools for detecting use of non-GM calibrations.

See headings Aftermarket Calibrations, Air Filters and Pistons page 3 of their TechLink doc. for GM's take on the concepts and what damages they've envisioned.

http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/GM_TechLink_13_July_2016.pdf

It's not a matter of whether screwing with the OEM crap and settings will make it run better, it most likely will...the stock engine was not designed to run fast or powerful, but like a piece of crap that meets minimum requirements for its intended use to haul stuff and maximum requirements to meet CAFE standards. Want to use a custom tune or CAI or screw with the exhaust system? ........then you pays your dime and you takes your chance.....just don't be surprised when you roll in with an engine problem under warranty, and due to the non-OEM tune or aftermarket eqpt. the service rep tells to pound sand, plus charges for their diagnostic testing.

Totally agree and have decided to go ahead and do it knowing the consequences.

powerhaulic · November 15, 2016

Yup, me too

As soon as Justin get the access code for my VIN

Thomcat · November 15, 2016

Totally agree and have decided to go ahead and do it knowing the consequences.

Should make a good stress test for the DI and sodium filled valve stem changes on the newer V8s. And that seems to be the problem with GM, every year they make subtle changes to their engines which are only evaluated against the stock settings and changes may increase driveability hopefully with no consequences or may at the expense of sacrificing longevity.

Next few years they'll finally put decent engines in their larger vehicles that won't need any aftermarket crap because the whole engine is already designed and supertuned for efficiency and will meet CAFE without any performance robbing kludges. Picked up a '16 Malibu as a "grocery getter".....only one with the manager's special had the new a 2.0T LTG model engine, claimed the highest energy dense engine lb for lb manufactured by GM. Runs using every gimmick in the book short of a supercharger...dual scroll turbo (eliminates turbo lag), intercooler, computer controlled wastegate, pressure recirculation, DI, VVT, custom pistons/heads for high compression operation, tuned induction and exhaust systems, counterbalanced cranks, etc. You simply cannot add aftermarket crap or tunes it because every phase of the design has already been maximized and engine automatically meets CAFE and "monkeying around"with it will cause damage, hence the GM link article. Having owned a '74 Impala 454 V8, I never dreamed I'd one day be getting better performance out of a '16 Malibu 122 250+ hp I4. The damn thing is as fast if not faster than my '15 Camaro 3.6 V6. Hopefully we'll see migration of better energy dense engines into future trucks.

truckguy82 · November 15, 2016

Internal combustion engines have a long way to go

Camless engines with either hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric valves would take any engine currently on the market and make atleast 30-40% more power. Would also make them lighter, smaller, and have less emissions.

I believe konigsegg (sp) is leading the design of them actually.

crushNchowda · November 15, 2016

Custom tunes and CAIs sound like a great idea...only problem is GM considers both IMPROPER SERVICE that will invalidate your engine warranty.....GM even has custom tools for detecting use of non-GM calibrations.

See headings Aftermarket Calibrations, Air Filters and Pistons page 3 of their TechLink doc. for GM's take on the concepts and what damages they've envisioned.

http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/GM_TechLink_13_July_2016.pdf

It's not a matter of whether screwing with the OEM crap and settings will make it run better, it most likely will...the stock engine was not designed to run fast or powerful, but like a piece of crap that meets minimum requirements for its intended use to haul stuff and maximum requirements to meet CAFE standards. Want to use a custom tune or CAI or screw with the exhaust system? ........then you pays your dime and you takes your chance.....just don't be surprised when you roll in with an engine problem under warranty, and due to the non-OEM tune or aftermarket eqpt. the service rep tells to pound sand, plus charges for their diagnostic testing.

Yeah well both you and the OP have '16 GM vehicles, so that coveted powertrain warranty you're concerned of protecting only goes for 60k miles now...you still get 5 years, but if you already got 20-30,000 miles on your truck well you're really not risking much.

Not to mention....a tune SHOULDN'T cause any issue - also, while you're correct GM does have ways to check if the ECM/TCM have ever been flashed, but not in very much detail, & seriously doubt most dealers are going to go down that road.

Before you re-quote me & say something to the effect of "better safe than sorry" - I had 2 GM vehicles both had CAI, catback, tune - both had powertrain-related warranty work - both had no issues getting covered by the dealer. One in particular - my G8 GT - had a DOD delete cam & they replaced tranny seal rings & tranny clutch cover etc., this same car had LT headers no cats & the same dealer who had worked on it a number of times took it on trade on my new truck & these morons didn't even realize it had no cats & was stalled until well after the papers were signed & I was on my way.

You are giving them WAYYYY too much credit.

Laslty, if GM were really trying to screw w/ people, anybody w/ a level or bigger tires shouldn't be able to get the vibration issue covered under warranty, but I have yet to hear of an issue.

Rawyzf · November 15, 2016

Yeah well both you and the OP have '16 GM vehicles, so that coveted powertrain warranty you're concerned of protecting only goes for 60k miles now...you still get 5 years, but if you already got 20-30,000 miles on your truck well you're really not risking much.

Not to mention....a tune SHOULDN'T cause any issue - also, while you're correct GM does have ways to check if the ECM/TCM have ever been flashed, but not in very much detail, & seriously doubt most dealers are going to go down that road.

Before you re-quote me & say something to the effect of "better safe than sorry" - I had 2 GM vehicles both had CAI, catback, tune - both had powertrain-related warranty work - both had no issues getting covered by the dealer. One in particular - my G8 GT - had a DOD delete cam & they replaced tranny seal rings & tranny clutch cover etc., this same car had LT headers no cats & the same dealer who had worked on it a number of times took it on trade on my new truck & these morons didn't even realize it had no cats & was stalled until well after the papers were signed & I was on my way.

You are giving them WAYYYY too much credit.

Laslty, if GM were really trying to screw w/ people, anybody w/ a level or bigger tires shouldn't be able to get the vibration issue covered under warranty, but I have yet to hear of an issue.

I miss my G8 GT .

lineman74 · November 15, 2016

Yeah well both you and the OP have '16 GM vehicles, so that coveted powertrain warranty you're concerned of protecting only goes for 60k miles now...you still get 5 years, but if you already got 20-30,000 miles on your truck well you're really not risking much.

Not to mention....a tune SHOULDN'T cause any issue - also, while you're correct GM does have ways to check if the ECM/TCM have ever been flashed, but not in very much detail, & seriously doubt most dealers are going to go down that road.

Before you re-quote me & say something to the effect of "better safe than sorry" - I had 2 GM vehicles both had CAI, catback, tune - both had powertrain-related warranty work - both had no issues getting covered by the dealer. One in particular - my G8 GT - had a DOD delete cam & they replaced tranny seal rings & tranny clutch cover etc., this same car had LT headers no cats & the same dealer who had worked on it a number of times took it on trade on my new truck & these morons didn't even realize it had no cats & was stalled until well after the papers were signed & I was on my way.

You are giving them WAYYYY too much credit.

Laslty, if GM were really trying to screw w/ people, anybody w/ a level or bigger tires shouldn't be able to get the vibration issue covered under warranty, but I have yet to hear of an issue.

Not that I really want to find out, but after I bought my truck I was discussing this very issue with the sales manager. I was curious how they would handle warranty issues after I leveled and installed bigger tires. His response was that since I bought it from them and have all my service work done with them that they would take care of me. I told him I wanted it in writing since he may not be there when I had an issue. He called the service manager on his day off and asked him how they handle these claims from their customers and his response was that gm doesn't need to know anything other than it has an issue.

I never got it in writing and I'm not naive enough to think that it would hold up if pressed, but I had already bought the truck and was trying to get them to install the level. He said to save my money and do it myself since they will take care of it.

We gamble every day when we leave our house and drive, to me, this is a calculated gamble and am willing to take the risk