Dyno Guidelines

We are very excited to be part of your vehicle project. To maximize our chances of meeting or exceeding your expectations, please be aware of the following before arriving at Cohesion for your scheduled dyno tuning session.

1. We must have a signed dyno release form

It is essential that you read and sign the separate Cohesion dyno waiver and release form, as well as these guidelines, before any car can be accepted. You must accept and waive the high risks that come with dyno testing, accept responsibility for delivering car in good mechanical condition, and accept responsibility for any damage or cleanup that might be required from a vehicle failure during testing. The overwhelming majority of our projects complete with no issues whatsoever but we must know you are prepared for the chances of something going wrong.

2. Vehicles must be delivered and picked up on time

Our dyno bay is often fully scheduled, and we seldom have the flexibility to push back should your delivery run late, due to our good faith commitments to other customers. In addition, our parking / storage space is limited. Therefore it is essential that both drop-off and pick-up schedule agreements be honored. In the event that completed vehicles are not picked up as agreed, vehicles may either incur either storage fees, or, be left outdoors at the owners risk. Should you need a place to stay overnight before/during/after your appointment, there are numerous hotels nearby with adequate parking that we can refer you to.

3. Your vehicle must be adequately fueled & filled

Please ensure your car arrives with enough fuel to complete the dyno test. We are neither equipped nor licensed to sell or provide fuel. If it is a flex or multi-fuel tune, we will need both fuels, and, containers adequate to pump out any extra fuel before switching. Likewise we do not stock or sell general automotive fluids to “top off” motor oil, coolant, trans fluids, brake fluids, etc. etc. Should we have to stop testing due to fuel or fluid deficiency, there may be additional service fees to cover delays and / or courier time. Leaving vehicles with some spare fluids of choice is always helpful to limit these contingencies.

4. We are not equipped to perform repairs or modifications

While we will do everything we can within our power to try to complete your job and stick to the schedule, should we find that your vehicle requires additional work in order to complete the dyno testing & tuning, please know we are not a full service mechanical shop and are in no position to undertake significant mechanical repairs, modifications, fabrications, or adjustments. In the event something comes up that we cannot resolve easily, it will likely require the vehicle being picked up and returned at a later date.

5. No visitors / spectators please

There are many risky dangerous situations surrounding a live dyno test. For a variety of reasons, only Cohesion personnel can be allowed in the dyno bay while the car is being operated. Our site is not setup to host spectators and visitors in general, so if you would like to be present during your dyno test, please discuss with us in advance to we can meet your expectations.

To optimize the probability of meeting or exceeding your expectations, please take note of the following stipulations concerning scheduled remote dynamometer tuning sessions.

These considerations are in addition to standard Cohesion dyno tuning requirements and do not replace or eliminate any of the disclaimers and warnings.  All customers commissioning dyno calibrations with Cohesion must fully accept all applicable terms.

1. Scheduling

Remote Dyno Tuning generally requires an extended duration compared to in-car “live” tuning.  This is simply attributable to the obvious logistical complexities that necessitate additional time. Please prepare to allow extra time to get set up as well as to complete the tuning. 

When booking dates and times, Cohesion must be involved in the scheduling process for evident reasons. Coordinating the availability of all parties involved often presents a challenge.  While we strive to be flexible and responsive to customers’ requests, what generally does not work is “we have booked this day and time and we can’t change it”.

Before booking your dyno, please communicate with Cohesion. We will either provide several date/time options, or we will ask you to propose several date/time options.  Again, we will always try to be flexible and reasonable, but we need to fit your project into our schedule. 

2. Equipment Details

Cohesion must be precisely informed of the type of dynamometer equipment that will be utilized. The optimal configuration involves a dyno equipped with load control.  Different dyno brands use various terms and technologies; it may be referred to as an “Eddy Brake,” “Load Control,” or “Hydraulic Brake” dynamometer.

Depending on the specific application and the systems undergoing calibration, Cohesion may mandate or strongly recommend a particular type of dynamometer. For instance, a vehicle requiring calibration services for “Gear Shift Control” will often necessitate a chassis dyno with a “rolling road,” frequently termed an “Inertia Dyno.”  When tuning for power-to-weight calibrations it is essential to use the brand of dyno specified by your sanctioning body (normally Dynojet).

In most circumstances, a dynamometer that possesses both “rolling road” and “Inertia” capabilities will accommodate all necessary calibration services. Excellent examples include the Superflow Autodyn, Mustang, and Dynojet 224xLC (LC = Load Control).

3. Stable Internet

The dynamometer facility must possess a stable, fast internet connection.  This is non-negotiable, without there is no way to tune the vehicle.  Ideally, the dyno computer itself should also be equipped with remote access capabilities.

Phone tethering is NOT considered “Stable Internet” and will result in the rejection of the session.

4. Vehicle Fuel and Fluid Levels

Please ensure the vehicle arrives with an adequate supply of fuel to successfully complete the dynamometer test. Should testing be interrupted due to a deficiency in fuel or other essential fluids, supplemental service fees may be incurred to compensate for delays, and if delays extend too long the tuning session may have to be postponed or cancelled.

5. Dedicated Personnel

Dedicated personnel are required not only to operate the vehicle in a specified manner but also to function as “our eyes and ears” throughout the session. The dynamometer facility should be cognizant that we are calibrating fully standalone systems without prior configuration. The session must not be compared to conventional “remote stock ECU re-flash” procedures.   These roles are as follows:

Vehicle Operation (Driving):
The individual assigned as the vehicle operator must remain inside the vehicle for the entire duration of the session, excepting necessary breaks i.e. restroom, emergencies, etc.

If shop personnel are operating the vehicle, they must not presume that they can leave the vehicle “between runs” to attend to other business, if this occurs it will not be acceptable and may result in cancelling the tuning session.

Due to noise considerations, utilizing electronic communication methods such as Remote Services chat, WhatsApp, Messenger, or phone text to communicate with the operator live is the preferred method.  If voice conversations are to take place, they are most effective when operators employ noise-canceling headphones to ensure clarity of verbal communication.

While dyno facilities often permit customers to operate their own vehicles, this is only permissible if the customer has prior experience operating a vehicle on that specific chassis dynamometer. “Training” the driver on dyno operation and/or vehicle “dyno driving” will be very time consuming and will result in additional costs and/or possible interruption/postponement/cancellation of the tuning session if adequate time is not available.

Dyno & Vehicle Observation:
As we are not physically present on-site, additional personnel must be present to monitor the vehicle throughout the session and identify any potential issues that may arise. On-site observation takes precedence over calibration adjustments for safety reasons, including:

• Fire
• Fluid leaks
• Smoke
• Abnormal noises
• Loose straps
• Wheels/tires

This role may be performed by the vehicle owner if the Dyno Shop allows or could be other shop personnel, but it is essential for the safety of the vehicle and all individuals involved that there is out-of-car observation and monitoring during the session.

6. Repairs and Modifications

While we will exert every effort within our capacity to complete your service and adhere to the schedule, please be advised that should we discover the vehicle requires additional work to complete the dyno testing and tuning, there is no way for us to guarantee the session can be completed. 

Again, while we will do our best to be flexible as we can, in the case of the vehicle needing significant unforeseen mechanical repairs or adjustments, rescheduling the vehicle for completion at a subsequent date is likely be necessary.