For any vehicle that has been tuned it is critical that the same octane rating or higher fuel is used.

e.g. If your vehicle has been tuned for 95 RON, it is safe to use 98 or 100 RON, but not 91 RON.

Before having your engine tuned it is important to have a full tank of fresh fuel of the grade that you will use going forward. The higher the octane, the more power your engine will produce when tuned.

For forced induction engines HBR recommends 98 or 100 RON.

For naturally aspirated 95,98, or 100 RON can be used.

Our Mainline chassis dyno accurately measures torque/power output at the rear tires.

An OEM rating is measured at the crankshaft of the engine.

Based on calculations from HBR’s extensive vehicle database the drivetrain loss between the crankshaft and the tires is approximately 20-30%. This loss varies dependent on factors such as drivetrain layout, transmission type and tires.

e.g. A stock standard VF GTS with an OEM power output rating of 430kW will normally produce a ~300kW reading at the tires on our equipment.

Our Mainline chassis dyno is an advanced tool for simulating road driving conditions while being able to capture useful data in a controlled environment.

Before any vehicle is put on the dyno HBR completes a multi-point check and inspection. This includes checking the general condition of the drivetrain, level and condition of fluids as well as reading the ECU data for any faults or abnormalities.

During dyno operations, the vehicle is connected to two computers which monitor in real time all critical functions and states of the powertrain. Data streams such as fuel mixture, ignition timing and knock, temperatures, MAF and MAP values are all closely monitored. The purpose of the tuning process using this specialised technology is to remove as many variables as possible to know that the changes being made in the tune are reflected in the measured change in torque output. This means that if anything important is not working as it should be, we can see it before it becomes an issue.

Running a vehicle on a dyno is not much different to driving at full throttle on the road, but with more data and control.

Things a dyno cannot protect from:

• unskilled operator

• pre-existing issues, wear etc

• physical strength limits of mechanical parts

HBR has tested both BP 98 and NPD 100 RON fuels extensively in highly modified naturally aspirated and forced induction performance engines. The performance difference between the two fuels is very similar, with not clear winner. We have heard many claims that the additives in NPDs 100 RON are harmful to fuel system components but are yet to see conclusive evidence of this claim.

If you are moving to a lower grade fuel then yes, you will need to have the vehicle re-tuned to suit.

A higher grade fuel than what was used during tuning can be used safely.

HBR recommends all modern performance engines use high quality fully synthetic engine oils and good, low restriction filters. The service interval guidelines are as follows:

• OEM unmodified, or bolt-on modifications and tune: 10,000 km

• Performance camshaft or forced induction: 5000 km

All engine oils should be replaced annually regardless of kms.

For racing or extreme road performance vehicles recommended interval varies. Please contact us if you are unsure what service interval HBR would recommend.