Background:
A short time ago, I posted about advertisements tuners have published claiming their engine tunes will increase power output and maintain reliability.
To learn more about the basis for these companies’ claims, I have sent requests for information to 034Motorsport, Equilibrium Tuning, and Integrated Engineering.
The request is shown below.
Letter copy:
01 December 2025
Subject: Request for substantiation of reliability claim for Engine Tuning Software
Dear [Company Name]
I am a Test & Evaluation Engineer and maintain a consumer-focused blog about aftermarket vehicle modifications, where I publish independent testing, evaluations, and consumer-awareness content. Your public marketing for Engine Software Modifications (Tuning) states that it “increases power while maintaining reliability” (or equivalent language).
Under well-established truth-in-advertising principles, objective claims that bear on safety, durability, or reliability must be supported by a reasonable basis and competent, reliable scientific evidence before they are marketed.
To evaluate your claim fairly and accurately for readers, please provide the following documentation in writing within fourteen (14) calendar days of the date of this letter:
- The written test procedures and acceptance criteria that were in place before you first used the “maintains reliability” claim.
- The sample size and replication details (number of vehicles, number of runs), plus any observed failures or anomalies, and how they were treated.
- Any durability or accelerated-life testing (procedures and results) intended to demonstrate long-term reliability.
- Any independent third-party test reports or evaluations (contactable labs or engineers), along with their accreditation.
- Any statistical analyses performed (failure rates, confidence intervals) and a concise statement of the limitations and operating envelope for the claim (required fuel octane, intended use — e.g., daily driving vs. track, required hardware upgrades).
- Your warranty or guarantee policy (if any) covering engine or drivetrain damage attributable to the software, and the process for consumers to seek remediation.
- A statement certifying whether the documentation above existed prior to marketing the reliability claim; if not, the date substantiation was first obtained.
If you cannot provide any requested item, state specifically which items are unavailable and why.
If I do not receive a substantive response within 14 days, I will characterize the lack of substantiation in my reporting and may refer the matter to relevant consumer protection authorities (including the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general). I prefer to present a complete and accurate account for readers and would welcome a prompt, documented response.
Sincerely,
Jeff Jones
Test & Evaluation Engineer — Consumer-focused blog author
MyGolfMk7.com
Next step:
Evaluating each tuning company’s response will be the subject of the next post in this series.