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LF4 Performance Tuning Specialists

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Tapout LPFP Props up Weak ATS-V Fuel Systems!

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One of the weak links in the ATS-V is the stock fuel system.  Although adequate for OEM boost levels, once you crank that boost up many ATS-Vs end up having fuel systems that can’t keep up with demand. In some cases, the HPFP ends up sucking the LPFP dry thus entering the danger zone.

Paul from Florida has a 2016 ATS-V A8 with intake, BOVs, spark plugs and exhaust and 32,000 miles on the clock.  With his previous aftermarket tune he was running dangerously lean which he discovered while on a dyno. Once he learned that he immediately switched to Tapout.  The new Tapout Tune is much safer and he likes it better than the tune he ran before.  However, now that his air/fuel ratio has been corrected we can see how the stock fuel system is not able to keep up with demand.  Check out the blue and yellow traces in the scan below.

With this newly found information Paul decided to install a Tapout LP fuel pump.  The following scan was taken one day after the above scan, with no other hardware or tune changes.  It’s very clear how much more stable, safe and reliable his fuel system is now.  Notice how both the low- and high-pressure sides have improved just from replacing the LP pump alone.

The Tapout LP fuel pump is an excellent product that solves an annoying problem on this platform.  It is affordable, relatively simple to install and can show immediate fuel system volume capabilities on tuned ATS-Vs. Every day we are looking for ways to make the ATS-V better, and we’re proud to offer proven products like this.

#TapoutTakeover #ResultsNotInsults #StayTuned

 

Remove Your Startup Boost Limiter with Tapout!

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How many of you have ever made a quick stop somewhere an started up your already warm ATS-V? You pull up to a traffic light two or three minutes later and someone questions the capabilities of your little V6 engine. You decide to set the record straight, but are embarrassed to find out that you only have 9 to 11 psi of boost and are down about 100 horsepower below stock levels. You are not alone because this has happened to all of us. Turns out the ATS-V has several hidden parameters that limit boost at startup, even when the engine is completely warmed up. That will put a real damper on your day when you know you could have smoked that punk without even trying.

Since HP Tuners didn’t have these particular tables mapped out, it took more than one year of effort to finally locate the hidden boost limiting timer in the ATS-V binary files. We worked with top tuners all over the world using WinOLS, TunerCat, User Defined Parameters and TunerPro. Once it was figured out, dozens of Tapout customers tested our fix for this and it works flawlessly! From this point forward everyone with a Tapout Tune will no longer be regulated to 9 to 11 psi of boost when the car is first started. That said, it would still be prudent not to hammer your engine with 20 psi of boost while the lubricating system is still warming up.

This is an important milestone for the ATS-V community, and we are proud to deliver this solution to you. By the way, these modifications have been automatically applied to all Tapout Tune updates over the last seven weeks. Now when you make a quick pit stop and get back on the road you can show ’em what your ATS-V can really do.

#TapoutTakeover #ResultsNotInsults #StayTuned

Tapout Tune of the Week!

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When you buy something you want to receive the full benefits of that product right? You wouldn’t buy a box of Thin Mints and only eat half of them just to throw the rest away, so why should it be any different with your ATS-V? If you don’t have a Tapout Tune, you are throwing extra power and performance away, and we aim to fix that.

GM felt we didn’t need all the power the ATS-V actually has to offer, but we say otherwise. With a Remote Tune from Tapout we unlock all the performance and power the LF4 really has to offer. This was certainly the case in today’s Tapout Tune of the Week, Nick from British Columbia. Nick loves his ATS-V and was looking to improve its performance. After working with him to get everything dialed in perfectly, he attended a local 750-mile rally in addition to a drag racing event. “I have to say… WOW did the car ever come alive and it never skipped a beat. The untapped potential of the LF4 platform that Scott can extract is truly outstanding!” Nick said. So don’t waste another second, call Tapout today to release the beast within your ATS-V.

#TapoutTakeover #ResultsNotInsults #StayTuned

 

Tapout Tuning Now Offering ATS-V Intercooler Fill & Bleed Kit!

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Everyone has been looking for a way to easily fill and bleed their ATS-V’s notoriously difficult-to-service intercooler. Tapout Tuning has listened to your thoughts and concerns and we are happy to announce our new and easy-to-use Intercooler Fill & Bleed kit! This kit is easily installed and provides everything needed to properly fill and bleed your ATS-V intercooler.

The factory intercooler is a sealed system with total capacity of 3.3 quarts.  There is no reservoir, and any air pocket will stop the intercooler pump from running after five seconds, rendering your intercooler worthless.  This can create an unsafe scenario for a turbocharged car, especially when boost is turned up via an aftermarket tune. With this kit you’ll have peace of mind knowing your ATS-V intercooler functions properly so all you need to focus on is going fast and breaking records!

#TapoutTakeover #ResultsNotInsults #StayTuned

 

Intercooler fill kit

Tapout Tune of the Week!

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What gets your heart racing, adrenaline pumping and puts a smile on your face from ear to ear? You guessed it, a ride in a Tapout Tuned ATS-V! We all know the song and dance, the car you drove was too slow and boring, so you fixed that by purchasing an ATS-V. Well after a little while you found yourself looking for more, and what’s the next logical step? Right again, getting yourself a Remote Tune from Tapout!

That brings us to today’s Tapout Tune of the Week, Adam from New Jersey. Adam, like many of us, felt the need for speed, and a Tapout Tune was the solution he was looking for. As he said, “Tapout Tuning is by far the best bang for your buck mod for the ATS-V platform”. We have worked diligently to create custom Remote Tunes that accomplish all your goals, no matter how long it takes. Adam let us know, “it’s not only Scott’s top-notch quality tune that completely woke up my V, but its also his responsiveness.” Tapout works every day to make sure your ATS-V perfect for YOU!

#TapoutTakeover #ResultsNotInsults #StayTuned

New Jeresy ATS-V

Does BOOSTane™ Really Work?

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According to the BOOSTane™ website, there are a lot of additives that make claims about what they can do for your performance.  However, BOOSTane™ is not your average octane boosting product.  Utilizing a proprietary, patent pending blend, BOOSTane™ Professional effectively raises your fuel octane as much as 23 points, up to 116, if you want!

We took a 2018 ATS-V A8 with intake, spark plugs, exhaust and tune and filled the tank with 93-octane Sunoco fuel before strapping down on our local dyno.  Baseline was a solid 499 whp using SAE correction factor and smoothing = 5.  We performed all pulls in sixth gear with the torque converter locked up to ensure we gathered the best possible data.  This method shows the lowest numbers, but we prefer it since it’s the most reliable, consistent and repeatable from dyno to dyno.

One 32 ounce can of BOOSTane™ Professional was poured into the tank.  Based off of the BOOSTane Mixing Chart, the resulting octane was around 102.  We were able to add a few minor tuning edits were made due to this higher octane and the result was 521 whp.  We then added a second can to the tank (resulting in an octane of 104), made a couple more tweaks and found ourselves at 549 whp.  Peak boost remained the same at 20 psi.  Ignition timing advance was increased from ~ 8 to ~ 13° BTDC on the top end.  Net gains were an astonishing 50 whp at the top of the powerband with solid gains throughout.  Also notice that the power delivery became noticeably smoother with the increased fuel octane.

We always keep BOOSTane™ Professional in stock for immediate shipment.  And we are happy to write custom ATS-V tunes based on your fuel octane. That is going to be the most efficient and effective way to unlock to full potential of your vehicle with BOOSTane™!  Email us any time at Sales@TapoutTuning.com.

#TapoutTakeover   #ResultsNotInsults  #StayTuned   #Boostane

Tapout Tune of the Week!

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Tire smoke, burnt rubber and crushing any competition you face. That’s how we start our day at Tapout Tuning because there’s nothing like the brute force acceleration of a Tapout Tuned ATS-V to wake you up in the morning.

Our customers and friends share that sentiment and regularly tell us how amazed they are by the transformation our Remote Tunes provide their ATS-V. Let’s hear about it firsthand from today’s Tapout Tune of the Week, Ted from Georgia! He drives his ATS-V for all kinds of reasons, whether it be autocross, daily driving or even ripping through curvy mountain roads, his Remote Tapout Tune can handle it all with no problem. This was another case where before we even sent Ted’s first tune we found his intercooler was dry, so we made sure that was addressed and we could provide a safe tune. Other tuners just turn up your boost without checking your intercooler first, but we feel that is a recipe for disaster. Ted let us know that, “at first I liked the ATS-V. Then after the Tapout Tune I loved it! They made the process painless and always great service.” We are proud to offer a product that provides such drastic and safe results, so what are you waiting for, get tuned by Tapout today!

#TapoutTakeover #ResultsNotInsults #StayTuned

Georgia ATS-V

 

 

Tapout Tune of the Week!

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Do you ever have one of those days where you can’t sit still? You’re tired of sitting inside at your desk and you just need an escape, something to take your mind off everything going on in your life. Enter the Tapout Tuned ATS-V. Acceleration that will put you back in your seat, handling like you can’t believe, and a driving experience you will never forget.

This is what Tapout Tuning provides – an experience like no other. We do this every day and we never get tired of hearing what a difference we’ve made in our customers’ ATS-Vs. An example of that is this week’s Tapout Tune of the Week, from Kevin in Arizona. He was new to the tuning world and didn’t have much experience in that regard. “I’m not car savvy at all and let Scott know that right away. He could have huffed and puffed but instead; continued to smile and assist”. Before we even started tuning, we discovered Kevin’s intercooler wasn’t properly functioning and we were able to walk him through the process to resolve this issue. Kevin let us know, “Scott and Tapout has earned a customer for life!” We are here not only to provide you with a great tune, but also the support and advice that will keep you racing and beating records!

#TapoutTakeover #ResultsNotInsults #StayTuned

Florida ATS-V

Easily Fill and Bleed your ATS-V Intercooler!

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What’s the Easiest Way to Fill and Bleed the ATS-V Intercooler?

Last year I made a post showing how to fill and bleed your ATS-V intercooler without the expensive adapter fitting and vacuum pump that GM recommends. Here’s an update, complete with video showing the process. I’ve also found a way to improve upon the OEM setup.

With the OEM hoses, it’s extremely difficult to determine how well fluid is flowing and whether air might still be present in the system. In this video I shortened up one of the factory hoses, then added a ¾” barb coupler, short piece of UV-resistant clear PVC tubing and two hose clamps. This step is not mandatory, but now that it’s done, I definitely wish I had done it a year ago.

To fill and bleed the intercooler system, you do not want to leave the pump running. Most of the air bubbles come to the surface when the pump starts and stops. For this reason, starting and stopping the pump every few seconds will yield much better results than leaving it running continuously.

There is a positive battery terminal right beside the fuse box in the engine compartment. Use a jumper wire to carefully short between the battery terminal and either side of the intercooler pump fuse. This video shows a 2018 ATS-V, but the fuse location may vary in other years. Check the underside of the fusebox lid in your own car to identify the proper fuse.

Rotate your intercooler fill port to the vertical position. Remove the rubber cap. Use a short piece of ¾” heater hose to support a large funnel. Add 50/50 coolant mix to the funnel. Depress the Schrader valve with a dowel rod or long ¼” extension. Continue cycling the intercooler pump power every few seconds until there are no more air bubbles.

Sometimes it helps to fiddle with the 7 mm. bleeder screws, but this does not seem to be necessary. Through experience I have found it’s best to fill and bleed the system cold, the drive around until it’s up to normal operating temperature, let it cool down and bleed it one more time.

Follow the link below to see a video of the process:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiTKWfus7qU&feature=youtu.be

#TapoutTakeover #ResultsNotInsults

Easily Fill and Bleed Your ATS-V Intercooler!

By

Last year I made a post showing how to fill and bleed your ATS-V intercooler without the expensive adapter fitting and vacuum pump that GM recommends.  Here’s an update, complete with video showing the process.  I’ve also found a way to improve upon the OEM setup.

With the OEM hoses, it’s extremely difficult to determine how well fluid is flowing and whether air might still be present in the system.  In this video I shortened up one of the factory hoses, then added a ¾” barb coupler, short piece of UV-resistant clear PVC tubing and two hose clamps.  This step is not mandatory, but now that it’s done, I definitely wish I had done it a year ago.

To fill and bleed the intercooler system, you do not want to leave the pump running.  Most of the air bubbles come to the surface when the pump starts and stops.  For this reason, starting and stopping the pump every few seconds will yield much better results than leaving it running continuously.

There is a positive battery terminal right beside the fuse box in the engine compartment.  Use a jumper wire to carefully short between the battery terminal and either side of the intercooler pump fuse.  This video shows a 2018 ATS-V, but the fuse location may vary in other years.  Check the underside of the fuse box lid in your own car to identify the proper fuse.

Rotate your intercooler fill port to the vertical position.  Remove the rubber cap.  Use a short piece of ¾” heater hose to support a large funnel.  Add 50/50 coolant mix to the funnel.  Depress the Schrader valve with a dowel rod or long ¼” extension.  Continue cycling the intercooler pump power every few seconds until there are no more air bubbles.

Sometimes it helps to fiddle with the 7 mm. bleeder screws, but this does not seem to be necessary.  Through experience I have found it’s best to fill and bleed the system cold, the drive around until it’s up to normal operating temperature, let it cool down and bleed it one more time.

Follow the link below to see the process:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiTKWfus7qU&feature=youtu.be

#TapoutTakeover #ResultsNotInsults