Questions About VF Tune

Hi All:

Sorry, but admittedly I’m confused. I’ve read just about every OV Tuning/VF Tuning thread out there, and watched the YouTube videos, but I get more confused the more I read and watch.

Here’s the deal. I have a 2017 TRD Off-Road. No engine mods. 265x75xR16 tires. No gear mods. Auto transmission. I want to run 87 octane fuel (10% ETOH). One vehicle, one ECU.

i’d like to purchase “the kit” and do it myself. The videos make it seem easy. I’m an IT guy. But that’s where it ends…

On the VFT website, it seems I need to purchase the “V Forest Tuner Software Bundle” (now “sold out”) for $349, then a “Tacoma 3.5L VF Tune Pack” for $390. Total cost = $739. And then there’s all the e-mails, links, verifications, etc., etc., to use it, with bugs and “issues.” Huh?

That seems “excessive.” I’ve also read about tuners who will do it for you locally, using the same software. I live in DC.

All HELP appreciated and respected.

 

I support doing the tuning yourself. That way you can make a tune that supports your needs and not have to wait a week, or month to have the tuner fix anything you want.

With that being said, I don't believe the requirements to set up vF are excessive. Lengthy, yes, but Mat has significantly shortened the length of time to get set up and ready to go. The longest you'll wait is for you to come back with your current calibration ID (which I would highly recommend you update to 04B04/04B14 before tuning) and give Mat that info so that he can send you the proper tune pack.

His forums would also probably be the best to ask questions about getting set up because he is no longer on TW. It's not as complicated as it seems, and I don't think you'll have any problems.

Regardless, there are plenty of people here and on the vF forums who would be willing to give you a hand with setting up vF and tuning.

 

Would it not be cheaper to go to a OV tech and get it done than buying the program, just saying

 

No doubt it would, and I dare say most people have someone do it for them rather than doing it themselves. That kind of leaves you at the "mercy" of someone else if you later want to update the tune or need to re-install the stock tune if you are going into the dealership for major engine/powertrain issues. If you have the software you can do it all yourself.

 

I second getting the program for yourself. You can pick and choose your purchased tunes whenever you want

 

I don't know if being an IT guy will help you with tuning. I started to adjust mine on my own and it is extremely time consuming and very "trial and error" of one minute change at a time. You will need to spend a lot of time and gas driving your truck in different situations to see how the changes perform. I wound up getting the KDMaxx tune with a couple tweaks and now it just drives right. If you want to make your own based off OVT 2.0, go for it, but even that needs a lot of polishing to get where KDMaxx is. I guess it's all in the experience you want.

 

if you want to flash a solid tune for the AT trucks yourself, which is a good idea in case you want to change the tune or re-flash for whatever reason, then i suggest you get the basic vF bundle and also contact @PapaRee to purchase the KDMaxx tune file for ATs for your trucks ECU calibration. it's a top notch tune for the ATs, but there are also others... you can search around here and research them. when you buy a tune like it will be locked, so you can't edit it, but that's ok since the authors will take requests as to which options you want, and they'll send you the file with your options which you can flash yourself (options such as AGM battery, throttle sensitivity, etc).

it will generally be on you to update your ECU regarding any OE ECU updates available before flashing. vF, once connected, will tell you your current ECU factory calibration, and then you can find out if there's an update available from there. @tonered has all the links for this in his signature.

on the other hand you can buy the tune pack from OV for vF and create your own tune by editing the tune pack files, but that's probably not going to give you the best tune right away since the aftermarket tune authors have spent much time refining... take a look at the KDMaxx threads as one example.

once you get it lined up you'll be happy you went this route rather than being reliant on some remote person, especially if you're an IT guy.

 

What if it’s the kdmax tune that you want? Do you just buy the vftuner ($349) and then skip the tune packs from vftuner and instead buy the kdmax from paparae? Will you then have everything you need?

 

I see this got answered while I was typing the question. Lol

 

I also see the vftuner is now sold out online. I saw in an earlier post that there would be downtime with the servers this week and someone replied it must be update time. Should we consider this sold out to mean a new version is coming shortly?

 

That's just an update to the software. The hardware side relies on supply, which is tight right now.

 

Maybe buying the program is ok for someone who is savy with computer programs but sadly I am not. I am old school, I mean old school lol. I had a hell of a time learning windows excel and words and then never used it lol.

 

Hmmm, ok, maybe it's best if you pay the $300 and let someone do it for you LOL Sometimes even if you have the skill set it's nice to free up your time and pay someone else to do it.

The whole tune concept scares the crap out of me. I had a Jeep that needed a cylinder head changed out at 200 miles. I shudder to think what would have happened had that ECM been tuned, so I'm playing it safe.

 

vF is not a tune. it's a software tool for creating and editing tune files. but if you look around at actual tunes you have the options of 87, 91, 93, and octane-learning. i run exclusively 93 on an octane-learning tune, so if i can't find 93 gas i can use whatever i can find, no reflashing required.

 

The knocking that I heard in hot weather on the Stock tune didn't give me any great confidence. From the erratic shifting on the AT side, I have concerns there also.

The vF Tunes settled, then eliminated all knocking and allows me to get going as fast or faster as surrounding traffic without the need to push the pedal through the firewall. That, plus the easy and consistent control off road have me feeling that the Taco is just doing better on the tune for longevity sake. My plan is to at least keep this Taco until a couple years after the 5th Gen is a thing.

That's just my feelings and $0.001.

 

Not doubting what you're saying for a minute. I'm just a scaredy-cat

 

It's all good. I was in the same boat. Trying to figure out if it was worth it and all that.


I found that it was more than worth it for me. But, I'm stupidly attached to this hunk of metal and plastic. I just ain't right.

 

Hi All:

THANKS for the informative and thoughtful replies! I decided to go with the KDMaxx LT tune for 87 octane gas, with the group 35 battery charging option, installed by a local tuner who contacted me after reading my post. We are meeting this Saturday. I’ll update the thread after install.

 

Has anyone head if there is a solution for tuning more than one vehicle with VF I currently have 3 Toyotas and am only being allowed to tune 1 with the 800 tune kit I got from ov tune than VF. I also have plans of adding a Lexus in the future but not getting any help from VF on this issue.