The most versatile, potent, real time tuning solution ever created. Inspired by studies on the performance of off-the-shelf software on vehicles with unique hardware at specific elevations, Altituned will revolutionize tuning as we know it!
Imagine being able to upload a custom file developed specifically for your vehicle, directly to its ECU (Engine Control Unit). Based on your modifications, altitude and performance goals, the appropriate programming will be installed, ensuring that your Audi, Volkswagen or Porsche will perform at its full potential.
Offered exclusively through Avalon Motorsports, Altituned is unique engine management tuning that utilizes real-time data logging to make necessary revisions. We are able to 'flash', or directly burn the the custom files on most cars 1999.5 and newer. With this flash feature you will be able to purchase multiple programs (depending on model and year) and switch through them directly from your cruise control stalk. This gives us a much wider range of tuning capability and allows you, the customer, a more broad range of performance based on your needs at any given time.
These are some examples of how files differ between a particular "off-the-shelf" software vs Altituned software on a stage 3 Audi S4. Keep in mind that while it is more important to analyze how all of the parameters function together, these graphs are inserted to give you some visual representation as to the positive effects of custom tuning
Boost profile impacts the way your car feels during acceleration but this profile can also impact intake temperatures if the turbo is working too hard to produce boost at a given elevation. The boost spike can also impact the integrity of the engine while too much boost can severely compromise the turbo's life. Most of the time these boost profiles cannot be altered without custom tuning (as opposed to "tweaks" or do-it-yourself changes). See below how the OTS boost does not reach peak until 4800 RPM's while the Altituned boost reaches peak a full 1000 RPM's earlier and sustains a smoother boost taper.
ALTITUNED
Off-the-shelf
The N75 (wastegate solanoid) duty cycle is an effective representation of how much the turbo wastegate must close to reach requested boost levels, or essentially how hard the turbo must work to produce a certain level of boost. If not kept in control, along with boost request, the turbo shaft(s) can over-spin and cause premature failure.
ALTITUNED
Off-the-shelf
Intake air temperatures are vital when it comes to achieving more ignition timing. In most cases the cooler the temps, the longer burn you get in the combustion chamber and subsequently the more you can advance timing. Timing is vital in gaining horsepower where pure boost increase cannot and when we custom tune a vehicle there are steps we can take to keep these IAT's in control. [Note: ambient air temperature, intercooling, water-meth injection all also factor in]
ALTITUNED
Off-the-shelf
Throttle plate angle is key when achieving targeted boost. You can see how your pedal position does not always directly correlate to the throttle opening, depending on the software of course.
ALTITUNED
Off-the-shelf
Control of ignition timing can translate to instant power gains. It is very important to make sure the timing is at manageable levels that don't produce excess knock [pinging], but in many cases there is a lot left on the table with OTS software.
ALTITUNED
Off-the-shelf
Air/fuel ratios determine a lot with regards to engine performance. Going too lean (not enough fuel) can lead to detonation and in turn, internal engine failure. Running too rich (too much fuel) can waste fuel, foul plugs, and saturate catalytic converters among other things. Altituned can target fuel enrichment at specific RPM levels unlike "tweaking" [Lemmiwinks tuning] the OTS file which only allows you to increase primary fuel up and down across the board. This is vital to finding the 'sweet spot' between leaning out for power and getting enough fuel to function safely, all the way across the power band.
ALTITUNED
Off-the-shelf
There are many different ways to measure increases in performance such as dyno testing, rolling time/rpm calculators, 1/4 drags etc.. The chart below shows the amount of time it takes a B5 S4 to travel from 4200 rpm's to 6500 rpm's at full throttle in 3rd gear. Most of us can attest to the difference 0.5 seconds makes in the 1/4 mile, but you can see the time that Altituned shaved on the FATS time is over a half second off of the OTS software, and that is huge considering you are measuring over 4-5 second range instead of 10-13 seconds.
ALTITUNED
Off-the-shelf
Here are some FAQ's regarding Altituned:
Q: What are the benefits of Altituned?
- In most cases, having a file written for you car specifically allows us to control what the ECU asks for from the engine and subsequently let's us ensure that all of the operating parameters are both safe for your car and optimized to achieve a level of performance that is superior to anything else on the market.
- OTS (off-the-shelf) is a term that relates to tuning that is designed for one particular car's ECU, with that car's hardware and at that car's elevation. Most of the time that single developed file, or files, are applied to every car in the world with the matching ECU part number, regardless of elevation, climate, and vehicle specific hardware. Because of this the operation of that program must be general and watered down enough to ensure that there are no ill-effects in terms of the way the vechicle runs. Thus, there is almost always headroom to be taken advantage of to allow your car to function more optimally. Although Altituned is useful even on cars with stock turbos and exhaust, it really is of benefit on purpose built or fully custom engine set-ups, for which is it very difficult to obtain software.
- NO. All of the Altituned files are written starting from the stock [Bosch] software and built from the ground up depending on what your vehicle demands as well as your performance goals for the car.
- Yes. There are many different scenarios that are possible when tuning a car. Avalon takes a great deal of care and caution prior to installing the file to make sure that we know what your objectives are ahead of time. Some customers wish to push their cars to the limit, fully understanding the implications that may arise. Others just want a strong file(s) while maintaining a safe level of daily drive-ability. When compared to other software on the market, often times the Altituned software can actually prolong the life of your car because we know what the vehicle wants and can handle, and will program accordingly. It is quite possible that we will end up with LESS boost, BETTER fuel enrichment and BETTER timing than other software on the market.
- YES. We are now capable of flashing the files directly to your vehicle's ECU. This is a very similar process to the way you would download a program from the Internet to your home computer's hard drive. By flashing the car's ECU we also have the ability to store multiple programs, each with completely different functionality. Switching between them is simple and can be done right through the cruise control stalk "SET" button. Further instructions available by request.
- YES. In most cases we will only charge a nominal amount to re-tune or add a program to your ECU if you decide to modify hardware after we perform the initial tuning. We can also modify an existing file if necessary and depending on the situation, may be able to do so at no charge.
- Probably not. It takes a certain amount of education for most people to understand the benefits of custom tuning and in many cases it is easier in terms of time and cost for a customer to choose pre-designed software for their application. Most of the well known companies such as APR and GIAC do a fine job creating products that will function better, in some capacity, over stock while being smart enough to adapt to your surroundings.
