Getting Started (Engines & Tuning)
If you’re new, “tuning” can feel like a black box. This page is the roadmap. You’ll learn what matters, what to ignore at first, and how to build confidence without blowing stuff up.
The 3 things an engine needs
- Air (measured/estimated)
- Fuel (delivered accurately)
- Spark (at the right time — on gas engines)
Tuning is basically: “How much fuel?” and “When do we spark?” (and sometimes “How much boost?”).
What the ECU does
The ECU is a calculator. It reads sensors, looks up tables (maps), applies corrections, then commands outputs: injectors, ignition coils, throttle, idle, boost control, etc.
The sensors you should understand first
RPM + crank signal
Without a clean crank signal, nothing else matters.
MAP or MAF
How the engine load is measured (airflow / pressure).
TPS
Driver demand + transient fueling (tip-in / tip-out).
Coolant + intake air temp
Cold start enrichment and safety corrections.
Wideband O2 (optional but huge)
A wideband lets you see AFR so you can make safe fueling changes. If you want to tune seriously, this is one of the best investments.
The safe beginner sequence
- Learn engine basics (air/fuel/spark/compression). Engines 101 →
- Learn what “load” means (MAP/MAF and why it matters).
- Fueling basics (AFR targets, closed loop vs open loop).
- Ignition basics (timing, knock, what’s safe).
- Logging (make one change at a time, record before/after).
What to avoid early
- Changing a bunch of tables at once
- Chasing “perfect AFR” while ignoring timing/knock
- Assuming the internet’s “safe timing” is safe for your exact setup
- WOT pulls without good data/logging