REVIEW: Oracle Tuning, Sinking Spring, PA
 

Hi everyone, I had a great experience with this tuner and wanted to share it with everyone. I know a few others have been tuned by Ken, but after a 2 year string of bad luck with builds, I feel as though I brought Ken a big liability, but he turned my car into a :vash2::vash2::vash2:

From what I know, Ken worked for FM back when they were still on the east coast, and since has been tuning Hydras, Links, and now with my car under his belt, Megasquirts too! I don't know how many he tuned, but he scrolled through his dyno files to give me a idea, and I estimated over 100 cars, all Miatas.

I dropped off my car and we agreed on a timeline of 1-2 weeks (erring closer to 2 since he had other cars to tune ahead of me). Part of the reason for this is because I am using an MS2x and Ken had not done a Megasquirt in quite some time. I didn't need the car back ASAP and even told him up front that time was not a problem. The day before the scheduled dyno, Ken noticed an issue with my car that was caused by the COP igniter. This caused the tune to get delayed as anytime he did WOT runs, the car would break up and sound like a Class 3 machine gun. Fortunately the vendor who made the COP setup sent a new igniter directly to Ken. Furthermore, he made a custom bracket (a pretty one too) to mount the igniter in a different location than where we had it, and away from engine heat and vibration. Also since my EBC was not wired in as we expected, he set up an MBC of his own so I could still be tuned.

The following Saturday my car wanted to be on the Dyno, but the shop where he does his Dyno portion was going to H2O that weekend and I would have to wait. NO I WOULDN'T, since Ken took half a day off work Friday and made sure my car was done since we were already at 3 weeks. I was fine waiting another week knowing my car was in good hands. That Friday, the car made 311whp and 285wtq at 17psi!

The entire time, Ken kept me in the loop via e-mail, text, and phonecalls to let me know of any progress or problems. Not only is the car fast, the cold (and really cold) and hot starts are perfect, the big 14" SPAL fan doesn't kill the engine anymore, the general out of boost and low boost drivability is awesome, and with gentle driving, I was actually able to achieve 25mpg on 93*.

I can't say enough great things about my experience. We still have some things to work out in the Spring (EBC), but if you live anywhere remotely close to Sinking Spring PA, give Oracle Tuning your car and you won't regret it. Here's the beast that Oracle created

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411999925

25mpg, that's it?

That's about what I got stock also. I think it's pretty good considering the EFR spools in a way where I sometimes accidentally end up in boost and hence under rich fueling.

If this is the same Ken I think it is, he tuned RedCarmel's car. I met him, very intelligent, great guy.

Yup, the same. Very happy with the work he did tuning my car. Would definitely recommend.

Biggest mistake I made was sending my car to a tuner that didn't know my ECU or my car. You did not make that mistake. Very nice.

This is exactly why I am bringing my car to Ken! Can't wait to get my tune smoothed over and see how much I can put down on the dyno!

Ken tuned my car last fall and I couldn't have been happier. Mine had previously been professionally tuned but the tune was still a mess. Ken got it squared away and the car runs much stronger than it ever does. I've recommended him to a few people (I think you included mazdaspeeder) and all have been happy with the work he's done.

Yes I just regret not going to Oracle sooner. Having the confidence to drive my car and not worry is a great feeling I haven't had in a long time till now.

I hadn't heard of Oracle Tuning before. I'm in the area so I'll definitely consider them. My other option is R/T tuning in Lansdale which I've also heard good things about.

R/T and PsiProformance are both great shops but they are not miata specialists. I had a decent alignment from RT in the past. I just preferred the expertise of a miata specialist Vs those shops that dabble in everything, including those ridiculous drift cars.

If you're close to RT then we are really close together. Where you from??

I'm from Boyertown, but work over in Lansdale (2 blocks from R/T).

Oh cool. Check out the truck scale a few blocks away if you haven't.

Never seen that, where's that at? Where are you located?

Sounds like we need to set up a local meet

I'm down. Although I don't currently have a (running) Miata.

Sounds like we need to have the meet at my garage and make it run haha

Decided to throw together a last min meet tomorrow night... No idea how many (Or is anyone at all) will be able to make it... But I figured it was worth a shot. Tomorrow night is going to be possibly the last night with temps above 50deg

https://www.facebook.com/events/5607...3&notif_t=like

I dynod my car at RT tuning, as seen here:

That was a great day for me. That was my old setup too and I made 225whp/207wtq.

Lets keep this review about Oracle and not other tuners. I talked to R/T, PSIPro, KPTuning, but in the end decided to go with Ken for his decade of Miata expertise. A meet would be good, in another thread. I'm down to help organize it.