What are my tuning options for IS38 on a 1.8?

[jimlloyd40]

Interesting. And none of the hard pipes or anything are changed when changing intercoolers? A shiny IC pipe would probably arouse some suspicion.

I didn't install mine so I'm not sure. Can you get ahold of Keehs360? He would know.

 

[tigeo]

Thanks for all the info! I agree that the best bet is to probably contact the individual tuners to see what they would recommend with my setup.

While I agree an IC and maybe MPI would be very beneficial, California is a turd state and my ultimate goal is to keep everything visually stock. An IS38 should be indistinguishable from an IS12/20 from the outside, and I'm hoping an OEM R pipe would pass visual (or go unnoticed...). MPI and IC would stick out like a sore thumb. I'm hoping I wouldn't need either for the relatively modest power levels I want.

Any direct-replacment/stock-location IC will not be able to be seen - stock IC sits between radiator and condensor. You can just re-use the stock charge hoses typically. You are thinking of a front-mount where you see it through the grille.

 

[tigeo]

Where would I find the OEM downpipe tune? I don't see any mention of it on their site. I was also under the impression that a test pipe tune = catless exhaust tune, so "non test pipe" could mean any downpipe (including aftermarket) that has a cat.

You just call APR/DM Arin - I know another wagon guy doing the same thing...IS38 on the non-DP file so his readiness isn't goofed for emissions. He runs an AWE (?) DP that doesn't throw a CEL but on your stock R DP, you'd be set in that regard anyway. Keep in mind the only difference in the DP vs. non-DP files is this readiness issue...tunes are the same. Unitronic addresses it here...any gains from the DP are from the DP itself, not the DP file.

 

[MonkeyMD]

Where would I find the OEM downpipe tune? I don't see any mention of it on their site. I was also under the impression that a test pipe tune = catless exhaust tune, so "non test pipe" could mean any downpipe (including aftermarket) that has a cat.

You just call APR/DM Arin - I know another wagon guy doing the same thing...IS38 on the non-DP file so his readiness isn't goofed for emissions. He runs an AWE (?) DP that doesn't throw a CEL but on your stock R DP, you'd be set in that regard anyway. Keep in mind the only difference in the DP vs. non-DP files is this readiness issue...tunes are the same. Unitronic addresses it here...any gains from the DP are from the DP itself, not the DP file.

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Like Tigeo said, just reach out to them. That's what I did. Any downpipe with a good cat will be fine. I am running a Bull-X downpipe with GESI cat. That's a handful out there, but if you run Golf R dp, you'll be fine.

But if you ever have plans for additional fueling, e40, or bigger turbo, check out Reflect

 

[TwinDad]

To clarify, UM would not want you to go mpi/lpfp with an is38 on 91. It’s not needed. That is only if you wanted to run E85 or a larger turbo than is38

 

[Raguvian]

Thanks for all the clarification! I'll have to call APR and ask about their OEM dp tune.

To clarify, UM would not want you to go mpi/lpfp with an is38 on 91. It’s not needed. That is only if you wanted to run E85 or a larger turbo than is38

Main reason I'd want MPI is to not have to do carbon cleaning but that wouldn't pass smog anyways.

Also, can I flash back to stock for smog and have the car still pass with the IS38 and DP (aka the car won't freak out and throw a bunch of codes while I'm trying to smog it?)?

 

[ZuMBLe]

Thanks for all the clarification! I'll have to call APR and ask about their OEM dp tune.


Main reason I'd want MPI is to not have to do carbon cleaning but that wouldn't pass smog anyways.

Also, can I flash back to stock for smog and have the car still pass with the IS38 and DP (aka the car won't freak out and throw a bunch of codes while I'm trying to smog it?)?

My MPI car passed NYS inspection. No reason why it wouldn't.

 

[tigeo]

Also, can I flash back to stock for smog and have the car still pass with the IS38 and DP (aka the car won't freak out and throw a bunch of codes while I'm trying to smog it?)?

With a stock DP - yes, if you flash to stock there is no reason I can see for any codes etc. The larger turbo is "dumb" and while not optimized for the stock tune, will just do it's thing based on what the ECU tells it to do which will be run stock boost levels.

 

[Raguvian]

My MPI car passed NYS inspection. No reason why it wouldn't.

The extra fuel rail isn't visible from the top? In California they break out the mirrors to check everything hence why I didn't want to risk it.

With a stock DP - yes, if you flash to stock there is no reason I can see for any codes etc. The larger turbo is "dumb" and while not optimized for the stock tune, will just do it's thing based on what the ECU tells it to do which will be run stock boost levels.

That's good to know, thanks! I am guessing if APR is safe, then I might as well go that route instead of a custom e-tune since that will end up costing roughly double what an APR tune would cost.

 

[ZuMBLe]

The extra fuel rail isn't visible from the top? In California they break out the mirrors to check everything hence why I didn't want to risk it.



That's good to know, thanks! I am guessing if APR is safe, then I might as well go that route instead of a custom e-tune since that will end up costing roughly double what an APR tune would cost.

Can't see it under the engine cover unless you look hard. Your location says Denver?

 

[Raguvian]

Can't see it under the engine cover unless you look hard. Your location says Denver?

Yeah, I'm moving back to California this week permanently.

 

[ZuMBLe]

Yeah, I'm moving back to California this week permanently.

If APR has a CARB approved IS38 tune, just get APR and be done with it.

 

[Raguvian]

If APR has a CARB approved IS38 tune, just get APR and be done with it.

CARB is Stage 1 only. IS38 requires some sort of non 1.8 OEM DP so that itself would make the ECU upgrade not CARB legal.

 

[joedubs]

If APR has a CARB approved IS38 tune, just get APR and be done with it.

Yeah, in California they recently started checking for tunes by looking at something called a CVN.

afaik:
Open source - I'm one of the devs and we don't do CVN 'correction' so you wouldn't pass
UM isn't doing any CVN 'correcting' so you wouldn't pass with a UM tune
APR won't do CVN 'correcting' so if they have no 'approved' tune you wouldn't pass
ECUTek is located in Europe so they *may* do CVN 'correction' but you would have to check with them (and since they have a US presence, I doubt they would advertise that sort of functionality).
Reflect may or may not - I believe alientech does it so if that's what Ian uses to tune it would work.

I can't speak for the rest of them aside from saying they probably don't do it either. At that point your best bet is to go with a tuner that lets you flash at home so you can return the car to stock when necessary. WHAT I WILL say is that ECUtek's "stock" tune isn't really "stock" so it likely wouldn't pass a CVN check either (based on the fact that we couldn't flash over @J Peterman 's car that was on an 'ecutek stock' file). If you can't flash it yourself you're looking at a dealer/distributor fee twice a year just to return the car to stock for your inspection and then flash you again afterwards

 

[Raguvian]

APR don't allow for at-home flashing, do they?

Having Cobb support for the 1.8 would make this much easier.