How can I tell what tune I have?
 

Hello. New member here.


I have what may be a strange question.


I just bought a used 2013 Mustang GT, that had some mods done. One of them was the installation of a JLT Cold Air Intake. I know these intakes must have a performance tune for the engine to work properly.


However, the dealer had no idea what kind of a tune had been done. Is there a way to read what kind of tune has been uploaded to the vehicle? If so, where in the GTA would I go to have this done.


I'm asking because at this stage, I'm not even sure what octane level of gas to put in it. I don't know it the tune has made it mandatory to use 91 octane, or if I can put in 87 octane. This is a daily driver, and I'm not interested in completely maximizing my HP at the cost of affordable gas.


Any info or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome. I'm no expert, but I think without the hand held unit that installed the tune, it will be tough to tell what you have, I think. Maybe take it to a Ford dealer, they should be at least able to tell you that its not a factory tune. Better yet, you should have the info for whoever owned the car before you, get in touch with them and find out WTF. The Used Car Information package is law, and should have the ownership history. Trading in a car with no info on a tune is a chump move, probably weaselled a few extra bucks by selling the tuner independently instead of doing the right thing and either returning it to stock, or keeping the tuner with the car. Unless your cold air intake doesn't need a tune, there are some out there that don't, but as I said, i'm no expert. Best of luck, post some pics, and congrats on the new ride.

The dealer I bought it from is a Ford dealer, and they have no idea. They got the car from Ford Canada after the car was traded to them, so the dealer has no information on the previous owner or the mods done.


The air intake definitely needs a performance tune. It is mandatory for JLT intakes just to calibrate the mass air sensor for the larger amount of air it moves, so it couldn't be returned to stock. I just don't know what else was done with that tune.


At this point, I just want to know what type of gas I can put in this thing.

If your 2013 Mustang GT already has a JLT Cold Air Intake it most likely already has a tune installed or else your check engine light would be coming on. If you still need a tune the link below should help;

JLT Performance Mustang Cold Air Intake CAI-FMG-11 (11-14 GT) - Free Shipping

The dealer can't be to swift if they cannot tell what type of octane fuel to use but most Mustangs from the factory run on #87 Octane...91, 97 etc usually has more to do with performance gains. If the vehicle has an owner's manual it should give you some fuel information.

If you need to know how the vehicle originally came equipped from the factory use this site's VIN decoder. Simply put your vehicle identification number into the decoder. The decoder is located under tools.

http://indianapublicmedia.org/amomen...ctane-numbers/

Read this story http://www.torquenews.com/106/2013-f...ove-buying-gas

A lot of what AP says is usually right and bang on!

The jlt neads a tune as others have said. The guy that sold the car to the dealer would have to put the stock tune back on the car if he wanted to sell the tuner or it would be locked to your car anyway. Unless he's going to try and sell a locked tuner. Hopefully he put the stock tune back on then you could put the stock air box back on and you will be good. If not I'm not sure if you can even buy a tuner for it and upload a new tune?

Thanks for the information.
I know that a mustang with a stock tune can run on 87 octane. In fact, it is the recommended fuel in the manual.


I also know it is possible to do a performance tune for higher octane levels. I'm not sure if the performance tune on the car has done this or not.


Perhaps a better question would be, if it has had a performance tune to a higher octane level, and I started using 87 octane, would there be any problems, or would it just result in cancelling out some of the performance gains from the tune itself?


I appreciate all the help and advise. I know this is kind of a far out there question.

You could give DaSilva Racing a call, contact info below. They are also on Face Book. DaSilva Racing - Your home for Mustang aftermarket performance upgrades!

The JLT intake can't run on the stock tune. The check engine light would be coming on. So it couldn't have been returned to stock. And he could have had the car dyno tuned at a performance shop at the time the intake was installed. It didn't have to come from a hand held tuner, so there may have been no way for him to return it to stock in the first place.

I'm trying to avoid that. I have had dealings with DaSilva before with my 2005 Mustang GT, and was not very impressed with them when it was all said and done.

Just trying to help you solve a puzzle....now where did that square edge piece go for the right hand corner?

I appreciate the help and suggestions don't get me wrong, just after my experiences with DaSilva, I don't really trust them or their advice.


That is why I am trying to get advice from other sources.

I think you're a bit SOL. Not what you want to hear but finding out what tune is on it is like a needle in a hay stack.

They could have bought the cold air from anyone, who could have put an out of the box tune on it or a custom tune from lord knows what tuner.

The only thing I could see is getting a stock intake and getting Ford to flash it with a stock tune and start over.

If it has that intake and a tune I highly doubt 87 octane is the right fuel to be running. 91 or even 93 goes with most tunes, but again who knows what fuel its flashed for either.

This! A lot of what Herbz says is bang on!

I don't buy that for a minute, they're passing the buck because they don't want to deal with the problem, or they're too lazy. Go to the MTO and run the VIN for a Used Vehicle Information package, someone bought that car new, and I'm betting there's a name on the ownership history, there has to be, and they were the ones responsible for the mods. I'm pretty sure if a Ford dealer, or Ford Canada, were going to mod a Mustang, they'd showcase Ford Racing parts and not an aftermarket competitor.

Was going to say the same thing. There are other shops to check with that tune these cars like https://www.steeda.ca/index_parts_e.asp, or Misener Motorsports to name a few.
Other then that the dealer in my opinion is accountable.

100% correct. Used vehicle information package doesn't cost much, and gives full onwer history.

I have heard this from others as well. Most have switched to dealing with Pat at Steeda in Milton and been happy with his service.
At DaSilva, they (and when I say "they", I mean Matt) have always been pretty decent with me.
If it were me, I would run the highest octane I could find until I get things figured out. If you don't want to go the tune/tuner route, you may have to get a stock air intake and have Ford flash an OEM calibration into the computer. This should be taken care of by the dealer that sold you the car, and at no charge to you.

Six of one , half dozen of the other, i've had friends that weren't impressed with Pat or Steeda, and went elsewhere. I'm wondering if the Sarge is going to be like the kid that blew out the ten year old tire, or Murray, who's old lady tried to turn his car into an amphibious craft. Post a problem and then never come back to see what people had to say to try and help out. Meh, whattayahgonnado?

If you're in the GTA get in touch with Diago custom tuning. He's awesome and should be able tk help you.

Just what he say's. ^^^^^^

Hey Chris, how's the shoulder? Haven't seen you in some time, every time I see the brown truck I wonder how you are doing.

It is likely set up, with new tune for higher octane.
You can contact JLT, tell them your problem, they can sell you a new hand held
and upgraded tune. Until then or you find solution, I would run at least 91.

Meh...getting by. Still on light duties for now. I'm not sure if I told you or not, but it is a torn rotator cuff. I have another appointment for a surgery consult coming up soon. The person (Joe) covering my run is a pretty good guy, so that makes it a little easier being away from the truck.

Sorry to derail this thread even farther, but there is now a Quinte area Mustang meet...they meet every Friday at Panera on Bell Blvd at 6:30...shoot by if you have the time. There's usually 10-15 of us there.

I'll see, that depends on if I haven't had any wobbly pops. I don't move it if I have. One of the guys at work told me about it as well.

So, any updates on this? i'm curious to see how you're making out with getting the information you need, namely the ownership history on the car. Either that, or you'll be in the same black hole category as the kid who blew a ten year old tire and was looking for the same, the guy who's chick blew up his Mustang by turning it into an aqua-car, or whether or not Fitzy ever found Don Edwards. Tsk tsk tsk, so many questions, Enquiring minds want to know!! All else fails, if you want to know what tune you have , maybe hum a few bars of it next time you do karaoke and someone will recognize it ?

Another resource might be to get in touch with American Muscle/Bama Performance or Diablosport. When you get the tuners from them you have to give them your VIN number to lock the tuner to that vehicle. They might be able to tell the OP if they sold tunes to the previous owner or that VIN number. I agree with some other advice here though. It would probably be best to go back to the stock airbox and get the dealer to flash the car back to the factory tune. I was just looking at the car-part.com website and they have lots of used airbox assemblies ranging from $325.00 - $100.00. Good luck.

Wasting your breath, OP hasn't been on since he posted this thread, didn't seem to want to listen to any answers even when he was here. For a day. lol Hope he found his answers.