vF Tuner for the 3.5L Tacoma

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What is the vF tuner?

vF tuner is a tuning software that OVT has developed (in-house) in order to give our customers the ability to tune their own vehicle. The software will allow you to modify, calibrate, and flash toyota ECUs.

vF tuner incorporates 1) being able to tune your file and save that tune file, 2) upload/flash your tune file into your vehicle, 3) datalog to verify the effects of your tune file, and 4) link the datalogs with your tune file for easier tuning of specific areas.

We are the programmers and the developers. Since we made this tuning software, we can constantly update it to add more features and support to newer/older Toyota vehicles.
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I will make my own tunes. But I dont know how to tune?

There have been a webinar/workshop that OVT has previously done in order to teach tuning (for free). And there will be more webinars and workshops to help pass on our knowledge to you. Give it a try and get a new skill for your resume while having a new-found appreciation for your vehicle.
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Okay, I get what it does and I've purchased it, but how do I use it?

Along with your purchase is an installation and How-to-Use document that will be sent to the e-mail you used to purchase the vF tuner. The document details on how to install, register, and navigate the vF tuning software.

After the installation and registration process, you'll have full control over the tune file(s) that is(are) registered to your tuning software. You can edit "tables"/"maps" that control aspects of your vehicle's ECU. For example, you'd like to change how the Air-Fuel Ratio (AFR) on your vehicle is on certain RPMs and Engine Loads. You can open the AFR maps and change the value on it and save your new tune file.

After being satisfied with tuning your file, there is a Toyota Flash Tool that's accessible from vF the tuning software. You can upload/flash your newly created tune to your vehicle!
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Alright. I've used the program and have tuned my vehicle. But I have more than one Toyota Tacoma, do I need to keep buying the vF Tuner for each vehicle?

No, you don't have to buy another vF Tuner for your other Tacoma vehicle. There are two (2) possible solutions here:
1) Your other Tacoma has the SAME ECU ID as the first one you tuned. In this case, you can freely open and tune your second Tacoma as you did the first one. No need to buy anything extra.
2) Your other Tacoma has a DIFFERENT ECU ID as the first one your tuned. In this case, you need to purchase vF Tuner Credits (about USD75.00). The credits will be added to your license/tuning software. Opening the tune file for your second Tacoma will use those credits you purchased. You can then proceed to tuning that second Tacoma.
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So I can keep on tuning my Tacoma vehicles as long as they have the same ECU ID? Cool. What if I don't have another Tacoma, but I have other Toyota/Lexus vehicles? Do I need to purchase a vF Tuner for those vehicles?

No, you don't have to buy another vF tuner for those vehicles. All you need to purchase is the vF Tuner Credits. As mentioned, the credits will be added to your license/tuning software so that you can spend the credits to open a tune file. You'll be able to modify your tune file and then upload/flash that tune you just made as well.
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Okay, that's great! As long as the ECU ID is the same as what's already in my license/tuning software, I can keep tuning vehicles with the same ECU ID. But I checked your website and some of my Toyota/Lexus vehicles aren't listed as supported with your vF tuner. How can I get it supported?

Since we are the developer of the vF Tuner, we can add support for those vehicles. Checkout our website (https://www.ovtuned.com/) to see if we're already working on your vehicle. You can also message us at support@ovtune.zendesk.com to know if we can support your vehicle.
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I have a handheld/flash kit, do I NEED to buy the vF tuner? Will I still get tunes from you guys?

No, you don't need to buy the vF tuner if you're already one of our customers (either handheld/flash kit). You will still get tunes from us. It's a nice addition being able to tune your own vehicle, but it's not required.
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I have the handheld/flashkit AND I bought the vFtuner, would I still get tunes from you guys?

Yes, you would still receive tune updates from us (if there are any). You can also modify your own tune files.
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Support for the 3.5L Tacoma is coming within a month's time.

For more info about the vF tuner, you can go here:
https://www.ovtuned.com/pages/vf-tuner

Thanks for taking the time to read through the post. I apologize for the length of it. If I have missed any discussion/concern that relates to vF Tuner, please feel free to post replies below and I'll do my best to get you the answers you need.

Stay safe and healthy, everyone!

 

Nice! Thank you for a dedicated vF thread Rafael!

 

Cool, let us know when it’s ready.

 

Great FAQ!

Hopefully this thread will work better than the Dev thread.

Thanks!

 

Thanks, everyone. Though the other thread was a bit messy, you guys helped push us to do better. We appreciate your feedback and patience in working with us to provide you products and services that matter to you most.

I'll update this thread when the Tacoma support for the vF Tuner is ready.

 

My tuning experience has been with Subaru and BMW. All done with Accessports and Cobb Software.

A couple questions I have:

Does the vF tuner store the stock map and rewrite a second map, so you can flash back to the factory stock map if necessary?

As opposed to tuning, are you able to flash to an “off the shelf” map which is a lot safer than having a n00b self tuning?

Does the vF tuner have built in protections to limit people from running too lean, or raising the rev limiter too high?

Does the vF tuner allow adjustments to the TCM or BCM, or just the ECU? (maybe all the same in a Taco, I’m not certain) Basically, can you change parameters of the electronics with the vF tuner? Can you change the shift points?

Is this a tuner that should be used by people with some knowledge of tuning as it allows pretty much any changes?

I ask these questions because at one point people were able to use the Accesstuner software from Cobb, and there weren’t many restrictions. This was being used only on turbocharged cars, but it would allow you to adjust the wastegate operation, AFR, bypass valve, etc, within what the factory parts were capable of. This led to a lot of power hungry kids blowing up a lot of EJ25’s.

 

The issues in the Dev thread were 90% on the users, not you guys.

IMHO, the two of you knocking out stuff like this will help a lot.

 

@tonered I have been following the MT OVT thread and saw how active you were, appreciate the time people invest to help develop and assist other with issues. I also see you have the 2017 6MT (assuming 4B13) like myself hint hint (your northern brother). this software could be great for the Toyota community if people are willing to use the VF tuner to flash other tacos for a reasonable price. this is especially great if you were one of the flash/dongle customers who have access to the already developed 2.0 tunes.

 

*Does the vF tuner store the stock map and rewrite a second map, so you can flash back to the factory stock map if necessary?*

There are three (3) ways you can have access to the stock map:
1) It can already be with the installation. You'll just have to find the stock map with the same ECU ID as the one you want to tune.
2) It can be requested from us (via our support e-mail at support@ovtune.zendesk.com), and we will e-mail you the stock file.
3) It can be downloaded from our server.

In any case, we will ALWAYS have a copy of the stock tunes that we support.
> The way you save your work/tune is either
1) Over-write the stock map. Meaning the stock map you downloaded/we sent to you will be already tuned and not stock. You'll have to download/ask for a copy of the stock map again.
2) Save as a new file. The stock map is NOT over-written and there will be a new file created with your work saved on it.

Both saving options are available from our tuning software. I do recommend the 2nd one so you always have versions of the tune you created, and your stock map as well.
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*As opposed to tuning, are you able to flash to an “off the shelf” map which is a lot safer than having a n00b self tuning?*

We are still considering this. But the answer for now (the workload of adding/supporting past and new ECUs is workload-intensive) is that we will not provide an "off the shelf" map.

We understand that not everyone will want to tune their vehicle for various reasons. And for those who do not want to tune, there is hope. We have been contacted by several tuning shops across the US who wants to use our program for their shop. Pretty soon, there will be tuners who will offer tunes.

The value we're trying to add here is that instead of becoming a customer, you become the master (eventually). You learn more about your machine. There could be more collaboration in the forums as to what setting each user is doing for their tune.

The principles of internal combustions have been mostly the same throughout the years. Most likely, everyone here will have other vehicles than Toyota/Tacoma now or later on in the future. Instead of looking for a tuner for your other vehicles, you become the tuner. Troubleshooting engine becomes easier as well as you know more about it.

As everyone here have modded their vehicles in some way, tires to suspension to gearing. It's only a few steps more to ECU tuning. And we'll help you out with your tunes and give insights.
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*Does the vF tuner have built in protections to limit people from running too lean, or raising the rev limiter too high?*

Yes, the vF Tuner have built-in protections. For example, if you want to raise the rev limiter to 11,000rpm, our software will not allow you to do that.

There are exceptions, let's say you are a pro tuner and you've built an engine that can support the "too high/low" limits, we're also able to unlock it for you.

But, generally, our vF tuner will have limits on figures that we know are too much or too little based on that map/table you are tuning.
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*Does the vF tuner allow adjustments to the TCM or BCM, or just the ECU? (maybe all the same in a Taco, I’m not certain) Basically, can you change parameters of the electronics with the vF tuner? Can you change the shift points?*

In cases where the ECU handle the tables/maps of the BCM/TCM, you can change the parameters like shift points.
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*Is this a tuner that should be used by people with some knowledge of tuning as it allows pretty much any changes?*

This is a tuning software that should be used by people with some knowledge of tuning, and even people with expert knowledge of tuning.

For those with little to some knowledge of tuning, the best tuners start out by making small and one-at-a-time changes to the ECU. This would help them understand how tuning just one map/table in the ECU can change how the vehicle performs.
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*I ask these questions because at one point people were able to use the Accesstuner software from Cobb, and there weren’t many restrictions. This was being used only on turbocharged cars, but it would allow you to adjust the wastegate operation, AFR, bypass valve, etc, within what the factory parts were capable of. This led to a lot of power hungry kids blowing up a lot of EJ25’s.*

There are risks to tuning, as with any mod, to be honest. But the steps to take should be gradual, and one-at-a-time. With us providing webinars and workshops, you'll already be several levels ahead of those power-hungry kids. It takes patience, curiousity and openness (of mind) to be a good tuner. Those qualities are something that I am sure most, if not everyone, here have.

 

Praying for 2TR-FE support, fingers crossed!

 

2TR FE 2.7 2016 will be.
other years are being worked on.

 

Thanks Mat/Rafael

 

Rafael, I just received my email from you with the vF program and master key number. Since I’m an existing customer, do I still need to email you my system ID or does that just transfer over to vF?

 

Mines a 2017, if there is anything I can do, ill do it!

 

So just want to make sure I understand correctly. @Rafael@OVTune mentioned that "off the shelf" maps will not be provided for now. Just curious if this is the same idea as the "tune packs" that were talked about yesterday by @OVTune

Also I think this thread said there is a month before 3.5 Tacoma support and I thought I read yesterday its about a week out?

Sorry I'm not trying to be a pain in the ass. I'm a happy customer and love everything OVTune has done for my truck. I'm just trying to decide if and when I want to buy the VF tuning software. I think I'm more a "tune pack" kind of guy as I don't know if I want to get sucked in to building my own tunes. Who knows though, the software is actually pretty affordable so I may just buy it and see what happens lol.

Also would custom user tunes be shareable? I.E. if a forum user created a really functional tune would they be able to share it with other VFtune users if they so chose?

 

This has already been confirmed by Mat

 

if you already have a registered system ID you don't have to send it again.

We are expecting release by May 1rst. I think Rafael just meant within this month.

Off the shelf as in "finished tunes" are not going to be provided by default.
Example tunes (which have some basic stuff setup to show you how to do things) will be.
If you want our tunes with it you will have to purchase the tune pack add on.



Custom tunes can be shared.



If you are a PRO TUNER (shop, dyno shop, etc) you can sell and lock your tunes, sell remote tune kits, etc.

I'll do my best to help answering what I can but Rafael will take care of the general stuff with vF. Setup, info, help, etc.

 

Thank you for the reply. It definitely helps clear things up. I think I'm going to go ahead and pickup the software. Sounds like there are enough checks and balance so I can't screw things up too bad. Plus I can always flash back to 2.0


Thanks allot man, I appreciate what you do.

 

Just got my VF code!! I assume this is different than the flash manager registration though, correct?

For those of us that traded our dongles in can we use flash manger to flash the .p5f files before VF tuner is available?

 

I don’t think we can flash p5f until the registry key is applied. So still waiting as far as I know

edit: step 3 of the instructions