Subaru Forester Owners Forum banner

14+ FXT Tuning by BrenTuning

('14-'18) 
70K views 525 replies 31 participants last post by  SuBooneru 
#1 · (Edited)
Thinking it would be good to have common tuner info and questions here. I FINALLY installed my DP and TGV deletes and went BrenTuning stage 2 last night. Car is taking to the base map very well and the Nameless TBE sounds NASTY, I love it!!!! AFR, DAM, AF Learning 1 and feedback knock/learning numbers already look perfect. I can't wait to see what tricks Bren has up his sleeve for my FXT and how much more power this car will make with upcoming revisions. Time to test this CVT @sschmelcke @psykostevo @PROcede

BrenTuning Stage 2 Engine Mods
Nameless TBE
TIC TGV Deletes
GFB Mach 2 BPV
Cosworth Panel Air Filter
Secondary Restrictor Pill Removal

Datalog Diary =)
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbas...s-stage-2-ca-91-version-1-map?log=0&data=6-17
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbas...s-stage-2-ca-91-version-2-map?log=0&data=6-17
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbas...s-stage-2-ca-91-version-3-map?log=0&data=6-17
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbas...s-stage-2-ca-91-version-4-map?log=0&data=6-17
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbas...s-stage-2-ca-91-version-5-map?log=0&data=6-17
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbas...a-91-version-6-map-second-set?log=0&data=6-17
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbas...ca-91-version-7-map-final-map?log=0&data=6-17

UPDATED BrenTuning Stage 2 Engine Mods
Nameless TBE
Racer X TMIC
TIC TGV Deletes
GrimmSpeed EBCS
GFB Mach 2 BPV
Cosworth Panel Air Filter
Secondary Restrictor Pill Removal

The following logs started @ rev 4 due to a TMIC rev 4 map I had. When the EBCS was added, we just started there. What I'm trying to say is rev 4 is really rev 1. ENJOY =)

http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbas...ge-2-ca-91-ebcs-version-4-map?log=2&data=6-17
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbas...ge-2-ca-91-ebcs-version-5-map?log=2&data=6-17
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbas...ge-2-ca-91-ebcs-version-6-map?log=1&data=7-20
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbas...ge-2-ca-91-ebcs-version-7-map?log=1&data=7-20
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbass/brentuning-datalogs-stage-2-ca-91-ebcs-version-8-map
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbas...ge-2-ca-91-ebcs-version-9-map?log=0&data=7-20
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbass/brentuning-datalogs-stage-2-ca-91-ebcs-version-10-map
http://www.datazap.me/u/dj-brianbas...ebcs-version-11-map-final-map?log=0&data=7-20
 
See less See more
#2 ·
I love my brentune. Unfortunately due to health reason Im currently stuck on revision 3 which is almost complete. I wont be able to hop back into the car until later this week to datalog but Bren really likes my logs of rev 3 so far. Be sure to log in S# mode in 4th gear as he tunes each SI drive mode. When I can finally afford my jpipe im going to get pro tuned by him
 
#5 ·
Nice! i wanna hear clips of the exhaust with the jpipe. @DJ BrianBASS


Everyone should sign up for a datazap account

datazap.me | PROcede


It's a pretty cool site to upload logs to so we can check out each others cars and tunes.
I'm the worst with any pics, video or even sound clips. I posted some CBE stock tune clips in the long Nameless thread, but will try to do the same type clips now that I am stage 2 with Nameless TBE. Here is my datazap. I will upload my Stage 2 version 1 logs in a bit. datazap.me | DJ BrianBASS
 
#8 ·
I'll ask him again, but he did tell me S. I do think we may be doing different things due to where we are at int the tuning process. Here are the first datalogs he requested datazap.me | DJ BrianBASS | BretTuning Datalog Requests Stage 2 CA 91 Version 1 Map . I did another set of WOT runs just for me to look at and the boost did not spike as high. In RUN 1 the boost spiked and caused the ECU to lower the throttle position, even though I had the accelerator down. Most likely just the car learning the tune and getting used to the secondary restrictor pill removed(since I went stage 2).
 
#9 ·
Yeah from what Bren told me I was doing it wrong all for the first 2 revisions. He said I mode is wastegate boost, S mode is performance with boost tapering at redline and S# is balls to the wall boost till redline. So when I started taking logs in S# i finally noticed knock but only in the upper RPM ranges 5500-6k. So basically revision 3 and possibly a new revision is simply fine tuning my light knock in the upper rpm ranges as everything else looks good. I get 0 knock in S mode as the boost slowly tapers till redline.
 
#14 ·
thats the tough part for some folks to get. for most of us theres other stuff going on and it takes a while. good tuners (even the suuuuuper busy ones) will always have revision back to you asap. whereas i had to explain to a handful of folks why my tune was taking forever (little over a month this last time iirc)...it was me, not the tuner!

feel/get better man.
 
#15 ·
@FXTerrific that is a good point. @sschmelcke sorry. Close your eyes, becuase it was 80 deg here today and I was able to cruise around and then datalog my version 2 mapping. I was going to wait until tomorrow morning as I don't like doing it by day, but I did =0
datazap.me | DJ BrianBASS | BrenTuning Datalog Requests Stage 2 CA 91 Version 2 Map I started adding some numbers together trying to figure out how fast my car is reaching certain rpms with the different maps. In reality, it doesn't matter yet because the car is being tuned and there will be some back and forth to find a sweet spot with each individual's car. She's getting really fun to drive though. I sure wish I could have thrown on that ETS air intake. Oh well, maybe a positive(besides not having a mad wife) is that the AFR scaling should be easier to tune and more consistent than if I had the intake installed(I have to keep telling myself this regardless if it's true or not hahahahaaa).
 
#23 ·
On a more serious note, would you say Brentuning is safer than the stock tune? I know this might be a difficult question, so let me clarify...

The stock tune is basically the safest "all-around-tune" that Subaru placed in the vehicle for all of North America. Subsequently, it isn't always the "best" tune since altitudes, and air density varies so greatly across North America.

Does allowing Brentuning to fine tune and polish the tune that is currently in our FXTs for the area that we drive/live in therefore make it even safer than the stock tune? I know a lot of us (including myself) have seen black soot covering the tips of the exhaust with the stock tune, is this an indication of something running lean/rich, or is it simply the nature of the beast with this DIT engine?

My biggest concern early on that was really deterring me from tuning until my warranty ran out was the CVT. However, it appears that the CVT can handle a good bit more power than stock as eveidenced by the JDM FXT using the same CVT and putting down higher power than the North American version form the factory.

And a quick P.S...

Esentially, using Brentuning to datalog and tune remotely is essentially the same thing as a dynotune, except it takes more revisions (obviously), but eventually gets the same results, correct?
 
#24 ·
I am on the fence of getting a tune myself and this is how I answer those questions, in my mind:

- there is no way that a custom tune is safer than stock. in fact what worries me is that a tune is done at a point in time - meaning specific weather, gas in the tank, and other conditions. all of these could change over time, and would the tune that was great then be just as great when a bunch of variables change?

- warranty. even assuming the tune is safe-enough, there could be other defects which would cause the engine to go caboom. by using a third party tune, you're forfeiting the factory warranty and taking on the risk of a major repair even if the engine failure is not your fault.

- black soot that you raised - Direct Injection engines are known to emit more particulate mater (soot), so it's not necessarily an indication of a bad tune. Subaru tests their tunes both in the labs and in real world - for millions of miles - there is no way any third party tuner has the resources to do so.

So in the end, whether you get a custom tune is a question you have to answer. Is the extra second 0-60 worth it. My answer is getting closer and closer to a yes, but for you it may be different.
 
#25 ·
It also depends on how you look at it. Subaru needs to tune for 100s of variables. A customized personal tune should be more tailored to your car and be safer under certain scenarios. Lets face it. Anytime you add more power the idea of safety always goes down. Your pushing the edge to make more power. Also the ECU has tables to compensate for bad gas and different weather so that doesn't affect me. What I always worry about are sensors not working as well as they were when you were first tuned. I guess the best way to put it is a custom tune is only SAFER than the stock tune for the mods you've done as the stock tune is designed to run on stock parts. You don't really know how the stock tune will react to modifying your car.
 
#26 · (Edited)
Yeah, I wrecked that GT 3 times before giving up on trying to drive it. Nearly killed me once, due to my own stupidity and too much power.

Couldn't get traction to save it's life. Had 315 series tires on the back and still could not hook up on the freeway at 80 mph. Last time I wrecked it I was going 80-85 and dropped to 4th gear to floor it. Tires broke loose so I let off the throttle and slowed down a tad, then floored it again. before I could correct that time, the back end slung out in front of me and I went into a ditch backwards on the side of highway and took out a tree on my way in.

Crazy enough, I was able to drive it home without any alignment issues. But I had to hang up my hat on that car after that.
 
#28 ·
A note about the Subaru Factory warranty:

The warranty is a "defect-only" Warranty. You have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the cause of failure was the result of a defective part, or poor workmanship on behalf of Subaru/Fuji Heavy Industries.

Otherwise they will place blame back on the driver for neglect, abuse, or adverse conditions.

Talk to the many STI owners who suffered massive engine failures before their first oil changes due to faulty engine parts etc. There are a good number of them who got stuck with the bill despite mounting evidence of faulty parts. Same parts failed over and over in many of the cars.

Subaru will blame the driver for having floored the car or something like that. But, since when does going WOT on a stock car void the warranty? Like they can't be responsible for providing a car that can be taken WOT?
 
#33 ·
Has there been much luck with a meth injection setup? I was wondering if the added liquid volume would play havoc on cylinder pressures. many DIT engines are designed not to compress fuel and liquids during the compression stage, and instead spray fuel during or very close to the combustion cycle.

Since you can only reasonably spray meth during the intake cycle, you would be introducing it before the engine is designed to have additional volume. Then again I've seen 5th injector setups on other DIT cars work alright.
 
#34 ·
I hate meth injection. I have personally seen top quality aquamist set ups fail. Unless you tap a line into the intake manifold above each piston it's hard to say if they are each getting the same flow. I think e85 is much safer and easier way to get the most power out of you car.
 
#44 · (Edited)
Playing around with Virtual Dyno on my Brentune. Seems high even for a Dynojet comparison. The Mustang Dyno estimate was like 312hp 348tq. That's still too high, so I need to adjust some of the settings some more.

Numbers are probably higher because this was a 3rd gear pull. Seriously, who has anywhere they can do 5th gear pulls from 2,000 - redline without running out of road or into the law?
 

Attachments

You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top