2011 3.8 ECU programming by SFR...

10373 Views 40 Replies 28 Participants Last post by iammarkus, Aug 8, 2012

Suns_PSD

Discussion Starter · Jan 28, 2011 (Edited)

...works very well.

I struggled early on to get my 2011 3.8 programmed. Back in October when my car was still new I attended a custom tune day w/ SFR in Houston and it was discovered that the data in the late '10s and '11s had been changed and the existing programs were incompatible.

So then I sent it to PA. Nice guys but ultimately unsuccesful as well.

Then I got the word that SFR had the '11s worked out so I sent my ECU up to Jay and couldn't be happier with the results. The engine runs considerably harder (more powerful) than stock yet it retains stock mannerisms. The midrange in particular is really filled in. The rev limiter is definitely higher as I ran the engine up to 6700-6800 several times.

I hit the canyons yesterday and the extra power really helped turn my GC into a serious sports car. Well that and my Stance coil-overs but that is another topic.

Also pretty cool is notably better mpgs. I have a pretty lame 60 mile round trip commute and I consistantly get 27-28mpg on this trip as it's all freeway. Today, my first commute day on the SFR tune I got 30.6 mpg and that included several miles in bumper to bumper traffic. I just cleaned up all the carbon on my tailpipe tips and will keep an eye on them to see if the general richness of the stock programming has been reduced moving forward.

Overall I'm very satisfied and really would recommend it to anyone driving a 3.8. It's good stuff.

On EDIT: I wanted to add that I didn't notice a more sensative throttle pedal which is fine by me. I just noticed more power. Like the rear tires spin a good bit more often. It's hard for me to imagine that it wouldn't show up as more power on a dyno.

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socks

· #2 · Jan 28, 2011

Nice, ive struggled to get a tune on mine, but for different reasons. It's hard coming from a car with multiple end user tunable tuning options to having none, and leaving it up to a canned tune. The more reviews I see of it, the closer I get to pulling the trigger.

Thanks for the review.

VIRphan

· #3 · Jan 28, 2011

What's considered a "late '10" for the tune?

newmedia

· #4 · Jan 28, 2011 (Edited)

its worth every penny , I have 2010 3.8 base A/T coupe with, Injen CAI, track suspension, summer tires and bigger after market springs. Only had it couple days and drive about 3 miles day.

WOW = SFR reflash

will post better review when I take longer trips.

Jay recommends using 91+ OCT, so far only gas I found near My house is 93 OCT.

HellBilly

· #5 · Jan 28, 2011

I really want to get this tune too... but I am curious as to how you are getting such great mpg even without the tune? I get 18-19.... maybe 24 if there is absolutely no traffic. Ahh well, maybe with the SFR flash that will improve. Seattle traffic blows, my interpretation of no traffic is probably still heavier than true no traffic. Is Jay still only charging 400?

BLitZ

· #6 · Jan 28, 2011

I sent Jay a PM, looking to get my car tuned as well. I want a custom dyno tune to get something optimized for my setup. I only wish I had a M/T for that increased rev-limit.

CrookedH

· #7 · Jan 28, 2011

Good to hear you finally got a tune!

HellBilly

· #8 · Jan 28, 2011

BLitZ said:
I sent Jay a PM, looking to get my car tuned as well. I want a custom dyno tune to get something optimized for my setup. I only wish I had a M/T for that increased rev-limit.

Why wouldn't we have the increased rev? I believe the SFR tune takes the rev limit to 7200... unless something changed with the 2011 that I was not aware of. I assume everything is the same as with the 2010 tune yes?

*EDIT - NM you said you wish you had the M/T... not you wish they had the rev limit for the M/T, my bad. Reading is a lost art.

Although I believe the A/T had increased rev too did it not?

carlosa_garcia

· #9 · Jan 28, 2011

Glad to hear they got the 2011 Tune figured out. Sucked having them in town and not being able to take advantage of it. Can't wait till they come back to Houston again.

newmedia

· #10 · Jan 28, 2011

Jay said A/T has increase rev on 5th and 6th gear.

, too bad I will never get to see it...LOL

socks

· #11 · Jan 28, 2011

Yea, thats another reason i've been holding off. I'd like to see an ecu/tcu reflash.

LiMike

· #12 · Jan 28, 2011

J is the man guys if you can drive up to him he's awesome

Suns_PSD

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 28, 2011

Honestly the mileage improvement is impressing me the most.

I am in sales and yesterday I did sales calls. This included about half a dozen stops all in heavy traffic, idling on the side of the road for at least 30 minutes talking on the phone, and this morning my commute was right in rush hour traffic where I was dead stopped many times, plus I pitched it sideways a few times after I adjusted my suspension, yet my average since I reset it yesterday about 120 miles ago is still 26 mpg! IME those sort of driving condions would result in closer to 21 mpg previously. VERY VERY happy about this portion of the modification. Wasting $ on fuel is just burning money. My 300+ hp sports car now gets the same mpg as my my 120hp economy car that it replaced!

Crooked H, don't you want some 3.55 gears man?!

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CrookedH

· #14 · Jan 28, 2011

Suns_PSD said:
..Crooked H, don't you want some 3.55 gears man?!

I've been pondering it for sure.

Suns_PSD

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jan 28, 2011

Crooked, we can just try the swap out for about 2 weeks and if one of us just doesn't like it we will swap them back.

I personally would like the flexibility of going back as well.

Slider

· #16 · Jan 28, 2011

Glad you like the tune. I love mine too, but now I need a custom tune for this summer.

WildBill

· #17 · Jan 29, 2011

What I tell ya buddy

Kasra

· #18 · Jan 29, 2011

Suns_PSD said:
...works very well.

I struggled early on to get my 2011 3.8 programmed. Back in October when my car was still new I attended a custom tune day w/ SFR in Houston and it was discovered that the data in the late '10s and '11s had been changed and the existing programs were incompatible.

So then I sent it to PA. Nice guys but ultimately unsuccesful as well.

Then I got the word that SFR had the '11s worked out so I sent my ECU up to Jay and couldn't be happier with the results. The engine runs considerably harder (more powerful) than stock yet it retains stock mannerisms. The midrange in particular is really filled in. The rev limiter is definitely higher as I ran the engine up to 6700-6800 several times.

I hit the canyons yesterday and the extra power really helped turn my GC into a serious sports car. Well that and my Stance coil-overs but that is another topic.

Also pretty cool is notably better mpgs. I have a pretty lame 60 mile round trip commute and I consistantly get 27-28mpg on this trip as it's all freeway. Today, my first commute day on the SFR tune I got 30.6 mpg and that included several miles in bumper to bumper traffic. I just cleaned up all the carbon on my tailpipe tips and will keep an eye on them to see if the general richness of the stock programming has been reduced moving forward.

Overall I'm very satisfied and really would recommend it to anyone driving a 3.8. It's good stuff.

On EDIT: I wanted to add that I didn't notice a more sensative throttle pedal which is fine by me. I just noticed more power. Like the rear tires spin a good bit more often. It's hard for me to imagine that it wouldn't show up as more power on a dyno.

How much did this cost you? Can you send more info please,

Thanks

newmedia

· #19 · Jan 29, 2011

$400 + shipping both ways.

Jay is in Korea will be back in few weeks.:squint:

javacoderex

· #20 · Feb 5, 2011

Can someone add who "Jay" is and provide contact information?

Thanks,
Rick

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