The Tuned CivicX Experience & Reliability Thread (for all models)

Matt Noke said:

Problems/issues: misfires at WOT when running the Hondata W1 base map on pump E85

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Isn't the W1 basemap intended only to get your car to a tuner for a real custom tune?

I probably would have driven like the engine was made of glass.

This thread is really making me wanna buy a Ktuner and TSP stage 1... no ragrets??

hicompb18c1 said:

This thread is really making me wanna buy a Ktuner and TSP stage 1... no ragrets??

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no regrets??? more like "how did i live without it!!"

hicompb18c1 said:

This thread is really making me wanna buy a Ktuner and TSP stage 1... no ragrets??

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My whole point of this database was to show how basically reliable and safe our base tunes are. The difference in driveability is night and day...truly. Like caspar21 said, once you tune you realize how underwhelming the Honda tune is.

What's so great about these tunes is the way you can have completely different driving experiences. Use a base tune with aggressive spooling and part throttle response and you have a low end monster. Get a TSP Stage 1 and get gobs more power up top. There is no mod like an ECU tuner for sheer performance fun factor.

Yes, there have been blown motors here and there. But delve deep and you will see those cars were abused or had issues that weren't attended to before the disaster. Use a base tune, drive within reason and things will go well.

Vehicle: 2016 Civic Touring sedan

Total tuned time: 1 month

Total tuned mileage: 2000 miles

Tuning device(s) used: Hondata CARB flash pro

Tunes used: Hondata +6 psi w traction control

Fuel used: Shell or Exxon 93 only

Additional engine mods: mishimoto high performance intake

Problems/issues: None

Driving style: aggressive, this car gets maintained well but beat on during the drive, hard acceleration and speed through the corners

Tuning experience notes: Flash was super easy, improved passing power and opened up the car. Lots of suspension work on the car so now the engine feels more in place with how tight the handling is.
one note is that the 2016 civic has a reflash on the cvt so use the 2016/2017 tunes to avoid an error code
Super pleased with the drivability and mpg is more or less the same.

JT Si said:

Isn't the W1 basemap intended only to get your car to a tuner for a real custom tune?

I probably would have driven like the engine was made of glass.

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I've never heard that. I assumed that the Hondata and Ktuner W1 base maps could be used just as the other base maps they put out are used. Maybe all base maps are just to get you to a tuner? Idk? This is my first build

Matt Noke said:

I've never heard that. I assumed that the Hondata and Ktuner W1 base maps could be used just as the other base maps they put out are used. Maybe all base maps are just to get you to a tuner? Idk? This is my first build

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I could have sworn I read it somewhere but after looking through 27won posts, the product page, and the development blogs I can't find a mention of that anywhere outside of "a custom tune is highly recommended", which was written before the basemaps were available.

Yes, the full 27won quote you are referring to is...
"This also tells us the 27won W1 Turbo can be installed and ran on a OTS map, but you will be leaving a lot of power on the table. A custom tune is highly recommended."

Hopefully, we can get more people filling out a survey because we haven't even touched the surface in terms of how many people are tuned. I've tried to PM some members I know have tuned and am only getting about 50% of them to post here.

In terms of those who have contributed, thank you. We just hit another milestone as we now have 2,000,000 tuned miles reported.

Whether your Civic X is currently tuned (or was previously tuned), please post your survey and help build our data up. It's really important and will help people considering a tune see that (for the vast majority) tuning's been reliable.

It also will create a nice counterpoint to people that say "tuned cars are doomed".

accordingtokevinn said:

adding in flex fuel will make a huge difference!

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HOLY CRAP!!!! You were correct, sir. The flex fuel completely changed the car.

Vehicle: 2018 Si Sedan

Total tuned time: 10 months

Total tuned mileage: ~10000 miles

Tuning device(s) used: KTuner v1.2

Tunes used: TSP Stage 1

Fuel used: Whatever is convenient but 93 oct since tune. Used 87 mostly pretune but once I could see the knock control value on 87 I switched...

Additional engine mods: None

Driving style: Typically relaxed with the flow of traffic. On the commute home from work I tend to be more aggressive, probably go WOT through 2nd-4th gears a time or two every other day. No autocross, track, or even fun only cruises in it. Just daily driving duty.

UPDATE 10/26/20: I'm at ~30k miles on my car and, I don't recall exactly but, I think I was at 8-10k when I first did the tsp stage 1 tune. No other mods done and no issues to report except... Quite a while ago (maybe 5k miles into being tuned)I think I noticed slip in 4th so I limited boost in 4-6th to factory, 15, and 10psi just to be safe.

UPDATE 4/8/21 : 35k miles no changes to report. Everything is still 100% as it came from the factory except for the gas in the tank and the oil & filter.

Friction said:

Driving style: Typically relaxed with the flow of traffic. On the commute home from work I tend to be more aggressive, probably go WOT through 2nd-4th gears a time or two every other day. No autocross, track, or even fun only cruises in it. Just daily driving duty.

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Funny you say that. Going to work I just chill and keep up with traffic like you. Coming home, my patience is low for slowpokes and I tend to zoom zoom around them as much as traffic allows. That's where tuning pays off for me.

Vehicle: 2018 Civic EX hatchback

Total tuned time: 12 months

Total tuned mileage: 8000+ miles

Tuning device(s) used: Ktuner V1.2

Tunes used: Ktuner 21, TSP Non-SI Stage 1

Fuel used: Sunoco 93 Ultra exclusively

Additional engine mods: AF Dynamic SRI

Problems/issues: None

Driving style: Tries to get good mpg. emphasis on tries.

Tuning experience notes: I love passing unsuspecting "fast" cars. Great gas mileage highway and when I'm not on the throttle, but it's like instant takeoff with throttle. Love it! TSP is a little aggressive down low, but it keeps the powerband wide open

ilipac said:

Vehicle: 2018 Civic EX hatchback

Tuning experience notes: I love passing unsuspecting "fast" cars. Great gas mileage highway and when I'm not on the throttle, but it's like instant takeoff with throttle. Love it! TSP is a little aggressive down low, but it keeps the powerband wide open

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I hear ya on surprising unsuspecting sporty cars. There's something satisfying about knowing those guys are likely shaking their head and wondering how they got passed so easily by a Civic.

It's interesting you think the TSP tune is aggressive down low. I find it noticeably softer than an aggressively tweaked KTuner 21... but it's more balanced with a lot more scoot up top.

Vehicle: 2017 Civic EX-L Coupe

Total tuned time: ~5.5yr as of Jan 2024

Total tuned mileage: +40k miles

Tuning device(s) used: KTuner

Tunes used: Custom, based on basemaps, Flex Fuel Enabled, with tailored OTF for different contexts (low-speed/near-highway characteristics/spirited dial to 11)

Fuel used: Sunoco 93 if E10, and at-the-pump blend of 93/91 Octane and E85 to get E20-E30. Multiple fuel additives used.

(renamed below field; let's be real most of us have stock engines. Bolt-ons != built engine)
Additional Engine Bolt-on mods: PRL
catted downpipe and front pipe, AEM DryFlow Air Filter, PRL Flex Fuel Kit

Problems/issues: CV Axle is leaking and dealership poo-poo'd + refused service, generally crummy gas mileage because upper-echelons of driving enablement, based on UOAs NO DILUTION ISSUES with no updates (also MM is making yall waste oil). Threw code P061B on 1/9/20 and went into limp mode. Left untuned beginning of 2020, did intake cleaning 4/20/20, retuned for Ethanol enablement, and haven't had CEL or code thrown since. May 2021 Update: The axle bearings (or whatever) seem to have run out of goo to leak- no additional pooling on my shield the last oil change or two. No issues with my second CVT Fluid Change (doing them early).
I received a threatening letter in 2020 from Honda/Dealership that stated my warranty may be in jeopardy if I did not take my car to the dealership for the Dilution TSB Update. I had it installed, and then my next whole OCI's UOA indicated everything was great but some hints of very mild oil dilution. No issues on the last UOA or two (those since).
CVT failure around 51k mi. CVT first would not shift into reverse, then would not shift between PRND during diagnostics. Not a power-related failure; the belt and lobes were fine. Honda refused to diagnose and file the warranty claim (had purchased 3rd-party warranty coverage with the car) unless I reverted all modifications including removal of a strut bar, downpipe and frontpipe, flexfuel kit, headlights with those canbus cancel adapters, catch can, oilpan drain valve, and even the airbox filter. They threatened to advocate AGAINST my warranty claim. I had the car towed to an independent repair shop, they called me back later that day informing me the unit had a defect failure unrelated to regular use and without any indication of abuse or neglect. The CVT was replaced and I had my car back in working order inside of 72hr.

Driving style: Righteously spirited

Tuning experience notes: It's similar to overclocking-- watch your Temps, check for stability, don't gauge your successes by comparing to others. After making advanced modifications on an OTS Tune, I can tell you that maintaining smoothness and performance are complimentary for a CVT. That ktuner update that removes the artificial kcontrol or similar when cruising or after multiple pulls.... awesome.
Winter: Smaller tires and a softer tune that defers on higher boost, but with the mild responsive enablements on (vs OTS). With VSA mod-II the car handles reliably in weather. I keep ECT2 under 180.

Misc Notes: I changed my CVT Fluid around 15,000mi. I hadn't tuned yet so I sent it away for analysis to baseline the CVT. I plan on changing the cvt fluid every 18-25k miles, with analysis, because the healthier the fluid the less chance of slip. Did brake fluid somewhere in there, but pads and rotors are factory still.
My car was side-swiped in 2022 by someone with poor driving skills and I didn't want to pay pandemic/supply-chain/inflation pricing to repair purely cosmetic damage. As a result I haven't sent my used oil away for analysis since, as I feel less invested in keeping a scarred car otherwise pristinely cared for. Ive kept the samples, but don't see the car being sold privately to someone who really cares.
Through multiple piss-poor interactions with Honda of America, likely the only way I will own another Acura/Honda vehicle is as a result of a private or non Honda Network Used Dealership. I want so little to do with them I don't even make use of the free annual state inspection I believe I am entitled to.

Example UOA:


I'm going to be extending my OCI closer to 10,000mi.