Safe to run bolt-ons without a tune for a little bit?

[phuxtick]

Sorry for the dumb question, new to this platform....coming from a Stinger GT1 and Alfa Romeo Stelvio, both I had piggyback tunes (JB4 on the Stinger and Madness Auto on the Alfa) put on within days of putting on intakes/spark plugs/exhaust.

I am planning on putting the following parts on my '25 ST and won't have the funds immediately available to go with the ZFG 93 tune just yet - may be a few months...so just want to make sure the stock tune can deal with the better airflow without doing something stupid to the engine.

CVFab Intercooler + charge pipes
CVFab downpipes
Thermal R+D 3" catback
S&B intakes
(and just for peace of mind - AWR diff brace and HSF upgraded rear diff bolt)
I was also going to get the upgraded spark plugs, but have them gapped to .028 (seems to be what I could find for suggested gapping with bolt-ons minus the tune, then gapping .026 after the 93 ZFG tune).

 

[Cdubya]

No tune required for any of those.

 

[phuxtick]

No tune required for any of those.

Whew lol - I do understand I won't get the full potential of any of it until I tune, but just wanted to be sure it won't hurt anything but the warranty lol

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Sorry for the dumb question, new to this platform....coming from a Stinger GT1 and Alfa Romeo Stelvio, both I had piggyback tunes (JB4 on the Stinger and Madness Auto on the Alfa) put on within days of putting on intakes/spark plugs/exhaust.

I am planning on putting the following parts on my '25 ST and won't have the funds immediately available to go with the ZFG 93 tune just yet - may be a few months...so just want to make sure the stock tune can deal with the better airflow without doing something stupid to the engine.

CVFab Intercooler + charge pipes
CVFab downpipes
Thermal R+D 3" catback
S&B intakes
(and just for peace of mind - AWR diff brace and HSF upgraded rear diff bolt)
I was also going to get the upgraded spark plugs, but have them gapped to .028 (seems to be what I could find for suggested gapping with bolt-ons minus the tune, then gapping .026 after the 93 ZFG tune).

The only two things you technically need a tune for would be upgraded turbos or upgraded fuel system, everything else you dont need a tune for.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Sorry for the dumb question, new to this platform....coming from a Stinger GT1 and Alfa Romeo Stelvio, both I had piggyback tunes (JB4 on the Stinger and Madness Auto on the Alfa) put on within days of putting on intakes/spark plugs/exhaust.

I am planning on putting the following parts on my '25 ST and won't have the funds immediately available to go with the ZFG 93 tune just yet - may be a few months...so just want to make sure the stock tune can deal with the better airflow without doing something stupid to the engine.

CVFab Intercooler + charge pipes
CVFab downpipes
Thermal R+D 3" catback
S&B intakes
(and just for peace of mind - AWR diff brace and HSF upgraded rear diff bolt)
I was also going to get the upgraded spark plugs, but have them gapped to .028 (seems to be what I could find for suggested gapping with bolt-ons minus the tune, then gapping .026 after the 93 ZFG tune).

Good luck with your project and, more importantly, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY.

 

[UNBROKEN]

Whew lol - I do understand I won't get the full potential of any of it until I tune, but just wanted to be sure it won't hurt anything but the warranty lol

These cars use torque based engine management. They have to be told via a tune to look for a higher torque target. They won’t make any more power than they are told to no matter what is done to them.

 

[phuxtick]

These cars use torque based engine management. They have to be told via a tune to look for a higher torque target. They won’t make any more power than they are told to no matter what is done to them.

Makes sense, I just hate how quiet it is lol...tune will definitely be coming, just need to see how much labor is gonna end up costing me on all these parts. I'm too mechanic-stupid to install much of any of this myself.

 

[Stone17]

Houston Speed Freaks is in the Spring Texas area. He works on the Explorer ST.