Ovtune ECU tuning experience/review
I ordered mine, Yet as a new IS350 owner I have a stupid question. Where is the ECU located? I have done some searching and it seems it is in the engine bay on the drivers side. Can anyone confirm?
Pit Crew
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 134
Likes: 4
From: GA
Devil's Advocate
I checked their website and apparently this adds 10 whp and anywhere between 25-30 lb/ft. Still is much better than what else is out there. I think I'll wait for the phase 2 or 3 one for now.
I wonder if they made any progress on modding internals to prevent valve float at over 7500rpm?
I wonder if they made any progress on modding internals to prevent valve float at over 7500rpm?
Their website also states "...however higher top end rev limiter has shown gains topping nearly 50HP vs stock" which means they should have already had a sample pull to demonstrate this feat. Where is the documentation for this claim?
The more I read into this, the more doubts I have with the claims, especially when other big tuners like TTFS and RR Racing were only able to squeeze 10-15rwhp and 10-15 ft/lbs with their efforts (yet OV claims to squeeze out 25-30 lb/fts of torque with their tune and with a stock rev-limit)????
BTW, I was browsing on the RR Racing website and it looks like they have an ECU Tuning special of their own for $325 (and proven to work based on feedback from some of the members here). IMO, I think this might be the safer/more legitimate way to spend my dollars.
Rookie
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: california
Is it just me or should we wait until we have further legitimacy with this OV ECU Tune? How are the 3rd Gen IS350 and the RC350 making a claimed 18-26 Horsepower / 24-30 ft lbs with 91 octane out of the 2GR-FSE yet the 2nd Gen IS350 can only push out 10 rwhp? Why the disparity?
Their website also states "...however higher top end rev limiter has shown gains topping nearly 50HP vs stock" which means they should have already had a sample pull to demonstrate this feat. Where is the documentation for this claim?
The more I read into this, the more doubts I have with the claims, especially when other big tuners like TTFS and RR Racing were only able to squeeze 10-15rwhp and 10-15 ft/lbs with their efforts (yet OV claims to squeeze out 25-30 lb/fts of torque with their tune and with a stock rev-limit)????
BTW, I was browsing on the RR Racing website and it looks like they have an ECU Tuning special of their own for $325 (and proven to work based on feedback from some of the members here). IMO, I think this might be the safer/more legitimate way to spend my dollars.
Their website also states "...however higher top end rev limiter has shown gains topping nearly 50HP vs stock" which means they should have already had a sample pull to demonstrate this feat. Where is the documentation for this claim?
The more I read into this, the more doubts I have with the claims, especially when other big tuners like TTFS and RR Racing were only able to squeeze 10-15rwhp and 10-15 ft/lbs with their efforts (yet OV claims to squeeze out 25-30 lb/fts of torque with their tune and with a stock rev-limit)????
BTW, I was browsing on the RR Racing website and it looks like they have an ECU Tuning special of their own for $325 (and proven to work based on feedback from some of the members here). IMO, I think this might be the safer/more legitimate way to spend my dollars.
I just talked to Mathew Over at OV and for Horse power and Torque gains he said this...
I respect this as it is reality on how these things work. You can't say its always going to be exactly *this much* and I would rather someone give me more possible gains then peak outrageous expectations that may not be really achievable.
I am excited and cant wait till we see a trans tune edit as well.
I will be doing a good review after I get mine back.
"Our stage 1 reflash we expect around 15-25 foot lbs (majority is in the lower RPM) and 15-18HP up top. With good quality 91 octane"
He then gave a little more info on it.
"the numbers I quoted you is more on the conservative side, I prefer to under-quote vs over quote numbers, because everyone seems to be chasing us at the moment just about numbers without taking into account anything else that the tune does or how it cleans the stock tune up.
The reality of it is, is that the amount of gain is is not a pre-determined number. We can go off of what we have seen, but each car is different and the response of each car is different. Everyone right now is chasing these specific numbers, the gain of this, gain of that, but it entirely depends on the quality of fuel you use, the condition your engine is in, among many other things. Any modifications can change these numbers, we post for what we have seen on a stock car, and our test car was a RC350, with the ECU being more limited than the 2IS, we expect to see better response from the 2IS vs the 3IS / RC because of the torque limitations that reduce effective throttle once you start making more power."
He then gave a little more info on it.
"the numbers I quoted you is more on the conservative side, I prefer to under-quote vs over quote numbers, because everyone seems to be chasing us at the moment just about numbers without taking into account anything else that the tune does or how it cleans the stock tune up.
The reality of it is, is that the amount of gain is is not a pre-determined number. We can go off of what we have seen, but each car is different and the response of each car is different. Everyone right now is chasing these specific numbers, the gain of this, gain of that, but it entirely depends on the quality of fuel you use, the condition your engine is in, among many other things. Any modifications can change these numbers, we post for what we have seen on a stock car, and our test car was a RC350, with the ECU being more limited than the 2IS, we expect to see better response from the 2IS vs the 3IS / RC because of the torque limitations that reduce effective throttle once you start making more power."
I am excited and cant wait till we see a trans tune edit as well.
I will be doing a good review after I get mine back.
Last edited by B00M3R; Nov 26, 2016 at 01:01 AM.
Pit Crew
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 134
Likes: 4
From: GA
Their stock RC350 dynoed 290 with the stage 1 tune. It is posted on their facebook. I'm not sure where it says on their page that the 2ND gen is will make only 10+whp. I am getting my car tuned Friday by them at their shop, I will do my best to post initial impressions next weekend.
Yes, I did see the RC350 dyno graph on their FB page. I still don't know why other big-name tuners are unable to achieve the same HP gains on the 2GR engine that OV had posted. Is this tune perhaps too aggressive for long term reliability?
Last edited by TsunamiF; Nov 26, 2016 at 06:50 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 444
Likes: 69
I am betting the bulk of the difference is from their work on the variable valve timing. TTFS and RR probably just bumped the timing and leaned it out a little to get their gains which is fine I guess but odds are OVT are putting more time and effort into their work and that is why there is a difference. Right now it seems like OVT is finally getting around to these cars and they seem interested in doing it properly, I put my money on them long ago with hopes this would happen and I am glad I did. TTFS seems to have lost interest in the lexus market and RR is more interested in the IS-F. It might be different if the community responded better to these tunes but it really seems like this was all just wishful thinking with a very short line of buyers. I will dyno my car when the tune is all settled and we will see what happens. I would like to compare my results to anyone else, however I haven't seen much for posted numbers outside of those advertised by TTFS or RR racing.
I emailed RR Rasing and told me that they will not tune my supercharged IS250.The guy from OVtune answered yesterday and told me that they can tune it but I have to buy the device they are selling and something extra because I m boosted.I have to send my ECU for a day and they will do the best they can.He also told me that he is certain that I will gain power after the tune .He seemed very nice and helpful and actually he is the only one who said he can help me out.Ofcourse 1500$ are a lot of money but I m thinking it over and over....
Rookie
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: california
I am betting the bulk of the difference is from their work on the variable valve timing. TTFS and RR probably just bumped the timing and leaned it out a little to get their gains which is fine I guess but odds are OVT are putting more time and effort into their work and that is why there is a difference. Right now it seems like OVT is finally getting around to these cars and they seem interested in doing it properly, I put my money on them long ago with hopes this would happen and I am glad I did. TTFS seems to have lost interest in the lexus market and RR is more interested in the IS-F. It might be different if the community responded better to these tunes but it really seems like this was all just wishful thinking with a very short line of buyers. I will dyno my car when the tune is all settled and we will see what happens. I would like to compare my results to anyone else, however I haven't seen much for posted numbers outside of those advertised by TTFS or RR racing.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 9
From: California
You guys have no idea how excited reading all of this is to me. Especially since I think I've ironed out my cars issues and will probably be keeping it and going through with this tune 
I'm a bit disappointed that the original 20-30whp gain I spoke of originally may not be a reality after all, but the fact that OV is being open, honest and communicative with us makes me wanna give them my business anyway. Plus they did state its on the conservative side anyway, and we still have the transmission tune to look forward to. I say it's worth giving them a shot. Once I get paid I'm likely ordering this right away to give my own take on this as well.
Looking forward to all your hard work paying off OV! You got my support for sure!
I'm a bit disappointed that the original 20-30whp gain I spoke of originally may not be a reality after all, but the fact that OV is being open, honest and communicative with us makes me wanna give them my business anyway. Plus they did state its on the conservative side anyway, and we still have the transmission tune to look forward to. I say it's worth giving them a shot. Once I get paid I'm likely ordering this right away to give my own take on this as well.
Looking forward to all your hard work paying off OV! You got my support for sure!
I'm not sure either where it shows 10rwhp for the 2IS350(that's what Rezno posted).
Yes, I did see the RC350 dyno graph on their FB page. I still don't know why other big-name tuners are unable to achieve the same HP gains on the 2GR engine that OV had posted. Is this tune perhaps too aggressive for long term reliability?
That's not necessarily true. RR Racing recently stated on their ECU tuning thread that they need a local 2IS350 near the Pennsylvania so they can work on the transmission tuning: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/cl-...ml#post9669151
Yes, I did see the RC350 dyno graph on their FB page. I still don't know why other big-name tuners are unable to achieve the same HP gains on the 2GR engine that OV had posted. Is this tune perhaps too aggressive for long term reliability?
That's not necessarily true. RR Racing recently stated on their ECU tuning thread that they need a local 2IS350 near the Pennsylvania so they can work on the transmission tuning: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/cl-...ml#post9669151
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 9
From: California
Man, I can't wait to hear what you guys gotta say about the tune. Please update the thread ASAP guys, once you got it on your car. I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas right now haha
Last edited by Tro209; Nov 28, 2016 at 03:27 PM.