Which cars adds the most power from just a tune?

Any modern engine can probably be pushed to double or even triple its power output at least momentarily 

The 2.0 Ecotec LNF engines respond well to tunes.  Without changing anything else on the engines, you can add around 50-60 whp and 90 wtq.  (The factory offered a tune that took you from 250 bhp/260 Tq to 290 bhp and 345 Tq)

Obviously by changing other parameters like adding a higher capacity turbo you can go much further ( I run a 375 bhp/375 Tq engine and some go considerably further).

The ea888 gen 3 VW's do pretty well with just a tune. Honestly though the winners here, like some of yall have already said are the diesels. The BMW M57 picks up an absurd amount of torque with a JB4, and I've seen 6.4 PSD's hit 600+ hp and 1000+ lb-ft on otherwise stock engines. Of course, since it's a 6.4, the engine's lifespan can be measured in days if not hours at that point 

ProDarwin said:

SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) said:

I know the N54 can add a lot.  The twin turbo V8 in the 2012+ Mercedes E550 et al can add 200hp with a tune.

50% with just a tune?  Woah.

 

You barely got in under budget at $59,790 base price

The Chevy 1.4t can nearly double its power with a tune.  Stock injectors, fuel pump, turbo, intercooler, everything.

They are HEAVILY detuned in stock form.  It's like they wanted to make a 1.6 Ecoboost competitor, then decided that no, 118hp is plenty.  When people started playing with them, they found that the computers were even mapped fully for higher power levels, they were just torque-limited in the mapping.  Raise the torque limits and a few other limits, and tweak here and there, and you're sailing a tad over 200hp.

A neat feature is that the intake manifolds have locations for adding a second set of injectors, and mounting bosses for a second fuel rail.

I'm showing my age...I saw the title and my first thought was of a tune up consisting of new points, condenser, rotor and distributor cap.

Already mentioned but an N54 picks up about 70whp and 80wtq. about +25% gain. 

EA888 (VW 2.0l) picks up about 60hp and 60lbft, likewise about +25%.

I'm sure there are better out there but those are the unicorns I remember.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Is that some particularly anemic detuned variant?  

All I can remind you is that mostly the limits are there to make sure the powertrain lasts 150k miles. Before you recalibrate, know what is being sacrificed for that power. IMHO, if the tuner isn't willing to tell you that, find another. 

Turbine said:

The ea888 gen 3 VW's do pretty well with just a tune. Honestly though the winners here, like some of yall have already said are the diesels. The BMW M57 picks up an absurd amount of torque with a JB4, and I've seen 6.4 PSD's hit 600+ hp and 1000+ lb-ft on otherwise stock engines. Of course, since it's a 6.4, the engine's lifespan can be measured in days if not hours at that point 

Actually, the 6.0L and 6.4L were the go-to for performance builds.  Mechanically, they're super stout with the exception of one head bolt boss which can be solved with a stud.  I saw a stock bottom end 6-point-oh-no take 1200hp and 2100 lb-ft for three dyno pulls before a rod bearing started making noise.

Its the external stuff like EGR cooler and oil cooler that give up the ghost, but the engines themselves are pretty fantastic.

Its super easy to crank up the fuel and add a little timing on something like a Dmax and add about 40% more HP and TQ.  Swap injectors and you're easily at doubling both of the stock numbers.  Dad's puts about 550hp/950tq to the rear wheels with injectors and a tune.

ProDarwin said:

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Is that some particularly anemic detuned variant?  

AFAIK it's all of them.  They made so close to the same power as the naturally aspirated 1.8 that one wonders why they bothered.

Perversely, the 1.8 is rare as hen's teeth, and was eventually dropped altogether, with the 1.4t the only engine option in the Cruze.

With my old Lancer Evo VIII we upgraded to the 6.5 TME turbo and O2 housing (for faster spool up). Then added a 3" exhaust from turbo-back, APEXi boost controller, and custom dyno tune on Sunoco 94. Completely stock engine internals (no cams or anything). Went from a nominal 275 hp at the crank to 360 hp at the wheels. 

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Do you have any info on a tune that will double the power?

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Is this why the Sonic has a small cult following?

I am no fan of the Sonic, but if its a tune away from 275hp, I could be interested.

ProDarwin said:

I am no fan of the Sonic, but if its a tune away from 275hp, I could be interested.

Just moving the torque tables on mine and keeping it in a safe range mine made 186. 

ProDarwin said:

I am no fan of the Sonic, but if its a tune away from 275hp, I could be interested.

It's not.

138HP stock and maxing out at about 200 with a tune, but apparently not very driveable at that point, and about 180 being a decent compromise. 300HP on a bigger turbo is not uncommon, and they don't break. They're making this power on 180 intake and 165 degrees of exhaust duration. That's pretty impressive. With some decent cam they would make even more power.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

The 1.8 is very common around here and in all the lower and base models up to, I think 2016 when they all became 1.4. The 1.8 only came with the 5spd manual, except in the Cruze, which got the 6spd manual. It's also the same 1.8 engine that came in the Saturn Astra, which were much more common in Europe where some performance parts are available. The 1.8 has similar (size) cam profiles as the quad4 so you could do something there too. There are a lot of interesting combinations of transmission and final drive ratios between the Cruze/Sonic/RS versions, and I would someday like to build a 1.8 Sonic. It's a decent platform.

Audi 3.0 V6 supercharged

In reply to Peabody :

I have never seen a manual trans Sonic or Cruze.  I intellectually know that they exist at least .  Do they have the same weird drivavility as the turbo 2.0?

I think I have seen three 1.8s in my entire automotive career.  This is one of those regional things, I'm sure.

Sorry to hihjack your thread, but the first thing that came to mind would be one of the boosted Cadillacs, maybe the twin turbo 3.6?

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

So I bet you've never seen a manual trans Trax either. We have those around here too.

These are pretty common. You can tell it's a 1.8 car because it's a 5spd

Check these options.

The MZ4 as fitted to all 2012 1.4T Sonics:

Final Drive: 3.65

1st: 3.82
2nd: 2.05
3rd: 1.30
4th: 0.96
5th: 0.74
6th: 0.61

The MF3 as fitted to the Cruze ECO:

Final Drive: 3.83

1st: 4.27
2nd: 2.16
3rd: 1.30
4th: 0.96
5th: 0.74
6th: 0.61

The MR5 as fitted to the regular 1.4T Cruze and Sonic RS:

Final Drive: 3.83 for Cruze. 4.18 for Sonic RS

1st: 4.27
2nd: 2.35
3rd: 1.48
4th: 1.07
5th: 0.88
6th: 0.74

The MZ0 fitted to 1.8 Cruzes:

Final Drive/R&P: 3.94

1st: 3.82
2nd: 2.16
3rd: 1.48
4th: 1.07
5th: 0.88
6th: 0.74

Cruze LT

Final Drive: 3.83
1st: 4.27
2nd: 2.53
3rd: 1.47
4th: 1.07
5th: 0.87
6th: 0.74

Sonic 1.8

Final drive: 3.94

1st: 3.73
2nd: 2.14
3rd: 1.41
4th: 1.12
5th: 0.89

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

In reply to Peabody :

I have never seen a manual trans Sonic or Cruze.  I intellectually know that they exist at least .  Do they have the same weird drivavility as the turbo 2.0?

I think I have seen three 1.8s in my entire automotive career.  This is one of those regional things, I'm sure.

They are out there. I have two manual sonics (a 1.4 and a 1.8) and a guy I worked with has a manual cruze.  There are three manual transmissions that were available.  I had to look them up in SI to figure it all out.  The "good" ratio one in the RS actually was geared way too short for my car and I ended up putting the standard 6 speed back in.

In reply to RonnieFnD :

I believe there were 7 manual trans available.

In reply to Peabody :

I have never seen a Trax.  A few Encores, though, which are the same chassis, is it not?

Since the bi-turbo v8 Mercedes were mentioned already. The bi-turbo v12 cars are getting +130hp +150tq from a modest tune. Add in better cooling, exhaust, and turbo work and you'll have it near 1000tq. 

The m177 v8 engines are real monsters though, with turbo upgrade and tune.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

In reply to Peabody :

I have never seen a Trax.  A few Encores, though, which are the same chassis, is it not?

Yes, they're built on the Sonic platform.

In 2017 GM started using a different 1.4 in the Cruze, and I think, the Trax/Encore. It's a boosted DI version of the LV7 in the Spark. 159hp stock,  but I didn't find any meaningful information on power with a tune. That 159hp would have been welcome in the Sonic, but they never did it. Apparently it's also related to the 1.5 in the Malibu, etc.

The Cummins 5.9 common rails respond to a tune as well as anything out there.  And the steering is usually bad enough that you're afraid to use all the power anyway.