I'm sure this thread has been created before but I cant seem to find one any newer than a few years old.

Looking to buy a CAI, AEM specifically. I've mixed reviews on if its says to run an intake without a tune. Unfortunately a tuner is a long long way from me so a tune really isnt an option. So is it safe to run an intake without a tune? Will I run lean without said tune? any info is helpful, thanks.

By the way, 15' evo gsr with 3000km

 

I had a AEM intake on my X back in the day. It says its fine without a tune but I really would consider getting a tune. The AEM intake replaces the stock MAF housing (critical piece) with their own housing. It really throws the car off at idle.

 

If you're going to be picking up parts like this, considering getting a plug in tuning option that has some OTS tunes for your parts list. No one will argue that it's better than a truly custom tune, but it's better than nothing and can be done without going to a shop.

 

+1

That way you'll be good to go it you ever decide to do full exhaust and/or ebc.

 

There's always the option of getting an e-tune as well, but that's another story. All you have to ask yourself is this, "does the intake I want use the stock MAF housing, or does it replace it?"


If it uses the stock MAF housing like K&N and ETS, then you should be fine.


If it replaces the housing with a bracket mount on the piping for the sensor, you need a tune.


That's all there is to it.

 

I ran the Cobb SF intake without a tune for a period, car ran fine but had anxiety eventually about the car needing a tune lol. just bought the cobb AP and ran the stage 1 for their SF intake, car ran amazing after that.

 

and what about AMS, does that use the stock MAF housing?

 

There are very good instructions on this site on how to rescale your MAF sensor to work with what ever intake you want to use. All you need to do is buy the tuning cable and do some reading. Tuning isn't black magic, and if you can post on a forum you can set up data logging and do some basic tuning. This forum has all the information you could ever want on tuning the evo. Even if you have no interest in tuning at all, as a basic tool, I think its something every evo owner should have.

 

is running an exhaust without a tune a bad idea? from what I understand running a catback without a tune is okay but anything more not so much.

 

If you run a full exhaust without tuning you probably wont blow your engine up. You will probably throw a cel (check engine light) and you certainly wont get all the gains/benefits you would if you did get a tune. While your doing the exhaust though make sure to pick up a wideband 02 sensor setup, your gonna need it.

 

The post above is correct, running a full exhuast is not okay if you don't get a tune.

But running a cat-back without a tune is perfectly acceptable, it doesn't change the flow-rate of the exhaust all that much since the stock cat is still restricting it.

 

Do you know this for sure.? I wanna run a cat back also.

 

Yes for sure. But it would still be in your best interest to get a tune.

 

I believe ETS is the only intake which doesn't require a tune.

 

i have an 08 with full bolt ons and no tune.